As a registered nurse (RN), your job prospects can extend beyond the healthcare setting and into a classroom. There, you can educate aspiring nurses and help them develop a professional mindset that embraces clinical standards and the latest evidence-based practices.
Here’s a look at some of the top jobs in education for nurses, along with tips that can help you get started on your job search.
How Can You Become a Nurse Educator?
To become a nurse educator, you must already be an RN. Becoming an RN requires you to earn either an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to obtain your nursing license. Then, you can spend time working as a nurse to gain experience that can help you become a nurse educator.
Some academic employers may require you to work for several years as a nurse before pursuing a career as a nurse educator and earning a master’s degree or doctorate. This experience isn’t always required, but it may put you above your peers who are vying for the same position but lack the relevant experience. Receiving extra education also gives you the option of advancing in your career later on, regardless of whether you want to work in an academic setting or a clinical setting.
Jobs in Education for Nurses
There are several job opportunities available for nurses who want jobs in education. “Nurse educator” is often used as a blanket term to describe any position in which RNs educate others in an academic or clinical setting. Below are some common jobs in education for nurses.
Academic Nurse Educator
As an academic nurse educator (ANE), you must hold a current and active nursing license to maintain the opportunity to teach. ANE positions are available at technical nursing schools, colleges, and universities and require you to educate nursing students, usually in a specialty area. Many ANEs continue to work in clinical settings while teaching and may occasionally participate in research projects and studies or speak at medical conferences.
ANEs are in high demand, which means your job prospects may be promising if you choose to pursue this specific position. In 2021, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing turned away 9,574 qualified applicants from nursing master’s programs and 5,169 qualified applicants from nursing doctorate programs due to a shortage of ANEs. Currently, the median annual salary for ANEs is $81,350.
Clinical Nurse Educator
A clinical nurse educator (CNE) is a nurse who educates and instructs licensed nurses in healthcare facilities. As a CNE, you’re responsible for improving the skills of employed nurses and helping new nurses adjust to their duties and responsibilities. CNEs may also hold brief training classes to teach nurses how to use new medical products or perform new procedures.
In mid-2023, the median annual salary for CNEs is $82,040—a wage that can vary widely, depending on the state in which you practice.
Occupational Health Nurse
An occupational health nurse (OHN) usually works closely with human resources departments in corporate settings. As an OHN, you facilitate health-related workshops and events in the corporate workplace, such as drug screenings, on-site vaccination and blood-donation drives, first aid training, and investigations into workers’ compensation claims. You may also be involved in assessing and improving health and safety in the workplace and running wellness and disease-prevention workshops.
OHNs typically earn a median annual salary of $74,200.
Patient Education Coordinator
If you prefer to continue working closely with patients, you may want to consider becoming a patient education coordinator. Also known as a health education specialist, this position involves teaching patients and their families more about their medical conditions and treatments, which can often lead to better disease management that improves health outcomes.
Patient education coordinators are needed in nearly every healthcare setting. Annual salaries for this position range from $37,140 to $106,210, depending on the healthcare setting in which you work.
Starting Your Job Search
When you’re ready to become a nurse educator, update your resume and consider looking for open positions in your current healthcare system. You can also browse available nurse educator positions on various job websites and job boards dedicated solely to nursing, such as Nurse.org.
Nurse educator positions may be listed under various titles in addition to those listed above, including:
- Nursing instructor
- Health educator
- Nursing curriculum coordinator
- Nursing education consultant
- Consultant nurse educator
- Clinical competency coordinator
- Nursing professional development specialist
If you truly enjoy being a nurse and teaching others, consider becoming a nurse educator. This position gives you a sense of purpose and allows you to share your passion and knowledge about nursing and healthcare with the next generation of nurses.
Resource Links
- “Career options for Nurse Educators” via American Nurse
- “5 Jobs for Nurse Educators” via University of North Carolina Wilmington
- “Nurse Educator Career Options” via Gwynedd Mercy University
- “Nursing Faculty Shortage Fact Sheet” via American Association of Colleges of Nursing
- “Nurse Educator Salaries in the U.S.: What Is the Average Income in Every State?” via Nightingale College
- “Average Nursing Education Salary How Much Does a Nurse Educator Make?” via Herzing University
- “Occupational Health Nurse: Job Description and Salary” via University of North Dakota
- “Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022 21-1091 Health Education Specialists” via U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics