Nurse Educators, Introduce Yourselves!

marachne · Jan 10, 2009

i've been hanging out on this forum for a while so i figure i should introduce myself.

i am currently a phd candidate. i got into nursing as an adult w/many years of experience in other (but often related) work. as i went through my bs program, the gero department became a john a. hartford center of geriatric nursing excellence. one of the goals of the hartford geriatric nursing initiative is to increase the number of gerontological nursing faculty, so our center was encouraging people to apply to the phd program after graduating from their undergraduate program (it was a bs to ms to phd program, but the school developed a post-bac phd program right before i started). another thing the school (at students urging!) developed was a series of education courses, and then a ms in nursing education. and we have the good fortune of having chris tanner, a leader in education (and editor of the journal of nursing education) at our institution.

as part of my course work, i took the education series. i have since guest lectured several times, and this quarter i will be taing one of the main undergraduate courses. i am excited to have the opportunity to put my theory knowledge to work, and get some mentored experience. my plan, after graduation (hopefully this year!) and a post-doc is to find work at an institution where i can both be teaching and engaging in research.

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Jan 10, 2009

Welcome, marachne! :welcome: I, also, am very interested in gerontological nursing, advocacy, and research. Look forward to your contributions! :)

Lstcats · Jan 12, 2009

I've been hanging out on this forum for a while so I figure I should introduce myself.
I am currently a PhD Candidate. I got into nursing as an adult w/many years of experience in other (but often related) work. As I went through my BS program, the Gero department became a John A. Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence. One of the goals of the Hartford Geriatric Nursing Initiative is to increase the number of gerontological nursing faculty, so our center was encouraging people to apply to the PhD program after graduating from their undergraduate program (it was a BS to MS to PhD program, but the school developed a post-bac PhD program right before I started). Another thing the school (at students urging!) developed was a series of education courses, and then a MS in Nursing Education. And we have the good fortune of having Chris Tanner, a leader in education (and editor of the Journal of Nursing Education) at our institution.
As part of my course work, I took the education series. I have since guest lectured several times, and this quarter I will be TAing one of the main undergraduate courses. I am excited to have the opportunity to put my theory knowledge to work, and get some mentored experience. My plan, after graduation (hopefully this year!) and a post-doc is to find work at an institution where I can both be teaching and engaging in research.

Welcome, I am familiar with the Hartford Center/geri nursing initiative. I also wanted to say that you should apply in Boston. As you know, Boston is well reknown for its academic arena with many nursing research guru living in and around here like Jackie Faucett and Sister Calista Roy who I have both heard speak and met. There is Boston College, UMass, Northeastern U, Regis and many other well renown academic institutions that are doing great things here in Boston. I'm sure they could use your expertise. The newest thing up here is the invention of Grad. Nursing Education programs and Grad. Nurse Certificate programs in Nursing Education. They consist of 3-3 credit courses. And, since you have your doctorate you would be fine. As you well know, to teach in any BSN program in MA you must have your doctorate. It is very strict here because of the high level of education required unlike some other states I have read about on the forum (ie. MSN only required for BSN, and BSN okay for LPN program like in FL and TX). :wink2:

marachne · Jan 12, 2009

Welcome, I am familiar with the Hartford Center/geri nursing initiative. I also wanted to say that you should apply in Boston. As you know, Boston is well reknown for its academic arena with many nursing research guru living in and around here like Jackie Faucett and Sister Calista Roy who I have both heard speak and met. There is Boston College, UMass, Northeastern U, Regis and many other well renown academic institutions that are doing great things here in Boston. I'm sure they could use your expertise. The newest thing up here is the invention of Grad. Nursing Education programs and Grad. Nurse Certificate programs in Nursing Education. They consist of 3-3 credit courses. And, since you have your doctorate you would be fine. As you well know, to teach in any BSN program in MA you must have your doctorate. It is very strict here because of the high level of education required unlike some other states I have read about on the forum (ie. MSN only required for BSN, and BSN okay for LPN program like in FL and TX). :wink2:

I appreciate your input, but alas, my partner is a native Louisianian, and not the big-city type so I'm looking at places that are warmer and probably smaller. I had looked at Penn as a place for a post-doc (my focus is EOL and there are several people there w/that expertise), but I realized that even for 2 years, she would be miserable in such an intensely urban place that had intense winters.

