Nursing Educator Job Description
The nursing educator job description includes teaching nursing students and also preparing them for careers in nursing! A nurse educator is a professionally trained and also licensed nursing professional tasked with the responsibility of training Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Registered Nurses (RNs) for entry-level work in clinical settings. Also, nurse educators work in patient care programs and settings providing hands-on continuing education to the organization’s nursing staff. So, if you have spent some time considering a career as a nurse educator, you have likely asked yourself the questions below.
What Are the Clinical Nurse Educator Job Duties?
What does a clinical nurse educator do? A nurse educator is a professionally trained and also licensed nursing professional. They train and prepare Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and also Registered Nurses (RNs) for entry-level work in clinical settings.
What Does a Nurse Educator Do If They Work at a University or College?
Most nurse educators begin their careers by teaching in an academic setting. Then, they may work in patient care settings providing hands-on continuing education to the organization’s nursing staff.
What Are The Education Requirements to Become A Nurse Educator?
Nurse educators are typically required to complete either a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree or a doctoral degree in nursing. Fortunately, MSN programs are now available in both traditional on-campus delivery and online. In addition, many programs now offer dual degrees, earning an MSN and Ph.D. degree simultaneously.
Nurse Educator Certification From The National League for Nursing
So, if you are interested in obtaining a nurse educator certification, you can sit for the Certified Nurse Education exam from the National League for Nursing (NLN). Eligibility requirements include the following list below.
- Have an active RN license issued by either the United States or its territories.
- Hold either a graduate or doctoral degree in nursing with a primary emphasis in nursing or one of these academic backgrounds –
- Have a graduate or doctoral degree in nursing and also a Post-Masters Nursing Education Certificate.
- A graduate or doctoral degree in nursing and also 9+ credit hours of education classes at the graduate level.
OR
- A valid RN license, an advanced nursing education degree, and 2+ years of experience working in higher education institutions, sometime during the past five years.
Nurse Educator Career Paths
Most nurse educators work in either a college, professional school, or university. However, those who prefer to work in a clinical setting will find rewarding work as nurse educators. Furthermore, the curriculum depends on the place you teach and your role as a nurse educator. Additionally, a few job titles for nurse educators are below.
- Nurse Educator – Faculty Member
- Administrative Nurse – Faculty Member
- Health Educator
- Clinical Nurse Educator
- Staff Development Specialist
In 2019, there were more than 59,500 nurse educators working in the country.
What States Employ the most Nurse Educators?
The states offering the highest level of jobs for nurse educators are listed below. They include New York, Texas, Florida, California, and also Ohio.
| State | # Employed | Salaries |
| New York | 5,100 | $98,850 per year |
| Texas | 5,040 | $65,970 per year |
| Florida | 3,980 | $116,650 per year |
| California | 4,510 | $106,420 per year |
| Ohio | 3,410 | $79,360 per year |
Nurse Educator Salaries
The next section will answer the following questions –
- How much do nurse educators make on an hourly basis when first starting out?
- How much do nursing educators make on an annual basis?
What Are The Highest Paying States For Nursing Educators?
According to data obtained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2020, the median annual salary of a nurse educator was $75,470 per year. Additionally, the range for a salary for a nurse educator is as follows.
- First, at the lower range, the salary for nurse educators is $41,930.
- Then, at the upper range, the salaries for nurse educators is $133,420.
Geographically speaking, the top paying states for salaries for nurse educators are below.
| Salary by State | Salaries |
| District of Columbia | $157,560 per year |
| Florida | $122,050 per year |
| California | $101,930 per year |
| New York | $ 97,750 per year |
| Connecticut | $ 97,350 per year |
What Are The Highest Paying Metro Areas For Nursing Educators?
Geographically speaking, the top-paying metropolitan areas for salaries for nurse educators include these states.
| Metro Area | Salary |
| DC – VA – MD – WV | $120,980 per year |
| Rochester, NY | $108,480 per year |
| New Haven, CT | $107,320 per year |
| LA, Long Beach, Anaheim | $106,740 per year |
| Sacramento – Roseville – Arden, CA | $104,430 per year |
Related: 10 Best Nursing Schools in Sacramento California
What Are The Highest Paying Non-Metro Areas For Nursing Educators?
Geographically, the top-paying non-metropolitan areas for nurse educator salaries are also below.
| Non-Metropolitan Area | Salaries |
| Central Missouri | $ 98,560 per year |
| NW Lower Michigan Peninsula | $ 98,540 per year |
| Central Kentucky | $ 88,400 per year |
| NY Capital Region | $ 79,490 per year |
| Northwest Iowa | $ 77,880 per year |
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