Nurse educator questions

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Nov 19, 2017

Career outlook is good; however, the salary is a pittance compared to what you can make in a hospital. Hospital educators are paid much more competitively that university faculty. I took a large pay cut to enter academia.

ERnurse71, ADN, BSN · Nov 19, 2017

Thank you for your honesty. I was afraid of that . I guess you would change the pay for a better schedule it seems.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Nov 19, 2017

Thank you for your honesty. I was afraid of that . I guess you would change the pay for a better schedule it seems.

My quality of life at age 62 is of greater concern than my income level. Ultimately, that drove my.decision.

ERnurse71, ADN, BSN · Nov 19, 2017

I completely understand that. I am just trying to make the right decision, a fully researched decision that is suitable for myself and my family. Thank you for your honesty it is appreciated!

Career Columnist / Author · Nov 20, 2017

I'm a hospital based educator and love it! Like meanmaryjean said, academic settings and hospital settings pay differently- and really, the roles are entirely different as well.

You don't have to decide which path you will take right now- just start school.You won't regret it.

In my career, I've always found that money followed the passion.

Best wishes.

ERnurse71, ADN, BSN · Nov 20, 2017

Thank you for your advice. I am currently an ER nurse and have been for almost 4 years. I love precepting new grads and I'm always interested in learning new ways of patient care. I only stress the importance of money as I have two children that rely on me as their sole source of income and want to make sure I make the right decision and can adjust. Just makes me a little anxious to continue my debt with student loans and not sure how I can be compensated once I start and educator or education position. I do appreciate everyone's advice thank you so much!

llg, PhD, RN · Nov 21, 2017

Have you looked into a career in Nursing Professional Development (NPD)? (What is often called "staff development") NPD specialists do staff education -- a role that would fit with your interest in teaching -- but a role that often pays better than a lower level faculty position because we are hospital employees.

I am 62 years old, have been an NPD specialist for most of my career and make more than the staff nurses make (but not as much as the Directors make.) It's an "in-between" salary level. People in my department work mostly weekday hours, with occasional "off-shift" and weekend hours when projects require it. We also rarely, if ever, work a holiday shift. NPD careers have decent (but not the highest) salaries and great schedules with good work/life balance.

If that sounds like something that might interest you, check out ANPD (Association of Nurses in Professional Development) and those types of jobs. You don't even need an MSN to start as an NPD generalist. But you'll get more and better job opportunities if you become a specialist with a graduate degree.

ERnurse71, ADN, BSN · Nov 22, 2017

Thank you! I will definitely look into this!