How Do I Become A Nurse Educator

What Is The Work Environment Of A Nurse Educator

How to Be a Nursing Instructor

Many nurse educators usually work in a variety of settings as long as they offer nursing classes. You may often find nurse educators teaching in a classroom setting such as universities since they’re teaching other nursing students. Some nurse educators may also work in health care settings to supervise other nurses in training. If you’re planning to start a career as a nurse educator, you can expect to be in these environments:

Spending long hours in classrooms or hospitals to teach nursing students
Working in an environment with lots of medical equipment during physical lab classes
Studying in libraries and schools to teach new nurses about nursing practices and breakthroughs in the health care industry

School And Program Accreditation

As you research programs, check to make sure both the school and the nursing program are accredited by the appropriate agencies. This is important for applying for federal aid, grants, and scholarships.

In addition, if you want to transfer credits to an accredited school, the credits must be from an accredited school. Possibly most important, many employers will only consider candidates from accredited programs.

The High Demand For Nurse Educators

The nursing shortage in our nation cannot be addressed without realizing the importance and need for highly skilled and qualified nurse educators. People are living longer and the increase in the population older than age 65 will put a strain on all aspects of health care. Great educators who promote competence, commitment and compassion are needed to help the next generation become highly skilled nurses strengthening and sustaining our health care systems needs for the ever growing demand. Nursing is a practice that requires constant education of patients, family members, others and ourselves.

Nurse educators are given the opportunity to fortify their nursing knowledge, and are also provided the ability to foster and grow their teaching potential.

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Two How To Become Every Type Of Nurse

The first step in becoming a nurse is nursing school. But its not that simple. You need to choose a program figure out what prerequisites and other requirements you need for that program, figure out how to pay for school, and oh so much more.

When it comes to nursing school, there are a LOT of options available, but which is right for you will depend on your overall career goals, your financial situation, and a number of other factors. Here are the different nursing programs available.

Seven Nursing School Accreditation

How Do I Become a Nurse? Your Questions Answered ...

Whatever type of nursing program you choose, make sure it’s accredited!

Accreditation means that an accrediting body, either the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has evaluated a nursing school and its programs to ensure that it means their standards.

The purpose of accreditation is to make sure that the same standards and criteria are being met across all nursing programs. So that nurses come out with the knowledge and skills they need to do their jobs correctly.

The accreditation process ultimately improves the quality of nursing education and keeps the curriculum up to date on current trends in advances in nursing and healthcare. Accreditation continues to further the nursing profession and enhances the overall care provided by nurses.

Where Do Nurse Educators Work

Nurse educators teach in universities, and technical schools, as well as hospital-based nursing programs. They also frequently work as administrators, consultants, or even independent contractors in a wide variety of nursing education-focused areas. Within hospital and clinical settings, they help promote the professional development and growth of new nurses from novice to expert. Within university settings their role is more focused on background education typically in classroom environments.

Five Steps To Become A Certified Diabetes Nurse Educator

Earn Your RN: You must earn an RN degree from an accredited nursing program. While certification does not require a bachelors degree , employers typically do require a BSN degree for the position of diabetes nurse educator.
Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam: After completed an accredited program, you must pass the NCLEX-RN exam to obtain licensure to practice nursing.
Gain nursing experience: In your role as a professional nurse, seek a position that provides opportunities to work with patients with diabetes.
Seek related continuing education: Continuing education related to diabetes education is necessary as a part of the requirements for specialty certification.
Obtain Certification: The National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators offers the Certified Diabetes Educator credential.

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Valuable Education Thats Invaluable To Your Career

Worcester State tuition is extremely affordable. Plus, you can pay by the coursemaking it easy to budget. Worcester State is committed to offering a high-quality education that is accessible to students at all levels of financial need.

*Worcester State reserves the right to change tuition and fees at any time.

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Get An Optional Nursing Educator Certification

HOW TO BECOME A NURSE!

If you want to strengthen your credibility as a nurse educator, you can consider earning optional nursing educator certifications. Relevant certifications for nursing educators include the Certified Nurse Educator and Certified Academic Nurse Educator certifications. Typically, to get certified as a nursing educator, you need a registered nurse license and a master’s degree or doctoral degree. Adding nursing educator certifications to your resume can help you become a valuable job candidate to potential employers.

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What Does A Diabetes Educator Nurse Do

A diabetes educator nurse is responsible for the following tasks:

Care for diabetes patients, helping them get back to healthy levels.
Educate diabetes patients and their loved ones about diabetes, identifying different symptoms and signs of this disease.
Help diabetes patients develop a personalized treatment plan to manage their blood glucose levels.
Teach patients how to monitor and manage their levels, explaining what to do if they get low.
Explain how to take oral diabetes medications as well as how to inject insulin.
Train family members or caretakers on how to take care of diabetes patients who cannot manage their disease.
Discuss the causes of Type II diabetes, sharing ways to reduce the chances of developing this disease.
Oversee lab results, explaining what they mean to patients.

