Working in the hospital setting

Specialties Educators

Published

I have a Master's degree with a nursing education focus, and have worked for 5 years as a full-time critical care nurse, and in the last year as a part-time clinical instructor for an associate degree program. I would love to work full-time for the associate degree program (classroom and clinical) but they have no positions, and have said they don't think one will open until fall 2015 or spring 2016. A hospital in my area has an open position for a clinical nursing instructor, whose job is to work with their new nurse residents as they are hired each semester. It seems like something I'd like, these are new nurses and I'd be helping them transition into the nursing role, but I've never thought about using my degree in the hospital setting. Has anyone done anything similar? If so, what did you think about it? Is the pay similar to what would be expected at a university? Thanks for your time.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

Your pay will probably be better working in a hospital than as a full time teacher. You will also be in closer contact with current clinical practice, which can be a problem over time if you only teach in the classroom. I teach PRN as an adjunct at two universities and have a part time educator job at a hospital. They are very different but both enjoyable. I would take the hospital job to gain educator experience, and you can always keep applying at the school. If the school ever offers you a job, you can then evaluate which is better.

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I would take it! I think the pay would be better (as previously noted), and it would actually help you transition into dealing with novice nurses. One of the biggest struggles of new nursing instructors is just that- they expect that nursing students (even in their final semester) are fully able to function. If you do take this position, and you do plan to teach in an academic setting in the future, this will definitely help you to identify the gaps that exist between the student nurse and graduate nurse. And, IMO, this definitely counts as teaching experience.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I have similar education background and work in a hospital. It is never boring, I can tell you that! Also, I work adjunt faculty for local university sometimes. I prefer the hospital

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Thank you for everyone's input! I decided to go for it and am waiting to hear back. Fingers crossed!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

GO FOR IT!!! There are a lot more of us (workplace educators) than them (academic educators). For the most part, our salaries are much better and the jobs are a lot more interesting. I am involved at the strategic level in my organization... let's face it, every change requires some sort of employee training. Smart organizations have clued in - nurse educator expertise adds a lot of value to any type of performance improvement initiative. We manage significant budgets. And one of the best parts for me as a Nurse Education leader? I get to work with the best and brightest (educators, of course!) every day.

FYI, in my organization first line (department) staff development jobs require BSN, but educator positions require MSN with formal training & experience in the discipline of education. Two of my (facility based) Directors of education have doctorates. Ya gotta believe in your product, right?

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