What is a Nurse Educator?

A nurse educator is a registered nurse (RN) who teaches nursing students in academic settings. Nurse educators may also serve as faculty members in teaching hospitals and nursing schools. RNs are very much in demand, and nurse educators who teach them are even more in demand. In 2016, almost 65,000 applicants for bachelor’s degree and graduate nursing programs were refused entry to nursing schools because there were not enough nurse educators. Becoming a nurse educator helps fill the demand and provide an individual with a promising career.

A nurse educator is an RN who has obtained an advanced nursing degree aimed at teaching the nursing curriculum in colleges and universities. Nurse educators may also work in clinical settings, such as clinics and hospitals. Nurse educators must have excellent leadership qualities, good communication skills and a strong knowledge of the nursing field. In addition to teaching, nurse educators also help design, update and implement nursing curriculum based on the latest trends and healthcare needs. Nurse educators have many duties throughout their day, including:

Designing the nursing curriculum
Teaching and advising students
Developing nursing programs of study
Serving as a mentor to students
Evaluating and adjusting nursing courses
Speaking at nursing conferences
Engaging in nursing research
Demonstrating leadership in the community
Overseeing students’ clinical practice
Ensuring clinical competence is maintained

How to Become One

To become a nurse educator, the candidate must first be an RN by earning a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree, which takes four years to complete. After earning the bachelor’s degree, the candidate must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to obtain licensure as an RN. Upon becoming a licensed RN, the candidate must then earn an advanced degree, which could be one of the following:

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Doctor of Nursing Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Although an RN can become a nurse educator by choosing the MSN, the American Association of College of Nursing recommends the doctoral degree programs because they provide the highest level of nursing study. Graduate nursing programs are offered at many colleges and universities in both on-campus and online settings.

Certification/Licensure Requirements

RNs who want to earn the credential of Certified Nurse Educator can do so by passing the National League of Nursing certification exam. To be eligible to take the exam, the candidate must have a current and valid RN license and either a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing with a concentration in nursing. An alternate path would be if the RN has a master’s or doctoral nursing degree and a post-graduate certificate in nursing education or at least nine credit hours of graduate-level education courses.

Career Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that postsecondary nursing instructors and teachers should see a job growth of 24 percent during the decade of 2016-2026, which should result in about 16,300 new position created by 2026. Nurse educators work in healthcare facilities like hospitals and long-term care facilities as well as in educational settings like community colleges, technical schools, universities and trade or vocational schools. As of May 2017, postsecondary nursing instructors and teachers earned a median annual wage of $71,260.

Nurse educators are a valuable asset in the healthcare industry. Many people choose this profession not just for the excellent career growth and good wages, but also because a nurse educator can transfer his or her knowledge and skill into new nursing students.