Hi all- i am in need of a little guidance here. I just interviewed for a part time adjunct clinical instructor position this week. I'm pretty confident that I got the job- they already gave me a copy of the student schedule and med/Surg rotation plan, and were talking to me as if I already had the job. Plus, the interviewers knew each and every person I had put down as a reference. My goal all along has been to be a nurse educator- I love working with nursing students and new nurses, and have always worked in teaching hospitals.
Here's my issue: I am currently in orientation for a WOW CCU position, and will be strictly weekends only by mid- April. This is good, because the school doesn't need me until 2 weeks after that. I am also in school on Wednesdays. I will be teaching clinicals 2.5 days a week (7-10 students at a time), so my weekly schedule will look like this:
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Sunday- 7a-7p on CCU
Monday- 7a-11a patient planning with the students, and paperwork
Tuesday- 7a-3p teaching clinicals
Wednesday- 9a-4p taking my own classes
Thursday- 7a-3p teaching clinicals
Friday- OFF
Saturday- 7a-7p on CCU
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I am fortunate that the clinicals I will be teaching will be in the hospital where I already work.
So, am I reaching too far here? Is this doable? How many of you started out part time with another job? I eventually want to teach full time, but am very happy with the CCU for now. My plan is to teach full time after I finish my Master's. I have 10 years Med/Surg & TCU experience under my belt, but I have lots to learn about ICU. Is it possible to be a learner and a teacher at the same time in this capacity?
Girl, you are crasy!!! but you know what, so was I, until this semester :). When I started teaching adjunct almost 2 years ago, I was working per-diem on top of that (at least 2 shifts a week, only did per-diem for the flexibility for childcare). I was taking 6 credits. Then I got separated from my husband, which forced me to get a real job. worked PT (2 shifts), a little per-diem with that, still taking 6 credits at a time, with a young child. I was nuts!!! But I got my foot in the teaching door and didn't want to take it out. And I'm glad I didn't, because my adjunct turned into a part-time job, and now I am working full time. Done with school :monkeydance:, so I have a little load off my shoulders, but took on an adjunct on top of the FT job.
Take that plunge girl!!! We women are stronger than we give ourselves credit for
Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
Update: I took the job! I discovered that I know most of the educators and adjuncts there, so I feel good about starting at this school. They have a laid back atmosphere, and seem to be very organized, too. I am very excited, happy, and a little scared. I start in March!
Wow...congratulations...sounds like you are excited & nervous! I'm sure you'll be fine! You seem to be happy about it.......It will work if you want it to...I can't wait to hear about how it goes with the students! I'm sure you'll be a fantastic instructor!
I think that if you are asking the question, you probably need to think long and hard before taking all this on. I finished my MSN after taking a full time teaching job, and worked supplemental in the hospital. My family suffered, and so did my coursework. Having been baptized by fire, as a nurse, why would you want to do the same as an educator?
I'm sure you'll be a fantastic instructor!
BBFRN, BSN, PhD
3,779 Posts
OK- that's what this school told me as well- that they mainly offer their FT positions to their adjuncts.
I think I'm going to take the plunge, if they'll have me.