OVERVIEW
What is a Clinical Nurse Educator?
听
Clinical nurse educators, or CNEs, are nurses with a passion for educating other nurses who work in healthcare environments the knowledge and skills needed to听provide听the best possible care. A nurse educator is usually a highly respected nurse with strong organizational and leadership skills.
A clinical nurse educator makes the education of students their top priority.听 They can work with undergraduate or graduate students, depending upon the听nursing听education program they choose to work with.听 Clinical nurse educators may develop and implement a method to evaluate the learning of听nursing听students as they provide care to patients or clients.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Clinical Nurse Educator Do?
The role of a clinical nurse educator听mainly requires听collaborative work between healthcare setting interprofessional teams,听nursing听faculty teaching in the classroom, and students assigned to clinical learning experiences in the healthcare setting.听听This requires that the clinical nurse educator has a great degree of competence related to caring for patients, clients, and families. In particular, the responsibilities of a clinical nurse educator include:
- Leading, educating, and assessing听nursing听student skills, knowledge, and clinical judgement
- Collaborating with听nursing听course faculty or working independently to develop, implement, and test student evaluation processes
- Running a pre and post clinical briefing session for students to听facilitate听student鈥檚 learning related to experiences the student鈥檚 will or have had in the clinical setting
- Researching听methods for improved听student education in a clinical setting
- Implementing strategies and learning opportunities for听nursing听students in the clinical setting to assure students function within the policies and standards of the healthcare environment.
- Tracking the learning, competency, and clinical judgment of the听nursing听student throughout their assigned clinical learning experience and sharing that information with the听the听student and course faculty
- Educating听nursing听students on听optimal听task performance
These and other responsibilities often define the role of a clinical nurse educator, a听nursing听professional with considerable skill, knowledge, and clinical judgement听regarding听current patient care standards and processes.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Clinical Nurse Educator?
Individuals interested in听听must first meet the necessary educational requirements. In particular, this means becoming a nurse and earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree. You will likely need experience as a nurse in order to adequately teach nursing, so spending time working in the field is key.
The career path to a nursing educator position also requires a master鈥檚 degree, available through an expedited听听or a听. If you have already completed your master's degree in nursing, you may want to pursue a听. These programs will focus on the educational aspects of nursing and give you insights into proper instruction, curriculum, and more.
Best Degrees for a听Clinical Nurse Educator
Nursing 鈥 Education (RN-to-MSN) 鈥 M.S.
This MSN 鈥 Education online nursing program for RNs includes a BSN program...
This MSN 鈥 Education online nursing program for RNs includes a BSN program component and is a substantial leap forward for an aspiring nurse educator.
- Time:听60% of RN-to-MSN grads finish within听38 months.
- Tuition and fees: $5,325听per 6-month term during undergraduate portion, and $5,035 per 6-month term during graduate portion.
- Courses: 32 total courses in this program.
This program is ideal for current RNs who are looking to earn both their BSN and MSN in a single, accelerated program.
Skills for your r茅sum茅 you will learn in this program:
- Contemporary Curriculum Design and Development in Nursing Education
- Value-Based Nursing Care Outcomes
- Advanced Pathopharmacological Foundations
- Informatics for Transforming Nursing Care
- Leadership and Management
Given the growing nurse educator shortage, earning your MSN with a focus in education is both a rewarding decision and a solid career move.
Nursing 鈥 Education (BSN-to-MSN) 鈥 M.S.
A master's in nursing education program for nurses with BSNs....
A master's in nursing education program for nurses with BSNs.
- Time: 62% of grads finish within 24 months.
- Tuition:听$5,035 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 15 total courses in this program.
This program is ideal for RNs who already have their BSN and are ready to progress in their career.
Skills for your r茅sum茅 you will learn in this program:
- Contemporary Curriculum Design and Development in Nursing Education
- Quality Outcomes in a Culture of Value-Based Nursing Care
- Advanced Pathopharmacological Foundations
- Informatics for Transforming Nursing Care
- Leadership and Management
Hospitals and other facilities need nurse educators. Earn your MSN 鈥 Education and step into a role inspiring and empowering caregivers.
Nursing Education 鈥 Post-Master's Certificate
A specialty certificate in nursing education for nurses with MSNs....
A specialty certificate in nursing education for nurses with MSNs.
This program will prepare you to teach the next generation of nurses.
- Time:听Students typically finish this program in 12 months.
- Tuition: $5,035 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 8 total courses in this program.
Skills for your r茅sum茅 that you will learn in this program:
- Contemporary Curriculum Design and Development
- Assessment听of Student Learning
- Facilitation of Student-Centered Learning
Hospitals and other facilities need nurse educators. Earn your Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing Education and step into a role inspiring and empowering caregivers. This program will prepare you to sit for the National League for Nursing Certified Nurse Executive (CNE) exam.
How Much Does a听Clinical Nurse Educator Make?
$82,854
In general, the听听averages $82,854 per year. This means that the top 10% of earners receive as much as $112,000 per year, whereas the lowest 10% of earners take home roughly $62,000 per year.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
听
6%
The career outlook for a clinical nurse educator is positive in the years to come. In addition,听, a growth rate faster than the average expansion forecasted across all occupations.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a听Clinical Nurse Educator Need?
Clinical nurse educators must possess an in-depth understanding of both nursing operations and best educational practices. As a result, they typically operate with a well-defined skill set, which allows them to make a difference in the lives of patients and nurses.
- Interpersonal communication: The ability to correspond effectively with all nursing staff to convey concepts to be learned and adopted.
- Healthcare expertise: The ability to fulfill all the roles of a nurse, independent from your ability to teach them.
- Engaged teaching: The ability to provide dynamic education to nurses in all positions to enhance the ability of those nurses to fulfill their responsibilities.
- Educational research: The ability to research and implement improved teaching techniques, to improve a nurse鈥檚 ability to retain information once taught.
- Leadership: The ability to serve as a leader in educating nursing staff members, and as an exemplar when demonstrating exactly how newly learned concepts are to be performed.
- Student evaluation: The ability to assess how well nursing staff members are learning information as it is taught.
- Public speaking: The ability to effectively deliver a public address to a group of nurses looking to improve their own skill sets.
These and other skills form the basis for a successful clinical nurse educator, an individual who can both teach and implement nursing best practices to improve patient outlook and quality of life.
Our Online University Degree Programs Start on the First of Every Month, All Year Long
No need to wait for spring or fall semester. It's back-to-school time at 黑料传送门 year-round. Get started by talking to an Enrollment Counselor today, and you'll be on your way to realizing your dream of a bachelor's or master's degree鈥攕ooner than you might think!
Next Start Date
{{startdate}}
Interested in Becoming a Clinical Nurse Educator?
Learn more about degree programs that can prepare you for this meaningful career.