As you can tell from my comment above, I am planning on a post-doc, and hoping that, if it is a mutually good fit, it may be a way of finding a faculty position as well (I know, for example Vanderbilt uses their post-docs as a recruiting tool). Another place I'm looking at is the new school at UC Davis. They were given $100 million dollars to build/develop a SON. Heather Young is the new dean and I admire her greatly, and they are talking about creating a new model for their program -- highly integrated/interdisciplinary. The idea of being connected to a place where thoughtful people (with lots of input from her national "brain trust" of educators and researchers) are creating something from the ground up is exciting!

Lstcats · Jan 13, 2009

i appreciate your input, but alas, my partner is a native louisianian, and not the big-city type so i'm looking at places that are warmer and probably smaller. i had looked at penn as a place for a post-doc (my focus is eol and there are several people there w/that expertise), but i realized that even for 2 years, she would be miserable in such an intensely urban place that had intense winters.
yes, i hear you. i am trying to move to fl in the next year or so. i keep saying...this is my last winter in boston.
as you can tell from my comment above, i am planning on a post-doc, and hoping that, if it is a mutually good fit, it may be a way of finding a faculty position as well (i know, for example vanderbilt uses their post-docs as a recruiting tool). another place i'm looking at is the new school at uc davis. they were given $100 million dollars to build/develop a son. heather young is the new dean and i admire her greatly, and they are talking about creating a new model for their program -- highly integrated/interdisciplinary. the idea of being connected to a place where thoughtful people (with lots of input from her national "brain trust" of educators and researchers) are creating something from the ground up is exciting!

again, something i know about as i worked as a traveler @ ucdavis in the early 90's. it was fantastic. back then i worked 12 hr night shift on the tele medical floor and had only 3-4 patients. not the 10 i was used to back here and the acuity level was much less. the easiest nursing job i ever had. i do recall getting floated to the ed one night and felt so unprepared even with icu experience @ mgh in boston. i had 10 patients admit and discharge during the 8 hour shift. but, i thought the place was pretty good. although, different out there from here where the interns and residents in boston collaborate with the nurses. the docs @ uc davis didn't acknowledge us at all or talk with us even the olympic gold speed skater turned medical student (can't recall his name). sounds really exciting for you. :yeah:

dorimar, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2009

It is a pleasure to meet all of you. I am already gleaning a great deal from this specialty thread. I used to visit Allnurses regularly before starting my Master's program, but have had little time to do so until recently completing my degree. I have been a RN at the bedside full time since 1985, with 21 of those years in critical care. I am CCRN certified and just received my MSN/ED degree (FINALLY). What I am finding is that the nurse educator jobs are not that abundant, which is surprising to me after reading about the nursing faculty shortage all through my program. It seems i will need education expeirience to get a job educating, but how does one get this experience if one cannot get a job without that experience... I am also dissappointed to find that I will most likely be taking a drastic pay cut if I leave the hospital setting. I have to finish out my contract with my current facility into May of this year, but am thinking of applying to the community college system in my county after that. It will be difficult to go from 3 12's a week to 5 8's and more for less pay. It is also very difficult for me to go from being an expert in my field to a novice, but I hope to have the opportunity to do so very soon. As far as resources go, I had intended to join the AACN nurse educator network, but am finding that I actually need to already be an educator to join. Happily, I came upon this thread in Allnurses and will be checking in regularly with the hope of using you all as a resource as i begin as a novice nurse educator. I will also be subscribing to the Nurse Educator journal. Thankfully too, I have access to several databases online as a University of Phoenix alumnus. Thanks in advance for the information and assisstance provided here!

