Five Best Places to Work for Clinical Nurse Educators
Career News March 20, 2013The healthcare industry has some of the most-in-demand jobs, and nursing is one of the most high-growth careers in the United States. The expected employment of registered nurses is predicted to grow by twenty-six percent through 2020, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Organizations acknowledge that they are having a difficult time retaining and hiring enough qualified nurses to keep up with the demand. During the next few years, the demand is expected to increase for nurses who are qualified to train new nurses. This means that there will be a demand for clinical nurse educators. This nursing specialty offers various opportunities, such as higher salaries, chances for advancement and different work environments.
Clinical Nurse Educator Educational Requirements
In order to become a clinical nurse educator, you must complete the educational requirements for a registered nurse, pass the state board certification exam and receive a license in order to practice. If your future goals include becoming a nurse educator, then you must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited university. That means if you start out in your nursing career with an Associate degree; you must upgrade to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing before you can advance any further.
It is not highly likely that you will obtain a position as a clinical nurse educator with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The requirement for this type of position is completion of a Masters of Nursing program (MSN). In order to be competitive in this type of nursing job, it is important that you pursue a graduate degree; so you will have the necessary advanced training the role requires. Some of the courses included in a MSN program include management in health care, nursing leadership, health assessment and advanced physiology.
Another aspect of meeting the requirements for a position as a clinical nurse educator is specialization. Most nurses who take this advanced training specialize in some area of clinical nursing – patient care, critical care, gerontology or another field. The universities offering these advanced courses for nursing must be accredited by the State Board of Nursing.
Clinical Nurse Educators Career Opportunities
The role of a clinical nurse educator is one that requires specialized training beyond that of a registered nurse. The job can include duties such as supervising student nurses or conducting continuing education courses for nurses who want to advance in their careers.
It is an excellent professional decision to pursue a career as a clinical nurse educator and the demand and growth of the profession guarantees a substantial salary no matter what specialized path is chosen. Although salaries vary according to employers, regions, education and experience, the average annual salary for this type of nursing position is $71,297.
As indicated by current job boards, there is a diverse variety of available workplaces for qualified clinical nurse educators. From positions in medical facilities working with nurses to complete their continue education courses to working directly with patients in an outpatient environment; clinical nurse educator career opportunities are growing. Here are several opportunities available in the field:
Hospital
Clinical nurse educators work with patients and their families to educate and counsel them about their medical conditions. This includes things such as the choices they have and the types of treatments that are available.
Nursing Schools
Clinical nurse educators may serve as academic nurse educators and faculty members at accredited colleges and nursing schools to educate up-and-coming nurses in the field.
Pharmaceutical Organizations
There are career opportunities for clinical nurse educators with pharmaceutical organizations. They educate patients and medical professionals about the products of the organizations.
Communities for seniors
In long-term care facilities and communities where seniors live, clinical nurse educators help design and implement programs to educate the nursing staff. They also ensure that the facilities meet state and federal regulations.
Children’s Schools and Home
A clinical nurse educator works with community health nurses and those that work primarily with children in the area of crisis intervention. Duties could include designing educational programs for children and staff members.
The clinical nurse educator role offers diverse and rewarding career opportunities for qualified candidates. There are several areas of expertise a registered nurse may pursue to build the career they want.
