Survey on Causes for Nurse Faculty Shortage

MedSurgeMess · Nov 22, 2009

I think money is just the tip of the iceberg...yes more money would help, as it requires a MSN just as much as any of the other advanced practice areas. I think respect is another big issue..in my RN-BSN program, some of the nurses actually asked the professors if they were still nurses. And some of them were so disrespectful to the professors, and many of them were still working at the bedside. This is just a start.

deemarys · Nov 22, 2009

Ok disrespect is a problem in my class as well. Alot of the student nurses do question the instructors implying that the information given in lecture is wrong. I find it very rude and distracting as a student nurse. I can understand how it must feel to the instructor.

curiosity123 · Nov 22, 2009

I think money is a big part of the problem. To teach, a nurse needs a masters, ideally a Phd. An experienced nurse with a masters degree working in a hospital may earn nearly twice the salary of an undergraduate instructor.

Possible solutions? I know some medical centers have partnered with nursing schools. Instructors are employed by the medical center, earning the higher salary while working part time as a nursing instructor and part time at the medical center.

philanurse74 · Nov 22, 2009

I imagine money is a big factor...not there yet, but I do wish to do part time in the hospital and part time teaching. One of my instructors told us frequently her brand new grads made more than her. I love curiosity's information above!

nolabarkeep · Nov 22, 2009

It has always been about the money. Pay not just nurses, but all educators more. This will lead more intelligent individuals to pursue teaching as a second job and/or a career. I can't imagine having to support a family on a teachers salary. It is sad.

Riseupandnurse · Nov 22, 2009

Sorry, I don't think it is the money. Practice is horrible, and yes I have been in both practice and full-time teaching, at the same time, for many years. The same thing is wrong with both practice and nursing school. Colleagues who stab you in the back to make themselves look better, senseless paperwork up the wazoo, and everything driven by customer service. Who cares if we cure the patients; did we make them and their families smile and give them hot meals? Who cares if we teach the students; do they LIKE us, or do they think we're mean and make them work too hard? Never mind that they can't think or write a coherent sentence or do any math at all without a calculator. Customer service ratings will be the death of this country. Literally.

deemarys · Nov 22, 2009

Thanks Jan,

So to sum it up you pet peeve is

1)Students who don't have basic or standard knowledge to begin nursing school studies.

2)Unprofessionalism among co-workers(other nurses)

3)Lack of Customer Service and TLC.

I didn't know how to word properly (colleagues who stab you in the back) in a few words so I chose Lack of professionalism.

Did I get it right? Good points by the way. I am learning alot from this survey.

Many Thanks to you and to all who replied to this post. :up:

Dimaris

Student Practical Nurse

Graduate 12/09

allnurses Guide · Nov 22, 2009

back stabbing is Horizontal Violence

My hourly salary as adjunct faculty with an MSN is exactly 2/3 my hourly rate as a staff nurse, which does not require the MSN. I get paid by the credit hour for each course, not the actual amount of hours I put in every week. Grading papers takes a lot of time if you actually pay attention to what each of the 32 students has to say. Students tell me they appreciate how fast I get papers back to them, but I remind them I only teach one day a week; full time faculty have 5 to 6 times as much paperwork to grade as I do.

I teach part time (adjunct) because I like it and wanted a change (can we say midlife?). But it wouldn't pay the bills. I like my staff job too, but I've been at this hospital 25 years (3 year hiatus in the middle of those, but came back). To go anywhere else I would lose a lot of longevity pay and seniority; becoming full time faculty would wipe that out.

diane227, LPN, RN · Nov 22, 2009

1. They don't pay enough.

2. They require a masters or PhD. There are a lot of us out here with a BSN who would LOVE to teach and like teaching but who are not going to spend the money or the time going back to school for a Masters degree.

These are the two reasons that you don't have enough instructors, period.

Otessa, BSN, RN · Nov 22, 2009

What do you think will help resolve the shortage of Nurse Faculty?

Compensation for MSN and PhD educated professors that is comparative to OTHER masters and doctorate prepared professors in the same university. Nursing professors are often compensated much lower than their equally-educated counterparts.

What are the problems as you see it contributing to the shortage?

MSN and PhD programs that allow for the student who is working full time-many local universities require that you work less than 20 hours per week while part of the MSN and PhD programs(at least in the area where I work). I need to care for my family which includes health insurance, retirement benefits, and the need to qualify for tuition reimbursement-normally only reserved for FT employees where I work. This is why I am attending an online MSN in education program-geared toward the working professional.

Is it just a money issue?

Yes and no. I would need to take a $20,000 pay cut to teach at the university level with less benefits than I have currently in my staff development position in a healthcare facility. I don't correct papers at night(have friends that do this 2-3 hours every night-my family is more important), no 0600 clinicals, no students. I have employees of my company to educate-if they act up or do not want to participate in my classes I can ask them to leave and there is a possibility that they will be let go if behavior warrants the need. I don't have to put up with a lot of the nonsense that can occur with college students.

otessa

UnionRN2 · Nov 22, 2009

I am in a MSN program preparing to teach in the future, but not currently teaching.

1. I find many of my co-workers do not want to return to school. Tuition is a problem. But many say they are just tired of going to school.

2. There is misinformation out there that nurse educators make more money than they do. Nurse educators usually make less than floor nurses. My advisor has her doctorate and has taught at the same university and makes $66,000/year. Compare that to the educator who has a doctorate and teaches English or business. They easily make $100,000/year in this area. As a floor nurse I make $60,000/year. The MSNs at the local college and university make $45,000.

3. The workload of nurse educators is a problem. The number of hours educators prepare for classes and clinicals, advise students, and check papers are not taken into account. So while nurse educators are underpaid compared to their teaching colleagues, they put in more hours preparing for students. Also, in this area, the number of students educators are responsible for in clinicals is usually ten. I think that number is too high.

4. I have to admit one of my worries about going into nursing education is the lack of respect from students. I have seen students talk during class, receive cell phone calls, cheat, and threaten/yell at their instructors. Where is the respect for the teachers and their fellow classmates?