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What Do Nursing Educators Do?

Nursing educators are responsible for the future of nursing. They design, implement, evaluate, and revise nursing education programs, preparing the next generation of nurses for a health care career.

Combining clinical expertise and a passion for teaching, nursing educators serve as faculty at colleges, universities, hospital-based schools, and more. They are mentors and role models to new nursing students and professional nurses in continuing education classes. Many nursing educators teach part-time and continue their clinical work, since they usually work on a nine-month school year appointment.

Education & Training Required to Become a Nursing Educator

Nursing educators must complete a master's degree or PhD to begin teaching or administrative careers. So, registered nurses with a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) and experience in a particular nursing specialty are great candidates for graduate-level nursing educator programs.

These programs make it easy for busy nurses, who are often mothers and wives, to make the leap to nursing education. Many graduate nursing education programs accept students directly from an undergraduate program or offer online degree program options.

Typical Characteristics of a Nursing Educator

While clinical expertise is key, a nursing educator must also be passionate about teaching. A good nursing professor is just as skilled in curriculum development as she is in medical care and will understand how to assess nursing programs and connect with students. In essence, nursing educators are lifelong learners, dedicated to furthering the nursing profession.

High Demand for Nursing Educators

The National League for Nursing (NLN) reports demand for openings in nursing programs continues to dramatically outstrip supply, in large part due to faculty shortage. There simply aren't enough qualified nursing instructors to teach prospective students. To provide the projected number of nurses needed to care for our aging and growing population in the future, NLN data suggests schools will need 50 percent more teachers than are currently on staff.