Nurse educators

Post moved to the Educators Forum for more responses.

When I was researching nursing education, there seemed to be a divide between "staff development" and "nurse educators" in the literature; the first being in house staff for people already nursing, and the second for student nurses. Our ED calls it nurse educator for the unit though. You might try the staff development threads in nursing specialties as well.

Friend of mine took the unit position, only works days now, wears civies. She seems to like it, she works with others on classes that are shared between units (they did a huge charge nurse workshop, had over 60 nurses scheduled for it). She is also running around right now making sure everyone can answer Jayco questions (we're up for inspection again ). She does some of the teaching directly, other classes she arranges to get someone in to give classes.

I briefly considered it since I'm working on an education degree, but am not quite ready to give up being bedside in the ER, or having to work while the sun shines. Question is, what do you want to do? Are you ready for a break from patient care? Do you like researching stuff and giving presentations? Sounds like they think you are a good teacher if they offered you the job. Only other consideration that comes to mind off hand is, are you union and would you have to give up your union memebership?

Thanks for the reply, I am one of the two day charge nurses and I have been doing it for about 5 years. I really feel I am just evolving into the positon, but I really need a change. It is such a challenge being in charge of 12 nurses 6 ca's and 5 people who clean the rooms etc. Plus knowing what is going with every patient, and we are a 52 bed unit. My manager has already said that he is "shooting off his own foot" by offering me the job. ( I guess that should make me feel good). I am just a little nervous about starting something new. This is a new postion for our floor so I will be starting it from the ground up. I do enjoy teaching and working with the new grads, and I have had many people come and tell me they feel comfortable asking me questions.

No, we are not union so that is not a concern, and I was told that I will be hourly not salary, so I would get paid the extra hours that would be put in. He also told me I could pretty much make my own hours as long as I put in at least 40. Now that I am writing this all down, almost sounds to go to be true.