Where should a nursing instructor begin?

[ctdismukes]

Good Evening Everyone!

Im a new LPN in Tampa, FL that has been in the medical field for several years (EMS, clinics, etc.). I am working toward my BSN and then my MSN in Education to teach other nurses. I have noticed though that even LPN instructors with a BSN need experience. I would like to start my teaching experience now. I can't find any CNA companies big enough to hire me on to teach so where should I begin?

:redpinkhe Thanks!!!

[nursejoy1, ASN, RN]

Try LTC. I am Education Nurse at a Nursing Home and have been for >5 years. I love it and will graduate w/ my RN in May. Will probably return to school in a few years for an RN to MSN program. Baby steps. LOL. Good luck.

[RNPATL, DNP, RN]

Good Evening Everyone!

Im a new LPN in Tampa, FL that has been in the medical field for several years (EMS, clinics, etc.). I am working toward my BSN and then my MSN in Education to teach other nurses. I have noticed though that even LPN instructors with a BSN need experience. I would like to start my teaching experience now. I can't find any CNA companies big enough to hire me on to teach so where should I begin?

:redpinkhe Thanks!!!

First of all bravo on wanting to be a nurse educator. We need as many as we can get. For me, when I first began my educational journey to teach - there were little resources and very few people really knew what direction I should take. Thanks to several folks on allnurses.com, I received some great information. Like you - I started out as an LPN with a strong desire to teach. Today - I am in my PhD program and have been teaching in an ADN program for several years. It has been a wonderful road and I have never had any regrets.

To start off with - you really need to finish your RN and get some practical experience in acute care. You can accomplish this by working in acute care while you are earning your bachelors and masters degree. Once you have a BSN - you can generally teach as a clinical adjunct instructor in the hospitals through the college. This will get your foot in the door and also give you some wonderful experience dealing with students. Of course - after you finish your masters degree - you can teach full time at the ADN level without too much trouble. Teaching at the university may also be an option, but more and more university programs are requiring a terminal degree to teach in their nursing programs - including BSN level. While this may not be true every where - your options may be somehwhat limited until you have a terminal degree.

I hope this helps and best wishes as you move forward with your nursing education.

[elkpark]

Try LTC. I am Education Nurse at a Nursing Home and have been for >5 years. I love it and will graduate w/ my RN in May. Will probably return to school in a few years for an RN to MSN program. Baby steps. LOL. Good luck.

Whether or not that's possible depends on what state you're in -- my state BON just issued a new statement defining the LPN scope of practice, and it specifically states that educating other nurses is outside the SOP for LPNs. (Of course, the reason they issued the statement was because so many LPNs in the state were functioning outside their SOP, so you may want to verify that it is ok in your state.)

[nursejoy1, ASN, RN]

I am the CNA instructor currently and do med pass check offs, wound care check offs, etc for LPNs as well as train new employees on policy and procedure. This is of course of direction of our Ed. Coordinator- who is an RN.

[elkpark]

I am the CNA instructor currently and do med pass check offs, wound care check offs, etc for LPNs as well as train new employees on policy and procedure. This is of course of direction of our Ed. Coordinator- who is an RN.

Thank you for clarifying that. :)

[rgdavisRN]

My Mom is an LPN and she teaches CNA classes at the Red Cross. Maybe you could check there?

[shah]

If you want to teach CNA's, some states will want you to have at least 1 year of experience in a nursing home.