Almost everyone in the United States has heard about the nursing shortage, and how it impacts the level of care being offered in hospitals and clinics around the country. There are more nursing job openings than there are nurses to fill them, and the result is that many RNs, LPNs, and NPs are overworked.
The easy solution for this problem is to increase student attendance at nursing schools, and to provide more opportunities for earning degrees. However, one of the biggest challenges isn’t the number of students hoping to become nurses; it’s the number of nursing instructors qualified to teach in the field.
Nursing Instructor Requirements
Nursing instructors are the professionals who teach the college-level nursing courses, which range from basic science and anatomy classes to more hands-on clinical work. Because nursing instructors are both teachers and nurses, there is a very high educational requirement, often at the Master’s degree level or higher. State requirements vary, and can go as low as a BSN, particularly in schools where nursing instructors are in high demand. In some cases, years of experience may be used to determine your ability to function in an instructor capacity.
Different types of nursing schools also have their own requirements. Public universities and colleges may prefer part-time instructors with a Master’s degree, while private nursing schools might opt for full-time professors who carry a Ph.D. It all depends on the local laws and what the nursing school is hoping for in terms of its faculty.
Other Nursing Instructor Considerations
Nursing instructors almost always have to carry the same licensure they would need to function as a nurse within their respective states. This includes keeping all licenses up-to-date and taking the necessary continuing education courses.
However, all this work can pay off. Nursing instructors tend to pull in a higher salary than their nurse counterparts, and the hours and workload are often easier on both the mind and the body. Nurse educator salaries range from $44,000 to $63,000 per year, with higher rates of pay for those with doctorate degrees or considerable experience. Long-term job security is also fairly high, given the current ratio of nurse instructors to prospective students and the need for more qualified professionals in this field.
Of course, becoming a nursing instructor requires a love of teaching, as well as desire to enter the medical field. As a profession, teaching and nursing share many of the same characteristics, including an ability to communicate and a real desire to help others succeed. As long as you’re willing to make a commitment to your education, and you see yourself in a mentoring capacity, becoming a nursing instructor might be a great long-term career choice.
Nursing new grads are learning fast that, due to a temporary let up in the impending 
Things are a little tough right now, with the economy and in many aspects, with the world in general. It’s easy to see a career in nursing solely from a surface perspective – a recession proof career despite the temporary hiring slowdown, a safe harbor in an otherwise turbulent job market and a job in health care, a job sector that will always be one of the most stable.
