According to a report by Zippia, there are a little over 23,000 nurse educators in the United States. Every year, colleges turn down applicants for nursing courses because they do not have the faculty numbers to support them. As the country grapples with a shortage of nurses, it is important to confront the shortage of nurse educators, without which it is difficult to satisfy the demand for nurses.
A report by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing shows that nearly 92,000 applicants for baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs were turned away in 2021-2022 because there weren’t enough educators to cater to them. The same report states that a survey of 909 nursing schools revealed more than 2,100 vacant positions for educators. The schools indicated a need to create even more vacancies to enable them to cope with the high number of applicants for nursing courses.
In light of this, the most immediate question that comes to mind is “Why is there a shortage of nurse educators in America? There are several reasons. The first is that it just so happens that many have retired in recent years and the gaps haven’t been filled or aren’t being filled fast enough. Another reason we don’t have enough nurse educators is that many nurses prefer to work in a clinical setting. Also, fewer and fewer people are training to become educators.
What this means is that for those who qualify as educators today, there is a huge pool of jobs to choose from. Universities and nursing colleges are willing to pay a premium to trainers and instructors.
One of the quickest ways to become a nurse educator is to enroll in one of many master of nursing education online programs. These courses, such as the one offered by the reputable Cleveland State University, are designed to impart skills that are vital at management and training levels in nursing. They teach students about best practice and how practitioners can improve patient outcomes.
Enrollees cover topics such as evidence-based practice, nursing education leadership, educational evaluation methods, and curriculum development in nursing. They learn decision-making and conflict management, collaboration, and inter-professional development.
These courses usually take about two years to complete, and when students qualify, they can apply to become faculty in any American college that offers nursing courses. They can also work part-time as healthcare consultants and nurse managers.
Nurse vs nurse educator
What is the difference between a nurse and a nurse educator, and why should you choose one over the other?
We all know what a nurse is; it is a medical professional who is trained to care for the sick, old, or infirm. They manage their physical needs, help them with medications and sanitation and offer whatever other therapies the doctor has suggested. Nurses also take care of pregnant mothers, seeing them through delivery and post-natal care.
A nurse educator is a professional who trains nurse practitioners. They are employed by universities and nursing colleges, and it is their responsibility to equip nurses with the skills they need to become caregivers. The role of nurse educator has evolved over the years. They do more than just train nurses on how to dispense medications and change bedpans. Nurse educators are also tasked with training nurse managers. A nurse manager has all the skills and training of an ordinary nurse, but they also have managerial skills. They are tasked with overseeing other nurses and they take an active role in management.
Nurse educators do not typically work in healthcare settings. They are found within educational settings. However, many nurse educators, because of the wealth of skills they acquire over the years, often play both roles. It isn’t uncommon to find a nurse educator who consults for a hospital or is employed as a part-time nurse manager.
So why choose one profession over another? What are the benefits and drawbacks of each profession?
Benefits of becoming a nurse practitioner
Nursing is often described as one of the most rewarding careers, but it is also a challenging one. Nurses often work back-to-back shifts, and they are almost always on their feet and they have to deal with sick people every day. Even then, most nurses are happy with what they do. According to a recent survey by the Health Resources and Service Administration, 48.7% of nurses reported that they were satisfied with their careers, whilst 40.3% were extremely satisfied, while only 11% expressed dissatisfaction with their careers. You will be hard-pressed to find another profession with so many satisfied practitioners.
So, what is it that makes nursing such a great career?
Great job prospects
According to a different report in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, there will be more than 200,000 new nursing jobs annually in the coming decade. For those who are in nursing training today, these are great statistics; new nurses are almost guaranteed employment after they graduate. Few other professions offer such certainty.
There is a big demand for nurses in America. Many have retired and a significant number are approaching retirement age. Replacing them is challenging because we cannot train them fast enough, and we don’t train enough of them every year.
If you opt to train as a nurse, you will have your pick of jobs after you graduate. Be smart about the specialties you pick; some are more in demand and pay more than others.
Service to the community
Many nurses will tell you that they joined the profession so that they could serve. They step in when people are at their lowest and they do their best to help them recover and stay in good health. Nurses play a vital role in keeping not just individuals but communities healthy. They are healers, carers, and educators. If you are an empathetic person who wants to help others, nursing is a good way to go.
Nurses can specialize
Decades ago, nursing specialization didn’t exist. If one was a nurse, they worked in a ward, helping patients with their medications, meals, and sponge baths. Some nurses worked in doctor’s offices, assisting with patient intake and other chores.
Today’s nurse is a more sophisticated professional. They can specialize in a chosen area, and there are numerous specialties to choose from. Some nurses work with pregnant women and babies. Some specialize in particular diseases such as cancer or diabetes management. Some nurses do family medicine, while others specialize in elder treatment and care. Many nurses have opted for mental health and addiction treatment.
As you enroll in nursing courses it is important to think about whether you would like to specialize, as it will influence your choice of course.
