Nurse educators are professionals who work at colleges, universities or vocational schools. They teach, inspire, lead and mentor the next generation of nurses by preparing them for real-world experiences. The healthcare industry relies on nurse educators’ knowledge and expertise, and there are benefits for those who teach across various disciplines.
The online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Nursing Education program from William Paterson University (WP) encourages educational leaders devoted to advancing nursing within the scientific world and in academic institutions. Graduates can build solid careers as qualified nurse educators while applying nursing theories and demonstrating effective leadership and communication skills.
5 Pros of Becoming a Nurse Educator
Along with watching students’ transformation and personal growth, many nurse educators experience personal gratification when they observe their students make connections. The joy of seeing a student experience the moment of comprehension, or their “a-ha moment,” can make all the work worthwhile. So, in addition to combating the national nursing shortage, nurse educators have five big benefits to consider:
- It’s fulfilling. Nurse educators find fulfillment in teaching the next generation of healthcare providers. Instead of caring for patients on a hospital floor, nurse educators can help students care for many more people equitably and efficiently. They can create a long-lasting legacy that indirectly influences thousands of patients.
- Teach specific topics. Nurse educators can specialize in specific topics or areas of expertise. Whether you focus on disease prevention, geriatric care, healthcare change, social determinants of health, pediatrics or oncology, nurse educators have the most recent research and information at their disposal. As a nurse educator, you can bring your years of knowledge and experience to the classroom.
- Job security. The shortage of nursing faculty results in a scarcity of nurses as qualified applicants are turned away from nursing school simply because of the lack of teachers and resources. As a result, schools are always looking for nurse educators who can incorporate their mastery and years of experience.
- It’s flexible. Teaching in an invigorating and flexible work environment is a major draw for many nurse educators. Since they work in an academic setting, they don’t have to work 12-hour shifts or overnight hours. Instead, much of a nurse educator’s time is spent in the classroom, prepping for classes, giving lectures, grading, attending meetings and keeping up on the latest advancements and changes in the nursing world. Some will oversee their student nurses in clinical situations and will be able to split their time between locations.
- Research and writing. Many nurse educators are actively involved in research and writing about the latest breakthroughs in nursing. This involvement adds to their overall knowledge base and advances their ability to grow and learn. Remaining current with new methods and technology, engaging in research, serving on peer review, participating on committees or writing papers may be a necessary part of the position.
Next Steps
Pursuing an online MSN in Nursing Education can help you work in many settings as a nurse educator, including hospital nurse educator, program manager, patient educator or military nursing educator. This program can enable you to apply current health technologies and information to advance the quality and accessibility of care; advocate for changes in the healthcare system; implement theory, research and evidence to better health services; and develop leaderships skills to communicate effectively by using the collaborative approach to improve care.
Learn more about William Paterson University’s online MSN in Nursing – Nursing Education program.