Be A Registered Nurse

If you’re not already a registered nurse, becoming one is the first step to eventually becoming a nursing educator. To become a registered nurse, earn a nursing degree, pass licensure examinations and search for nursing jobs. Having a registered nurse license is essential to becoming a nursing educator, as nursing educators teach from their nursing experience.

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Are Any Certifications Or Credentials Needed

Individuals who are interested in becoming a Certified Nurse Educator must take and pass the National League of Nursing certification exam.

To be eligible to sit for the certification examination you must have the following:

An active registered nurse license
A master’s or doctoral degree in nursing with a primary emphasis in nursing or one of the following:
Master’s or doctoral degree in nursing and a post-master’s certificate in nursing education
Master’s or doctoral degree in nursing and nine or more credits hours of graduate-level education courses

Read about post master’s nurse education graduate certificate programs.

How Much Do Certified Diabetes Nurse Educators Earn

Nursing, in general, is identified as one of the fastest growing professions in the US in terms of salary, with a projected growth of 16% or higher, much higher than the national average. The median annual salary for nurses is 68,450, but the range of potential salary can vary, depending on degrees and certifications held, type of employment, and geographical location. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the top five states for general nursing salaries are

California
Massachusetts
Oregon

Specialty certification can increase earnings significantly. Salaries are generally higher in urban areas, however, the cost of living is typically higher, as well. In addition, bachelors prepared nurses tend to earn higher salaries than nurses with associate degree in nursing. The average annual salary for nurse managers ranges from $70,190 86,189.

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What Are The Educational Requirements For A Clinical Nurse Specialist

Clinical nurse specialists are advanced-practice registered nurses who have completed a master’s program in nursing or doctoral degree program . A DNP is necessary for those who wish to focus on research.

To advance to a master’s degree or doctoral in nursing, a student must complete an accredited nursing program and obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing . Students should be sure the school is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing .

Successful completion of the NCLEX-RN is needed for licensure. The length of time it takes to obtain an MSN depends on the nurse’s starting point:

Nursing students enrolled in a BSN program complete in about four years
RN to BSN takes about two years
BSN to MSN takes about two years
BSN to DNP takes three to four years
MSN to DNP takes one to two years

Additionally, both online programs and classroom programs are available to accommodate students. Both types have pros and cons depending on students’ needs, therefore researching individual schools is encouraged.

Schools may offer CNS tracks in:

Adult health

Advanced Pharmacology
Advanced pathophysiology

Worked a minimum of 500 supervised, clinical hours in the CNS role and population of choice

Additional requirements are needed for certification in adult gerontology, pediatric, and mental health specialties. Certification is obtained by exam and is valid for five years.

How To Become A Nursing Educator

There are many non-bedside nursing careers that differ from traditional nursing jobs. Nursing educators are registered nurses who use their nursing skills and experience to teach other nurses. If you enjoy teaching and helping other people, then pursuing a career as a nursing educator might be a good fit for you. In this article, we explain what a nursing educator is, what they do, how to become a nursing educator and additional information about the career.

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Get Certified As A Registered Nurse

Most nurse educators start with being a nurse first. To become a nurse, you may require getting a certification to become a registered nurse. To start the process of getting your certification, you can first complete a diploma or a bachelor’s degree. After obtaining your diploma or bachelor’s degree, you can go through another two years of training before you’re eligible to become a registered nurse.

After completing the educational requirements, you can take the Singapore Nursing Board exam and pass it before you’re able to practise nursing. Passing the exam registers you in the SNB which allows you to obtain an SNB practising certificate. This certificate allows you to practise nursing in Singapore and requires to be renewed annually for $45.

Nurse Educators Have Systemic Influence

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Have you ever thought that a few little changes could make the healthcare industry safer or more efficient? Becoming a nurse educator means impacting every student graduating nursing school each year. Just imagine the effect a nursing school curriculum has on the healthcare industry over time.

Hopperstad spent some time working with newly hired nurses to ensure they were up to code and fitting into the work environment. When she realized how much she looked forward to coaching those new nurses, she opted to go back to school to become an educator and help improve the teaching standards of nursing.

Teaching is a great way to stay current in practice and really lead and drive change in our profession from the ground up, Hopperstad says.

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Why Are Clinical Nurse Specialists So Important

Clinical nurse specialists are leaders in the field of nursing. They serve as mentors, educators, and advocates. They demonstrate expertise in their specialty area and maintain strong clinical skills.

