Nurse educators have the distinct honor and profound responsibility of training the next generation of nurses. This guide will explore how to become a nurse educator, including required education, duties, and salary expectations. Read on to learn if this prestigious specialty suits your nursing journey.
Nurse educators are masters-prepared nurses who instruct and evaluate nursing students. They teach aspiring nurses the skills and competencies to bridge the gap between didactic learning and clinical practice. While nurse educators generally work in academia, some work in clinical settings as clinical nursing instructors.
Nurse educators wear many hats as nursing teachers, mentors, and hands-on instructors. They accomplish several tasks daily, including developing coursework curricula, teaching courses, evaluating educational programs, overseeing clinical rotations, and conducting research.
Walden’s online programs for nursing meet rigorous standards for academic quality and integrity, and the School of Nursing teaching faculty all hold doctorates. With three degree completion options, you can choose a bachelor’s in nursing path that makes sense for your busy, unpredictable schedule.
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At Ohio University, we provide aspiring and current nursing professionals programs and credentials that will help them launch their careers and advance toward leadership positions.
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Becoming a nurse educator requires a graduate education, plenty of experience, and a lot of dedication and passion. The following is a step-by-step guide to becoming a nurse educator.
Before becoming a nurse educator, you must be a registered nurse (RN). You can earn your RN license by attending an accredited 2-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. You'll then sit the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and apply to become an RN in your state.
Notably, if you pursue an ADN, you must complete a BSN or attend a specific ADN-MSN nurse educator program to continue down this career path. While available, these bridge programs may be more sparse than traditional nurse educator tracks.
In general, you'll complete at least two years of clinical nursing experience before applying to a graduate nurse educator program.
While some Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs will accept students directly from a BSN program, you'll have a hard time finding a nurse educator program that will. Nurse educators need clinical experience to broaden their knowledge and inform their teaching techniques.
All nurse educator positions require a graduate nursing degree from an accredited program. You'll most commonly earn this degree by attending a 2-year Nurse Educator MSN Program.
However, if you already have an advanced nursing degree, you can attend a post-graduate certificate program to prepare for this role. Post-graduate nursing certificates can take a year or less, depending on the program and your existing credits.
After completing your education, you can work as a nurse educator. However, you can become eligible for more high-quality employment opportunities by pursuing a nurse educator certification.
The National League for Nursing (NLN) offers three nurse educator certifications:
| Certification | Expiration | Who's it For? |
| Certified Novice Nurse Educator (CNE®n) | 3 years (non-renewable) | New graduates from nurse educator programs who want to verify their education and competencies to employers. |
| Certified Academic Nurse Educator (CNE®) | 5 years | Nurse educators who want to specialize in teaching in academic settings, like two or four-year colleges. |
| Certified Academic Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE®cl) | 5 years | Nurse educators who want to specialize in teaching in clinical settings, like hospitals and healthcare facilities. |
Nurse educators are responsible for preparing the next generation of nurses for clinical practice. Nurse educators may work in academia or clinical settings and perform a wide range of duties.
Those in academia prepare lesson plans, deliver lectures, proctor tests, and hold office hours. Comparatively, clinical nursing teachers perform hands-on education, overseeing clinical rotations and evaluating students' hands-on skills.
A non-exhaustive list of nurse educator duties includes:
This specialty nursing career requires a graduate education. In your nurse educator program, you'll attend various classes, culminating in an education and direct patient care practicum. Your practicum will be at least 90 clinical hours and may be split into two parts depending on the school you attend.
Though every MSN curriculum is different, accredited nursing programs follow the American Association of Colleges of Nursing framework in The Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing. This document outlines the essential curriculum contents and core competencies for nurse education programs nationwide.
Though every MSN Nurse Educator program is different, most have similar entry requirements, including:
An MSN in Nurse education typically takes 33 to 39 credit hours. Universities design their programs to satisfy the nine core elements of MSN education, as outlined in the AACN's framework:
You'll also attend specific courses related to nursing education and education theory, including:
Walden’s online programs for nursing meet rigorous standards for academic quality and integrity, and the School of Nursing teaching faculty all hold doctorates. With three degree completion options, you can choose a bachelor’s in nursing path that makes sense for your busy, unpredictable schedule.
