Nurse Educators- do you work in the hospital setting or as nursing school faculty?

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 14, 2009

I work in a hospital. I prefer working with people who are already nurses than with students who are at a real beginner-level -- and good graduate nursing faculty jobs are not all that common, come with a lot of tenure-track requirements, etc. Also, hospital jobs usually pay better.

I also teach an ocassional course in a BSN completion program. It gives me a little extra income, some concrete experience as a faculty member, and I enjoy that population of students.

allnurses Guide · Sep 16, 2009

I work 24 night hours in the ER, as staff. I teach 2 classes at the Community College, one day a week, first semester nursing students.

I love the ER, don't want to give it up, plus the hospital pay is so much higher than teaching. I couldn't live with my current budget on what the CC pays. So I teach, but don't count any of that pay into the budget, it goes to savings.

I did a masters in education just for myself, (and because I felt God leading me to it). What will happen in the future, I can't say. I enjoy the students, but not spending more than 12-15 hours of my own time grading papers every week (and that's just for a total of 3 credit hours on the student side). Teaching is fun, and certainly made me brush up on my own skills.

Not interested in nursing ed at the hospital, the department changes too much and the demands seem unreasonable at times. I do precept newbies in the ER sometimes, but since I'm part time I rarely have a student or new hire assigned solely to me (not to mention I'm charge at least half the time).

Otessa, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2009

What made you decide to teach in the hospital or as a college instructor?
What do you like best about your current job?
Just want to better understand this area of nursing. :heartbeat

I work in a large multi-site Clinic setting.

Teaching all types of clinical and non-clinical staff members.

Love having lunch breaks, working normally 8 hours, one Saturday per year, no holidays, 2 evenings per year. Being a wife and mother this provides little stress-don't take work home with me-minimal scheduling difficulties. A LOT of variety in this setting makes it fun and enjoyable-a dream job!

Finishing up my MSN in Education.

otessa

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Sep 22, 2009

What made you decide to teach in the hospital or as a college instructor?

I prefer working in a practice setting rather than academia for a number of reasons. I did a residency in academia as part of my EdD requirements - HATED it. There were too many rules (tenure???? what is that all about??) and it moved waay too slow. Even in my current position - at a corporate level for a large system - I have an opportunity to be closely involved in education and clinical development programs that have a direct impact on patient care. My salary is better than it would be in academia. I have much greater autonomy.

I come from a family of educators (4 generations) but I'm the first one in healthcare. It's probably a congenital defect in my chromonet - LOL. I 'came up through the ranks' beginning as a unit-based educator, advancing my education as time went on and I changed positions.

What do you like best about your current job?

I love being on the forefront of clinical education. I manage eLearning, including development of new courses. I am also currently involved with implementation of simulation-based skills labs - waay cool. I get to travel to work with our various facilities. Because I work with them, I have the privilege of being in a position to make sure that innovative, dedicated clinical staff are recognized for their efforts. I can't think of anything about my job that I don't like.

NurseJimAZ · Sep 23, 2009

I was adjunct teaching (9+ credit hours a semester) and working in the hospital (full-time) for 14 years. After thinking I was having a heart attack one morning, and staring at the ER ceiling (maybe it was the morphine??) I did some rethinking of how my life was going. Focus: If I survived the next few days, what did I really l like to do? I thought it over and found I received the greatest satisfaction out of watching students "discover" patient care. Good news--no MI!

I did not have the credentials to be a full-time instructor, so changed jobs (to a rotating shifts-house supervisor position), cut back my teaching hours and went back to school. Two years later, almost graduated, I was approached by the college to initiate the simulation lab--as a full time position. started with a SimMan (still in the box), an empty classroom and no fear. Been here ever since.

It allows me to teach, do clinical, and watch all those little light-bulbs go off over student's heads--all day! I always know what the clinical situation will be--I know the patient's, the meds, the problems, the families--because I control it all.

I have the world's best department chair, a wonderful and caring group of faculty, a good amount of freedom to teach what I want. I have some very sophisticated equipment (SimMan, SimBaby, VirtualIV, Computer Simulations) but it comes down to the instruction--the toys are secondary. I get to work my butt off keeping patients I will never see safe and effectively cared for. Hours are good--but you work a lot more than you get paid for--but you do it because it does make a difference. I still haven't seen those 3 months off in the summer because we have over 500 students and staggered program starts. I have students coming back and telling me how the time in the Sim lab set them up to be proactive and effective when similar situations arose clinically.

That makes the difference for me.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Sep 25, 2009

I work in Staff Development in a hospital. I work very closely with the nursing faculty at area schools and have worked as clinical instructor or as preceptor.

I like hospital work because you learn about what is going on in the real world of nursing. Also, I am surrounded by very smart people representing many disciplines. Always a challenge!

JaneyW · Sep 29, 2009

I am a brand new full-time teacher (tenure-track) in an ADN program. I am teaching two quarter-long classes: fundamentals and OB (was an L&D nurse). I LOVE teaching--lecture, lab and clinical. I especially like the brand new students. They are enthusiastic and they ask the best questions! It really keeps me on my toes. The tenure process at the community college level isn't so bad. No publishing required. I enjoy my fellow faculty members--lively department meetings. I love having weeks off at Christmas and 2 months off in the summer. There are times when you work far beyond the 40 hour week (developing lectures, grading care plans) and times when you do get the full weekend to yourself. The pay isn't great, but it is enough.

I was not interested in working in clinical education because the hours are more without the breaks. I was not interested in trying to teach old dogs new tricks so to speak (don't flame me--I am an old dog, too!). I am better at inspiring newbies to greatness and will leave inspiring practicing nurses to others better equipped.

Education is like many other areas in nursing. There is something for everyone. My last job had a lot of community education and I really liked that as well.