Lstcats · Jan 21, 2009

it is a pleasure to meet all of you.
:redpinkhelikewise!!! i wanted to respond to you and give you some info. see below.
i am already gleaning a great deal from this specialty thread. i used to visit allnurses regularly before starting my master's program, but have had little time to do so until recently completing my degree. i have been a rn at the bedside full time since 1985, with 21 of those years in critical care. i am ccrn certified and just received my msn/ed degree (finally).
:up:good job!
what i am finding is that the nurse educator jobs are not that abundant, which is surprising to me after reading about the nursing faculty shortage all through my program. it seems i will need education expeirience to get a job educating, but how does one get this experience if one cannot get a job without that experience...
i am not sure where you live but there are tons of jobs for nursing instructors both clinical adjunct and ft faculty throughout the country. the most jobs are in ca where there is a severe faculty nursing shortage. a great website is: nursing - faculty positions - higheredjobs.com. hopefully, you can access this. you do not need education experience to land an educator job. i live in highly academic boston and i got a job as ft faculty in a pn program and i was a school nurse before going into academia. as long as you have a msn/some type of masters degree you are golden. i have been teaching adjunct clinical for two years after leaving the ft faculty position.
setting. i have to finish out my contract with my current facility into may of this year, but am thinking of applying to the community college system in my county after that. it will be difficult to go from 3 12's a week to 5 8's and more for less pay.
:)it really isn't five days a week. it all depends on how many lectures you do and how many clinical days there are. in adn and bsn programs the first semester is one day of clinical per week and two days of clinical each semester thereafter. in pn programs two days per week each semester and 3 days a week the last semester. i had wed. off every week because of two lecture days and two clinical days. the first year you will do a lot of work getting adjusted but will have your lectures all set for the following year unless you teach something different. just recently i had two schools after me and i could have worked as much as i wanted but would have been almost dead so i just chose one college.
it is also very difficult for me to go from being an expert in my field to a novice, but i hope to have the opportunity to do so very soon. as far as resources go, i had intended to join the aacn nurse educator network, but am finding that i actually need to already be an educator to join. happily, i came upon this thread in allnurses and will be checking in regularly with the hope of using you all as a resource as i begin as a novice nurse educator. i will also be subscribing to the nurse educator journal. thankfully too, i have access to several databases online as a university of phoenix alumnus. thanks in advance for the information and assisstance provided here!

you have some great plans:up:. i would suggest that you get a clinical adjunct job one or two day or eves per week prior to you going ft. it is a good way to know if you will like it. the $$ is much better for clinical vs. faculty. just fyi in ma area: clinical adjunct make anywhere from $50 to 65 per hour but don't forget therre is a lot of correcting papers/care plans etc. on your own time so it isn't really the $50 per hour. in contrast, ft faculty here in ma make from around $40,000 to 60,000 a year compared to ft hospital nursing which is more than double that amount. hence, the faculty shortage. it has a lot to do with low money and the responsibilities. but, it is very rewarding. :yeah:

dorimar, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2009

Thank you Lstcats! This was very helpful!

rgdavisRN · Feb 9, 2009

I am a new full time clinical instructor in a BSN program, and teach med-surg clinicals. My MSN program was adult health CNS, but I taught clinicals part time throughout graduate school and loved it enough to teach full time when I graduated.

I've been in nursing since 1997, and really enjoy helping students to learn nursing and to love nursing.

I didn't realize there was a forum on allnurses for educators until today. I've been browsing on this site on and off for a couple years now, and have started using it more regualrly recently. I'm looking forward to getting ideas from this forum.

shah · Feb 11, 2009

Hi, I need some advice please. I was admitted to a Nurse Practitioner program last year. The aim was to become a NP and teach. But I could not continue due to my schedule.

This Spring, I transfered to the Education track, because it was online, and enrolled in 2 courses. Just after enrolling, I lost my job, and had to choose between paying rent or going to school.

Is there any program that pays for Nurse Educator schooling? I live in Texas.

Thanks

gbcteacher · Feb 13, 2009

HI everyone

I currently teach nursing at Great Basin College. I have a BSN from Graceland University, MSN from UNLV and I am currently finishing my PHD in Nursing Education UNLV. Hopefully I will be done with my dissrtation by the end of the summer. I teach advanced Med-surg and critical care in the ADN program and I teach Pathophysiology, Health Asssessment, and Leadership in our RN-BSN program. I have nursing experience in Emergency nursing, school nursing, hospital education, and I am also a family nurse practitioner. I love teaching more than anything. I am always thrilled to share any of the work I've created, so if you need forms, powerpoints,etc. Just let me know! I kind of like to believe as educators, we are all on the same team! :yeah:

dabearrn · Feb 19, 2009

I am a second year instructor in an itty bitty ADN program on an itty bitty island in the Pacific Ocean. No MSN, no BSN, only a diploma, and a BS in exercise physiology. Students say they learn quite a bit from me though. It seems I am able to put things in terms that they understand. Most of them are not REAL good with English so it is a good thing I am able to do that. I am still learning, and still learning what I do not know. Hopefully, I will get much better in time.