Shortage of Nursing Instructors/Teachers?

mariposabella · Feb 9, 2009

I believe you have to have a lot of experience and of course a Masters and the pay is not that great compared with other nursing careers.

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 9, 2009

Yes. There is a serious faculty shortage in many areas. It's complicated. Colleges and universities have been cutting their budgets for years -- relying on "adjunct" instructors who get paid very minimally (and often with no benefits) rather than hiring into full time budgeted positions. That trend is happening in most disciplines, not just nursing.

With salaries in the practice setting rising -- and the compensation of adjunct instructors not keeping pace -- it's getting increasingly difficult for schools to recruit people into these unsecure, part time positions. Capable nurses with graduate degrees can get much better deals elsewhere.

I am currently teaching an online course as an adjunct for a full semester for $2000. For me, it's just a little extra income that is in addition to my full time hospital job. But imagine if I were trying to support myself at that rate. How many courses would I have to teach each semester to earn a living wage? I couldn't do it -- and the school would not have enough courses in need of an instructor to provide me with that much work.

The numbers just don't add up anymore in many communities. The schools are cutting their budgets and reducing the number of full time faculty. The adjunct role does provide enough compensation to recruit a sufficient number of people to fill in the holes. As full time people get their workload increased (because there aren't enough adjuncts), they become dissatisfied with their compensation and work schedules. Nobody's happy.

I'm sure you'll get a response saying that "All is well in my town." But in most towns, there are serious problems.

Trauma Columnist · Feb 9, 2009

When I got my MSN (2006) I was offered a position teaching for $5.00 less an hour than what I was making as a staff nurse. Few people can take a pay cut to teach. It might be something I do part time when I get older but for now, nope, gotta make money so that eventually I can retire! (Like maybe when I'm 80 -lol).

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Feb 9, 2009

Oh no, I'm afraid to say it:

I'm not in it for the money.

Oh please oh please dont turn this into a "calling vs. business" thread.

Anyway.

I see myself being bedside for the majority of my career. All of it maybe. Teaching would be the side thing, something I did after retirement maybe. IDK. I just like the idea of doing that.

RedCell · Feb 9, 2009

TraumaRUs said it....There is no money in teaching. I enjoy having students with me in the OR, but there is no way in hell I would take a full time job teaching anesthesia. The pay would be half of what I make now. I think many practitioners have the same mindset. God bless those that are willing to do it.

Sunflower3 · Feb 9, 2009

Hello everyone,

Interesting discussion here! So, does anyone foresee this situation changing for educators? I was so hoping to teach nursing, but reality is setting in! Do persons having a doctorate degree have a better chance?

Thanks,

Sunflower3

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Feb 9, 2009

I think alls you need is an MSN. If it takes a doctorate, leave me out. I'm willing to do it once I get my MSN. Weekends at the hospital in the ICU, weekdays at school. Fun fun fun.

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 9, 2009

Hello everyone,
Interesting discussion here! So, does anyone foresee this situation changing for educators? I was so hoping to teach nursing, but reality is setting in! Do persons having a doctorate degree have a better chance?
Thanks,
Sunflower3

Yes. We have a better chance of getting the jobs that are available -- but that doesn't mean that there are available jobs -- or that the jobs that are available are attractive.

Also, adjunct pay is often the same regardless of what degree you hold. As an adjunct (with 32 years of nursing experience) -- I make the same amount as a brand new MSN with only a couple years of experience. There is no "pay scale" for adjuncts. However, the PhD's have a advantage in getting what few full time tenure track positions that do exist.

However ... talking with a colleague last night (new MSN grad) ... She said she gets paid more when she teaches a clinical class than we do teaching classroom or online classes.

llg, PhD, RN

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Feb 9, 2009

I'm willing to do it once I get my MSN. Weekends at the hospital in the ICU, weekdays at school. Fun fun fun.

I would say this goal is quite realistic at least where I live. What I'm seeing here in Michigan is that there is a shortage of faculty with doctoral preparation in universities and many institutions in this category advertise for openings for this particular rank of nursing educators. However, community colleges hold the bulk of the nursing student population in the area and many such institutions constantly hire experienced RN's even those with just a bachelor's degree for part-time positions without benefits. After graduating from my MSN and while waiting to take the nurse practitioner certification, I worked as a part-time clinical instructor for one of the community colleges in the area. I was assigned six nursing students on their first Med/Surg rotation in the hospital setting and we met twice a week. I was being paid hourly at around $35-ish an hour back then. That rate was actually a bit higher than my hourly rate as a staff RN. What stopped me from continuing on that route was that I eventually accepted a nurse practitioner position that required full time commitment so I had to give up teaching part-time. I also earned more as a NP and didn't need the extra money the part-time teaching job offered.

ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN · Feb 9, 2009

The biggest complaint here is that they take a pay cut to become an instructor, I'm working towards my BSN so I can do adjunct clinical instruction while I work on my Master's but not sure I want to be afull time instructor, I'm more interested in watching as that light bulb goes off and they tie in the class work to the hands on, that day when things finally start to make sense and they think like a nurse for the first, that's what I want to be involved in

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Feb 9, 2009

NP Gilly. Can I say, I love your avatar. LOL.

I dont see myself going as far as NP. MSN and lecture at a community college. Yes, it is not the highest paying thing and I'll probably be asked to do full time load for part time pay, but I'll enjoy it plenty enough to not care.