Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary

Demonstrate and teach patient care in classroom and clinical units to nursing students. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

From people doing the work

It's very to shape the next generation of nurses, blending clinical experience with teaching theory. There's a constant need to stay updated with both medical advancements and educational technologies, often involving long hours of preparation and student mentorship. The work can be demanding, balancing classroom instruction, clinical supervision, and sometimes research, but seeing students grasp complex concepts and develop into competent professionals is.

Drawn from National League for Nursing (NLN), American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), Online forums and discussions from nursing educators

Attribution: Composite

Composite · Synthesised from National League for Nursing (NLN), American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), Online forums and discussions from nursing educators

A day in the life of Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary

People interaction
Extensive
Team vs solo
95% Team / 5% Solo
Client facing
Frequent
Impact visibility
High
Travel
Minimal
Schedule flexibility
Flexible
Remote work
On-site Only
Typical work hours
40-50
Stress level
Moderate

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary salary, education and outlook at a glance

Median salary
$79,940
Entry-level
$48,000
Senior
$144,000
Growth by 2033
+16.8%
Demand
Growing Fast
Freelance potential
Moderate
Salary growth potential
200%
Typical student debt
Very High

Skills you need as Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary

Hard skills

  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Medical software

Soft skills

  • Instructing
  • Learning Strategies
  • Speaking

Technical complexity: Moderate

Tools of the trade

Core tools

  • Simulation Software (Software): To provide realistic clinical scenarios for students to practice patient care skills in a safe environment.
  • Electronic Health Records (EHR) Systems (Software): To teach students how to document patient information, manage care plans, and understand healthcare informatics.
  • Learning Management Systems (LMS) (Platform): To deliver course content, manage assignments, facilitate online discussions, and track student progress.

Commonly used

  • Video Assessment Software (Software): To record and review student performance in clinical simulations and provide constructive feedback.
  • Presentation Software (Software): To create and deliver engaging lectures and instructional materials in classroom and online settings.
  • Medical Reference Databases (Database): To provide access to up-to-date medical research, clinical guidelines, and drug information for teaching and student research.

Specialist tools

  • ePortfolio Platforms (Platform): To allow students to compile and showcase their academic work, clinical experiences, and professional development.

How to become Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary

Minimum education
Master's Degree
Licensing
Yes
Years to mid-career
5-8
Years to senior
15-25
Career switching
Moderate

Where this career leads

How people arrive here

  • Registered Nurse (RN): Experienced Registered Nurses often transition into teaching roles to share their clinical expertise with new generations of nurses.
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist: Clinical Nurse Specialists, with their advanced practice and leadership skills, can move into academic positions to educate future nurses.
  • Nurse Manager: Nurse Managers, having extensive experience in healthcare administration and staff development, can pivot to teaching roles.
  • Staff Development Educator: Individuals focused on staff development in healthcare settings possess relevant experience to become nursing instructors.

Where you can go from here

  • Academic Dean/Provost: Nursing Instructors with significant academic experience and leadership skills can advance to higher administrative roles within educational institutions.
  • Curriculum Developer: Instructors can specialize in designing and updating nursing education curricula, leveraging their teaching experience.
  • Healthcare Consultant: With their deep knowledge of healthcare practices and education, nursing instructors can transition into consulting roles for healthcare organizations.
  • Medical Writer: Nursing instructors can apply their expertise to create educational materials, textbooks, or articles for medical and nursing publications.

Typical progression

  1. Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten
  2. Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
  3. or Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary job outlook and future demand

Automation probability
Low
AI disruption risk
Moderate
Demand trend
Growing Fast

Job satisfaction as Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary

Overall satisfaction
7.2/10
Meaning
8.5/10
Work-life balance
7.5/10
Prestige
7.5/10
Social perception
High

Where practitioners gather

Professional organisations

Conferences

  • Nursing Education Conferences: Events and conferences focused on advancements, best practices, and networking opportunities in nursing education.

Online communities

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