Nurses tend to enjoy long careers
Once you become a nurse you will have the opportunity for a job for life. Nurses enjoy great job security.
They don’t have to worry about changing careers halfway; their services are always in demand, and if they seek a change, they can simply change employers or take additional courses that allow them to climb the ladder.
Nurses forge strong bonds with their patients
If you are the sort of person who cares about creating bonds, nursing is an excellent career choice. It brings you in contact with lots of people, and you can create lasting relationships. Many nurses have strong roots in their communities. They are viewed as dependable and trustworthy and they are often viewed as figures of authority.
There is some flexibility in their work
Nursing isn’t like teaching, for example, where there are fixed working hours. Indeed, nurses often do back-to-back shifts, but they also get time off during the week when they can rest, catch up with their families and pursue their hobbies.
You don’t have to work in a hospital setting
If you don’t like the idea of working in a hospital full-time you can train to become a community nurse. These are nurses who travel around seeing patients and educating the community about various aspects of health.
Benefits of becoming a nurse educator
An educator’s job is different from that of a nurse. They do not interact with patients; they are teachers. Below are some of the reasons why people choose to become nurse educators:
Great job prospects
As mentioned earlier, there is a great need for nurse educators in the country. As a result, many educators work for several institutions simultaneously. You can be an adjunct professor, which means rather than work in one university full time, you work in several different ones for a set number of hours every week. Not only does this break the monotony of having to work in just one place, but it also provides the opportunity to make more money than you would with a single employer.
You must, however, make sure that there is no conflict of interest between your employers. Other than that, there is nothing to stop you from teaching in several institutions at the same time.
Variety in work
You don’t have to restrict yourself to teaching if you don’t want to. Nurse educators have a great deal of knowledge and skills, and they often end up working part-time as nurses in healthcare facilities. They are often employed to come in a few times a week as consultants, nurse trainers or to oversee special projects. Many work with doctors to treat special cases. Sometimes nurse educators spearhead research projects because they have access to university labs and data collection and analysis facilities.
Together with other healthcare providers, they put together test subjects and monitor them, recording and analyzing results.
The chance to influence young nurses
You can make a difference by teaching young people about the profession of nursing. It gives you a chance to mold them into the best caregivers they can be.
The opportunity shape the future of nursing practice
If you are not happy with the current state of nursing in your community you can become a nurse educator and teach young nurses to be better carers. You can teach them about patient-centered care and why it matters.
What are the responsibilities of a nurse educator?
These professionals have many responsibilities which may include:
- Developing curricula – nurse educators are charged with developing curricula that impart the knowledge and skills that are needed in nursing.
- Design courses – a nurse educator designs each of the courses they teach. A big part of this is designing online courses. They prepare notes and lectures that they upload for students to access.
- Instruct students – they conduct classes, teaching students according to the curricula.
- Evaluate students – nurse educators must evaluate students to ensure that they are making good progress. For failing students, the educator should find out what the problem is and whether there is anything they can do to help.
- They identify learning gaps – the nurse educator should identify learning gaps and find ways to deal with them. By the time students graduate they should have all the knowledge they need to go straight into employment.
- Assess learning programs – nurse educators assess the effectiveness of learning programs to strengthen what works and eliminate what doesn’t.
Within a clinical setting, nurse educators are tasked with implementing best practices. They work with new nurses to ensure that they know the basics of patient care, hospital protocol, ethics, and professionalism. It is their job to talk to management about new healthcare innovations that can improve the quality of patient care.
Nurse educators are also tasked with running continuing education courses for all nurses. They can organize weekend seminars, invite guest speakers or even enroll nurses in short programs to improve their skills.
What is the fastest way to become a nurse educator?
Online courses can be the fastest and most convenient way to become a nurse educator. Students can learn in their own time, and the course can be completed in as little as two years, such as at Cleveland State University. There are no fixed hours for lessons; whatever time they log into their portal, they will find their notes and lectures there, and they can peruse them at their own pace.
If you choose an online course, you should make sure you have the right qualifications to apply. For master’s of nursing education online programs, applicants should have a bachelor of science in nursing. Some also require an undergraduate statistics qualification.
Conclusion
The shortfall in nursing isn’t just affecting nurse practitioners; it also impacts the education sector. Nurse educators are just as important to healthcare as nurses. Nurse educators are paramount in ensuring the nurses coming into the profession are suitably prepared and ready to give the best care. It isn’t just being a nurse practitioner that offers benefits such as bonds with the community, an opportunity to specialize, and long careers, as these are all available to those looking to go into nursing education.
You can make the transition from nurse practitioner to nurse educator by enrolling in a master’s of science in nursing education degree. Cleveland State University’s nurse education program is a two-year program which is designed for working professionals who need to balance the demands of work and study.
Going into the nurse education sector gives the opportunity to train the workforce of the future, impart wisdom and the key knowledge needed in nursing, and fulfill students’ dreams to be healthcare professionals.
Your career will move from the hospital to a classroom, but it will be just as rewarding. It is a great way to spread your wings and explore a different side of your career.
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