As leaders, they can also promote and facilitate change. They utilize evidence-based practice to educate other nurses and to assist in developing cost-saving strategies in the delivery of care. They can also bring their observations and experience in patient care and apply it to research, policies, and to improve practices.

Where Does A Nurse Educator Work

Nurse educators can be found working in a variety of settings, all of which offer nursing classes. Most often you will find nurse educators working in academic contexts however, some nurse educators work in health care settings as staff development officers or clinical supervisors. The following examples are common workplaces where nurse educators are found:

Healthcare facilities

Are Nurse Educators Still Used in Hospitals?

In years past, nurse educators developed curricula and taught the course material, while ensuring nurses demonstrated competency at the given skill or concepts. As technology has advanced, more online trainings are springing up in the clinical setting. However, there are pros and cons to this advancement in clinical learning.

Online learning is quick and cost-effective. Fewer nurse educators are needed to teach dozens of staff members clinical concepts. Competency is usually determined by passing an online exam, and completion is easily tracked electronically, which makes it easier for managers and nurse leaders to ensure all staff is trained. Moreover, staff complete online modules when they are able, rather than attending a class, which helps ease the burden of staffing coverage.

While nurse educators are still used in hospitals, sometimes they are used to develop online learning programs rather than leading classroom training.

What Skills Does A Nurse Educator Need

Nurse educators are highly skilled individuals. Although their skills vary depending on their field, most nurse educators will benefit from having the following skills:

Leadership: Nurse educators need to be comfortable in a leadership role to lead classes of young nurses.
Professionalism: Nurse educators represent nurses around the globe. They need to act professionally to ensure that the correct image is sustained.
Knowledge and expertise: They must meet education and training requirements to teach future nurses how to treat patients effectively.
Core competencies: The National League for Nursing has established core competencies that all academic nurse educators should have.
Creative: Nurse educators lead diverse teams of students and need to be creative enough to adapt to meet their needs.

In addition to the skills above, nurse educators should also be willing and ready to advance their education. They should be actively pursuing new opportunities to expand their knowledge of healthcare and nursing.

Become A Registered Nurse

Before becoming a diabetes educator nurse, you must become a licensed registered nurse. You can do this by enrolling in an accredited nursing program to earn your Bachelor of Science degree, typically taking four years to complete. During your program, expect to learn about all kinds of sciences, such as biology, chemistry and anatomy. During your later years of nursing school, you’ll also need to complete clinicals to get a full understanding of patient care.

After graduating from your nursing program, you need to earn your RN license in order to legally practice as a registered nurse. You can obtain your license by passing the NCLEX-RN exam in the state you wish to work. This is a rigorous test, making it important to study well in advance and quiz yourself with practice questions.

Nurse Educators Need More Than Nursing Knowledge

You can see it all in the job title: A nurse educator is a nurse and a teacher. While the same compassion, attention and communication skills needed in nursing are important in an educator, there might be an additional learning curve.

The nurse educator must possess skills that grow beyond nursing practice and obtain a knowledge of educational theory, Rogers explains. Just as a great athlete doesnt always have the makings of a great coach, the same is true in nursing. There are specializations and certifications that can help you hone your educating abilities, but not every nurse is cut out for the classroom.

Demand For Nurse Educators

In addition to the shortage of teachers, there are two other important factors driving the forecast of 18% job growth:

Teacher retirements

According to the NLN, 70% of full-time nurse educators are over the age of 45, and a significant number are nearing retirement age. This is expected to create even more vacancies at colleges and universities.

Nurse shortage

To minimize this shortage, more nurse educators will be needed to teach, inspire, and mentor the next generation of nurses.

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Becoming A Registered Nurse

If you are interested in caring for people and are a high school graduate, you can eventually become a Registered Nurse . There are a number of steps you need to take before you can turn your dream into a career, but they are straightforward and youll find there is plenty of support along the way. If you are interested in becoming a Nurse Practitioner, the steps follow below.Step #1. You will need a post-secondary education.Why? All provincial and territorial nurses associations have adopted the goal of having a baccalaureate requirement for entry into nursing. Evidence supports the fact that baccalaureate-prepared nurses are most able to provide safe, ethical, cost-effective and high quality nursing care for Canadians.The trend toward a university education for Registered Nurses is here: with the exception of students in Quebec, students must choose to obtain a baccalaureate degree in nursing in order to prepare for a RN career.

Check out a complete list of nursing schools and continuing education options.
Check out where to apply for nursing financial assistance here.

Step #2. You need to apply to the College of Nurses of Ontario directly for assessment.

All nursing graduates who plan to practise in Ontario must be registered with the CNO.

Once you are deemed eligible , youll take the registration exam. Why? This exam is designed to measure the competencies of nurses at the start of your practice.

What if Im an internationally educated nurse?