A New Year, a New Opportunity to Guide the Next Generation of Nurses
Give a quick yes or no to these questions…
Do you…
- Find it fulfilling to teach and mentor other nurses?
- See yourself as a strong communicator and collaborator?
- Have a passion for working to improve the quality of patient care?
- Enjoy staying on top of the latest developments and innovations within the field of nursing?
If you kept answering “yes,” then maybe you were meant to be a nurse educator. If you choose to pursue that career path, you’ll be doing the nursing field a great service as there is currently a major shortage of nurse educators in the United States.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), faculty shortages at nursing schools throughout the U.S. are resulting in limited nursing student capacity at a time when there’s a growing need for registered nurses (RNs).
Do you feel like it’s your calling to help others find their calling in the field of nursing? If so, you can make 2024 the year to get started on your path to become a nurse educator! It all begins with you furthering your education so you’re prepared to train the next generation of nurses.
In this post, we provide further information about the role of a nurse educator, insights into the shortage, and how you can get started on this career path.
What Is a Nurse Educator?
A nurse educator is an experienced nurse who is responsible for training and mentoring nursing students and/or other nurses. A nurse educator may be a faculty member at a college or university who trains nursing students, or they may be someone who trains other working nurses in clinical settings.
Nurse educators stay on top of the latest developments and evidence-based best practices within the field of nursing, and they are advocates for maintaining the highest quality of care for patients. In addition to actual training, nurse educators may also be involved in developing nursing education and professional development programs as well as serving as mentors or preceptors.
What Does the U.S. Nursing Educator Shortage Look Like?
As reported by CNN, nearly 78,200 nursing school qualified applications were denied in 2022, based on information provided by the AACN. These applications were for schools with baccalaureate and advanced degree programs.
Out of the total denied applications, nearly 66,300 were for entry-level bachelor’s degree programs, reflecting a trend of a higher number of application denials for baccalaureate-level nursing programs in recent years in comparison to pre-pandemic levels (prior to 2019). Staffing shortages were cited as the main reason for the increased level of denials.
An AACN survey of 909 nursing schools across the country with baccalaureate and/or graduate programs identified 2,166 full-time faculty vacancies. The responding schools also shared a need to create an additional 128 faculty positions to accommodate student demand. The data shows there is a national nurse faculty vacancy rate of 8.8%.
One factor that is helping to fuel the nurse faculty shortage is the higher age of existing nurse faculty. According to an article published in Nursing Outlook in 2017, about one-third of the nursing faculty pool in 2015 was expected to be retired by 2025.
How Can I Become a Nurse Educator?
If you’re interested in becoming a nurse educator, you can start the process by advancing your education through a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Post-Master’s Certificate program with a Nurse Educator specialization.
Either type of program will provide you with training on innovative teaching strategies, curriculum design, program assessment and evaluation, leadership skills, advanced nursing technologies and practices, and more.
An MSN program can be a great option for registered nurses who already have bachelor’s degrees. A Post-Master’s Certificate is ideal for nurses who already hold master’s degrees and who want to further their training with a nurse educator specialization.
Nurse Educator Specialization at WCU
At West Coast University, we offer programs that can help you pursue a career as a nurse educator. Both our MSN – Nurse Educator program and our Nurse Educator Post-Master’s Certificate program are offered online for maximum flexibility, with the inclusion of in-person clinical components.
Completion of both programs support the eligibility requirements needed to apply for certification with the National League for Nursing (NLN) as a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE).
Ready to embark on an educational journey that will help you make a difference within your field?
Learn more about the Nurse Educator specialization for the MSN and post-master’s certificate programs at WCU. We have multiple start dates throughout the year, making it easier for you to get started when it works for you.
WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of the school or of any instructor or student.
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