Have You Wondered How To Become A Nurse Educator?
First we should acknowledge what it is, and then move on to how to become a nurse educator. It is a nursing practitioner who goes on to teach it to others. This person may continue as both practitioner and teacher, or they may decide to only teach.
Our next generation of health care professionals depend greatly on those who will further their own careers and decide to teach. They are not only teachers, but also mentors and role models to nursing apprentices who are still receiving their education. These new pupils absorb superior knowledge from their educators clinical expertise.
Becoming a nursing trainer usually means acquiring a Master’s degree or higher, or perhaps a doctoral degree in healthcare with an educational aspect. Some RN’s may step over to teaching without a Master’s degree but that is only for basic levels of nursing. The higher levels of nursing require higher credentialed teachers.
Historically, a baccalaureate degree in nursing has been required for a teacher of nursing in a clinical area. This is starting to change though to a Master’s degree requirement as the need for these highly qualified educators in healthcare increases.
More grants and programs are becoming available to assist the nursing professional who has great communication skills and an eye for the future. Recent studies show that the United States is heading for a large shortage of not only nursing workers but even more so for their teachers. This is why more help is available for students entering the healthcare fields.
The Natl Nursing League also offers its own program of certification for nursing teachers and is becoming a national standard. Currently it is not a requirement but does earn the academic teacher a highly sought after mark of excellence in a specialty role. An online university can give great lessons on many of the skills needed to become a healthcare professor.
Some aspiring teachers of nursing take a faster route by investing several hours for study per week at several online schools. This can be done while maintaining their current job as a practitioner, but would not fulfill all of the requirements.
Our future in United States healthcare depends greatly on the nursing students of tomorrow. The pay is great and the benefits rewarding for those who truly care about helping others by teaching quality healthcare.
If you have wondered how to become a nurse educator, now is an especially good time to find out and get started!