Teacher and hospital nurse???

Jonesskky RN · Dec 1, 2010

There is nothing wrong with teaching and being a staff nurse at the same time. Several of my co-workers have taught clinicals or have worked at universities but the biggest concern they mention is being able to maintain and handle both stresses. The balance of being responsible for students, caring for patients and the demands of work, and your personal life (not including emergencies) can be very difficult but not impossible. Try to take your transitions one step at a time, making sure you get PLENTY of experiences as a nurse and start your teaching journey as a preceptor than try out colleges/universities...that's my plan but everyone is different- good luck to you!

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 1, 2010

I do it. I have a PhD and a full time job at a hospital. I also teach 1 class per year at a local university.

It's difficult and VERY time-consuming. I don't have time for much of a personal life during the semester that I am teaching. However, a lot of people make it work by not trying to "do it all at the same time." Most people I know who are successful over the long run doing both jobs do NOT do either one of them full time. They work part time in a clinical role and part time as a faculty member. Or they work full time as a faculty member and only VERY part time in a clinical role (e.g. during the summer).

Another thing to consider is that if you are not giving 100% to either employer, your upward career mobility may be limited. In order to climb the academic career ladder, you will need to get that PhD and do research -- which will greatly limit your ability to maintain much of a clinical role. If you want a leadership position in a hospital, it may require you to work full time, which would limit your availability to work for a school.

And finally ... it's particularly difficult to work 2 jobs if you are also trying to have a successful marriage, raise children, etc. A few people can do it, but most people who try it quickly decide that they need to scale back on something -- and choose to focus on one or two aspects of their lives and let the others fade.

You might want to consider some other options, such as Nursing Professional Development (NPD), NPD is a field most students never seriously consider becasue it's an aspect of nursing that they don't see directly during their clinical rotations. NPD specialists (often called Staff Development) provide education to existing hospital staff. The need for education does not stop just because you graduate from school. NPD departments run the orientation programs, do unit-based educational programs, provide continuing education, etc. It is real teaching -- but teaching within the context of the actual practice of nursing -- teaching people who are already working as nursing assistants, RN's, nursing managers, etc.

Some people in staff development are unit-based and spend significant time doing direct patient care -- but also spending some time organizing and presenting educational programs for their co-workers. Other people in staff development work in a centralized department and have less patient contact. It varies. But they are often very attractive jobs with a nice mix of focus that combines the education role with an emphasis on the actual practice of nursing -- but all within 1 job that avoids the hassles of having 2 employers.

allnurses Guide · Dec 3, 2010

As llg said: I do both, but part time. I work 24 hours in the ER, and teach 2 classes a semester. Being a widow and the last of my kids now in college, I have more time for 2 jobs.

Joslyn Jensen · Dec 6, 2010

I have been teaching and working the hospital for just over a year now. I have really enjoyed it. I have always wanted to teach, but didn't want to lose my clinical skills because my best professors were the ones who currently worked. While it is very time consuming, I find it to be very rewarding. It also helps to mix things up so I don't get too bored with the mundaneness of working the floor day to day. It also forces me to stay up to date with current nursing practice. I have my MSN, which I completed while I was teaching my first semester and working in the hospital, and will continue my education very soon. I have worked two jobs for many years and have never found it too difficult to devote enough time to either. While I am not married and don't have children, I do have a life outside of work. I think it is worth trying, if you find it too time consuming or difficult, you don't have to do it forever.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Dec 7, 2010

I am a staff developer in a hospital full time and do adjunct teaching at a local university and sometimes lecture at other nursing schools (have developed a network in the area as well as a level of expertise in 1-2 topics). Do not think that being a full time nurse educator means you are not a nurse. Believe me, I am involved with patient care almost daily.

jh56031 · Dec 8, 2010

Thank you all for commenting on my post! I really appreciate it