Shortage of Nursing Instructors/Teachers?

[eriksoln]

I hear that there is a nursing teacher shortage a lot of times. It usually follows a post about someone not being confident in getting into school and such.

Is the nursing teacher shortage that bad? Why?

I dont know if I'll go on to get my MSN, but if I do, teaching at a local community college would be my goal. Just doing some fact finding.

[Sunflower3]

So, perhaps I should just get my post-master's FNP that is only two more semesters. Maybe being an NP (of which I've also had an interest) would also help me to 'stand out' from the crowd when a teaching job becomes available. Any thoughts here?

Thanks,

Sunflower3

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

Get the Np You won't regret it. Teaching does not pay what you make in a hospital. I am working full time in the hospital and part time teaching. It is hard to cut your pay by 1/3.

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

So, perhaps I should just get my post-master's FNP that is only two more semesters. Maybe being an NP (of which I've also had an interest) would also help me to 'stand out' from the crowd when a teaching job becomes available. Any thoughts here?

Thanks,

Sunflower3

Well, I'm not sure if being an FNP will help make one "stand out" from the crowd when a teaching job becomes available. Most academic institutions both at the university and community college level require faculty to have a graduate degree. In most universities, a doctoral degree is required for positions that lead to tenure but many community colleges only require a master's degree for full time positions. Although FNP's do earn a master's degree after graduation, the training is not really intended for teaching in academic settings. Rather, you are trained as an advanced practice clinician in primary care. By virtue of having received a master's degree, the FNP qualifies for a teaching position in schools that offer undergraduate programs in nursing. However, I think that not having received graduate level courses on curriculum design, classroom teaching skills, etc., would not make the FNP "stand out" as a candidate.

On another note, an experienced FNP would probably "stand out" as an ideal candidate to teach in programs that prepare future FNP's. This may be one of the thinking behind the new DNP degree as it would fast-track currently practicing nurse practitioners to earn a doctoral degree so that some may qualify for university positions that lead to tenure. But again, this is also another topic of much debate.

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

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.

thanks

Well, no, don't do the NP if that's not what you want to do. If money is not an issue, you can focus your MSN in teaching.

[Sunflower3]

"However, I think that not having received graduate level courses on curriculum design, classroom teaching skills, etc., would not make the FNP "stand out" as a candidate. "

I certainly agree with you on this point, since I had these in my MSN program (Nursing Education). I do believe that courses in design, evaluation methods, etc are an integral part of teaching. If I did have the NP credential in addition to my education degree, I'm thinking that I would have a greater chance at fulfilling my goal as an educator, while remaining in clinical practice.

So many choices; I just recently learned that the DNP degree is for administrators, NP or CNS only, not for educators! Not sure why the CCNE decided this, especially since clinical instruction should qualify as clinical practice. Perhaps this will change in time.

Sunflower3

[JBudd, MSN]

I'm finishing my MSN in nursing education, and am teaching one course at the community college where I did my field work, and have taught as a clinical instructor. I'm doing it because I enjoy it and it gives a break from the ER. However, I am paid $15 an hour more for my BSN in house, than as an MSN in the classroom.

In general, ADN programs want CI's with a BSN, and an MSN for the classroom. Universities want MSNs for clinical and classroom for thier BSN students, the faculty in classrooms should be working on their doctorate with a view to complete in 5 years per most BONs. Faculty for ADN can be a BSN while working on a Masters. Accreditation looks hard at the credentials of the faculty.

[diane227, LPN, RN]

I have a BSN and I would teach in a heartbeat if I did not have to get an MSN and they could match the salary that I am currently making.

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

I have a BSN and I would teach in a heartbeat if I did not have to get an MSN and they could match the salary that I am currently making.

I think my community college had BSN clinical instructors. But as far as the pay scale goes, good luck with that. I saw a few superior instructors leave our school because they just needed to get their bills in better order.

Eh, me, I look at it as a way to take a break from bedside nursing later on in my career. I see avoiding burn out as a personal responsibility. I think having the option to cut back on my hours in the hospital later in my career and suplement my income with teaching as my way of doing this.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Eh, me, I look at it as a way to take a break from bedside nursing later on in my career. I see avoiding burn out as a personal responsibility. I think having the option to cut back on my hours in the hospital later in my career and suplement my income with teaching as my way of doing this.

My plan is similar to yours. I work full time at a hospital (mostly in Staff Development and a little in management) and teach an ocassional course as an adjunct. While I like the extra cash, I'm not really doing it for the money NOW. I hope to use that experience later to help me ease into retirement. Hospital leadership positions do not often include the option to work part time: it's often either "full time or quit." I am hopeful that there will come a time (in my early 60's) at which I will be ble to afford to cut back to part time -- and that the teaching experience I get now will help me get a part time teaching position later.

The experience I am getting now may also help me get a part time (or full time) teaching job if I get laid off from my currnet hospital job. Teaching is the "Plan B" that I may be relying on some day. It won't pay as much as I make now, but I could probably make enough to live on it if I had to -- or as I ease gradually into retirement, but still want to work a little (and need the health care benefits.)

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

Yeah. And, I imagine, it can be rewarding. IDK, I just see myself liking it.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

I got my MSN and a second degree in Adult Education specifically to teach nursing school. Then the four local schools all offered me a job! But they wanted to start the pay just a few dollars over what the new grads are paid. They are regulated by the state or a board and have to start all NEW teachers at the bottom, regardless of the need or other experience you have in the field. Hospital educators often earn less than other staff too. I am not eligible for clinical ladder either. But I am making a good salary. Another point - now one of the nursing schools pays me prn to teach one course a semester. The rate much higher than faculty. Go figure.

[rnstudentbacker]

I have a question--Does anyone know of any innovative models being advanced to help retain Nursing Instructors? At the Communitiy College where I work, we are considering creating a job-sharing of sorts with an area hospital. The model would involve our college "hiring" a staff nurse one day a week to be a Clinical Instructor for us. We would share in the compensation for that nurse so that she would not take the financial hit so many nurses who want to get into teaching talk about. Talk back to me !