nursing instructor shortages

carolynd · Nov 7, 2004

I believe one must have a masters to fully understand concepts of curriculum development, classroom control and basic test construction. All of these should be learned while enrolled as a masters student. You become enlightened to an entirely new world much greater than client/patient care. You begin to see the need for nurses to research their care decisions and build a professional practice based on scientific principles. A clinical instructor does not need to have a masters in nursing because they are teaching skills and time management but in the classroom we are doing so much more. I would uphold the need for a masters prepared nurse in the classroom. The bigger problem is that instructors are not paid according to their education and can work for much more than can be made in the classroom. The focus must be on reinbursement for instructors - until that time we will continue to see a dwindling shortage of instructors and without instructors we will be unlikely to meet the growing need for practicing nurses.

Hi! I am one of those nurses who have 40 years of experience and decided to finish my career as a practical nursing instructor. When I applied for the position, I was asked if I would work on my Masters. At this time, that is what I am doing. Right now, I am researching for a paper about the need for a masters in the practical nursing program. If there is a shortage of instructors, would it not be better to have bachelor prepared instructors with a coordinator with a masters. Then the more prepared instructors could be utilized in the RN programs and then they would be able to increase the enrollment. Looking forward to your opinions.
Darlene

Trauma Columnist · Nov 8, 2004

Gee in my area even to teach clinicals you MUST have an MSN. Gotta have a PhD to teach didactic. However, I can't afford to take a pay cut to teach so I'll do something else with my MSN.

msnblack · Nov 8, 2004

The issue of compensation for instructors--clinical or theory is truly a major issue in getting the qualified instructors into academia. I taught for 8 years but then moved. When I interviewed for a teaching position in the south (AL) I would have had to take a $20,000+ annual cut in pay over my present position as a hospital educator. It was not worth it to me even though my love is teaching student nurses.

carolynd · Nov 12, 2004

our school just received the governor's award for best practice by writing, receiving, and implementing a grant, which allowed us to increase our student cohort by 12 in an alternate tract of learning. we received funding for 2 years and were able to take 24 additional students through to pn boards. our school administration committed to make it possible for all who desire to complete their adn. i am very proud of the project we did but i am quite concerned with increasing enrollment as we are at risk for having a burned out teaching staff. we are using bsn in our clinical sites as part-time instructors but there are few new masters prepared instructors for the didactic portion. our state has funded a brand new health science building so student capacity can increase but how do we attract instructors? what can be done by nursing to get the legislature to recognize the salary inequity between instructors and practicing nurses? if we loose too many instructors to retirement, burnout etc., what do you think will happen to the nursing shortage then? if you have any ideas or would like a job just respond. i truly am concerned for the future of nursing.

shull · Jun 19, 2007

PRORN I agree with you. I have a BSN and have 20 years experience in hospital and other areas and I am med/surg certified. I have been a nurse manager and a director of nursing in a nursing home and a preceptor for years so I felt like I could do it. I Needed to learn how to teach subjects which I went on line to different sites and got advice and I feel like I do a good job. In my state they required a BSN for the LPN program and MSN for the RN program. I definetly feel that a degree doesn't always mean the students are going to get the best instructors. I know some RN's that would blow away some of the masters prepared. I am not trying to be rude I am jsut trying to get my point across. Shull

vickynurse · Jun 21, 2007

what can be done by nursing to get the legislature to recognize the salary inequity between instructors and practicing nurses? if we loose too many instructors to retirement, burnout etc., what do you think will happen to the nursing shortage then? if you have any ideas or would like a job just respond. i truly am concerned for the future of nursing.

carolynd, i agree with everything you've said in your previous post. where i teach, we are also challenged with convincing our college administrators that the compensation for clinicals needs to be improved. clinical adjuncts (bsn req) are only paid $18 per hour ! full time faculty are compensated for clinicals at a lower rate than chem & bio lab instructors.

tgb1966 · Jun 22, 2007

I found this posting to be very interesting. I am currently working on my MSN, will finish coursework in 2/08. In the meantime, I am teaching clinical for a PN program. The program director is a BSN with a MEd and the rest of the classroom instructors are BSN's, two of which just started on their MSN's. The students come to me horribly prepared, some not even having a rudimentary knowledge of pharmacology and clinical skills. The course they had in pharmacology was taught by the program coordinator and the students felt they learned more about her son's experience at Boy Scout camp than they learned about pharmacology. I have 4th term students who are about to graduate. I have been re-teaching important things like dosage calculation, drug classes, drip calculation, etc. These students also feel unprepared to perform basic skills like inserting a foley catheter, because the clinical lab is small and there is such a wait for practice, that many times there are several students who never get a chance to perform the skill on the mannequin. I have decided to resign my position with this institution due to the concerns that I have. Any advice on questions to ask when interviewing for a full time position to prevent similar problems? Thanks!

emmycRN · Jun 22, 2007

Gee in my area even to teach clinicals you MUST have an MSN. Gotta have a PhD to teach didactic. However, I can't afford to take a pay cut to teach so I'll do something else with my MSN.

traumaRUs-I would be interested in hearing about what you decide to do with your degree. I am working on a CNS degree, but in my area they aren't utilized in the hospitals at all. I want to teach, but worry about getting by on the pay.

Goodoldnurse · Jun 23, 2007

About the pay, how do we propose to change this? When I look at the hours I work and the "overage pay" it pans out. My school has great benefits that I do not pay for, so that helps.

I work at the hospital during the breaks and summer. I work from home sometimes and get alot done.

We are required to be either have a MSN or working on one to be an instructor. The schools have to have a certain number of MSN educators, so that sometimes results in hiring people that may not be a great fit. I do feel it is needed to have the education courses to be more effective. I came in before these and will have a much better understanding this year.

Horselover44 · Jun 23, 2007

In starting this fall, I took a small pay cut from my home health supervisor position. The pay will equal out because I will supplement my income during the summer or winter break by working at a local hospital. The benefits, especially having a son at the same college, are wonderful. I think if you want to teach, you can make concessions to allow things to work out.

Goodoldnurse · Jun 23, 2007

Oh how true!!! The ability to be at home with children, or be active in church, together with teaching, how sweet it is!! LOL

shull · Jun 25, 2007

Hi Tgb1966 I read your post and I guess I am just very lucky. I have been teaching in a small rural area and I have a BSN as I already said and my director has a MSN. We are both very experienced in clinical nursing and both doing well in teaching the required subjects. The staff at the hospitals and homes etc we do clinicals at are always shocked on how educated our students in the PN program are. We share both areas. It is only the two of us. We will graduate 19 students this August. They have done many injections, foleys, meds, trach care and suctioning you name it and they understand why. I know you would be very pleased if I sent my students to you. You sound like a great teacher. And believe it or not I get paid well and have good benefits Sally