A quality nurse educator program will provide learning geared to train the practitioner as an expert clinician who excels in consulting, educating and defining roles. The qualified educator supports learning environments that help nursing students establish valuable strategies that meet the daily requirements of a hospital, supported living or private home work environment.
Nurse educator programs offer master's degrees in a vast array of specialties such as gerontology, critical care and surgical nursing. A nurse educator needs a master's degree to work in most university settings, unless she is a clinical instructor. Nurses with bachelor's degrees can look to technical and private schools, as well as junior colleges, for opportunities to work as nurse educators.
According to Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow; nurse educators are responsible for preparing and mentoring current and future generations of nurses. These professionals play an important role in strengthening the nursing workforce, serving as role models and providing leadership needed to implement evidence-based practice.
Nurse educators are often held responsible for designing, implementing, evaluating and revising academic and continuing education programs for nurses. Nursing education plays a critical role in assuring quality and safety for patients, which makes it even more important to prepare the nursing workforce for a diverse and ever-changing health care environment.
According to Payscale.com, nurse educators claim annual salaries that range from $50,936 to $73,265. Earnings vary by degrees held and years of experience.
According to Nursesource.org, nurse educators often report a high degree of satisfaction with their work. They often site interaction with students and watching future nurses grow in confidence and skill as the most rewarding aspect of the job.