Nursing is a satisfying career for those who want to improve patients’ lives directly. As new generations of nurses enter the profession, mentors can be beneficial in helping them adjust to their roles.
Clinical nurse educators help new nurses transition from the classroom to a clinical setting. By serving as mentors to these nurses and providing them with the training and guidance they need to gain confidence in their roles, clinical nurse educators can help improve nurse retention levels and the overall quality of patient care in their facilities. Individuals considering this rewarding career should examine the benefits of earning a nursing degree in helping them qualify to become a clinical nurse educator.
What Does a Clinical Nurse Educator Do?
Clinical nurse educators are registered nurses (RNs) who train and mentor other nurses and nursing students on the job in a healthcare facility. They combine their experience, advanced knowledge of nursing practices, and desire to teach into a single career path. They act as key role models and leaders to those developing their nursing skills as well as to experienced nurses looking to expand their knowledge.
Clinical nurse educators typically collaborate with other healthcare professionals and educators to develop training programs for nurses based on the latest medical knowledge and current best practices in nursing. They are responsible for researching ongoing developments in the healthcare field so they can teach the most relevant information on patient care, medical technology, and healthcare policy.
Clinical nurse educators track the skills and knowledge of the nurses and students they oversee to evaluate their progress and development. They determine how well their mentees prioritize tasks, make critical judgments, and care for their patients.
Clinical Nurse Educator Work Environments
Clinical nurse educators typically work in clinical settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices. Other types of nurse educators, such as college faculty members, more often work in academic settings giving lectures and seminars in a classroom setting.
Nurse educators can also be hired by companies in healthcare-related industries to provide information and education to nurses. For instance, a clinical educator may work for a medical technology company or a pharmaceutical company with the responsibility of teaching nurses about new advancements in the company’s healthcare devices or treatments.
Steps to Become a Clinical Nurse Educator
Aspiring clinical nurse educators must follow a specific path to achieve their career goals. Along with gaining a nursing education and RN licensure, these individuals must develop key skills to help them perform effectively. Additionally, they can seek certification to help them showcase their knowledge to potential employers.
1. Complete an Education and Gain Experience
Prospective clinical nurse educators must first become registered nurses. This requires earning an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and then passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Since nurse educators typically need at least a BSN degree to teach, RNs who have already earned an ADN may enroll in an RN to BSN program to earn their bachelor’s degree. These degree programs allow nursing students to gain hands-on experience through clinicals and labs.
After earning an initial degree, passing the NCLEX, and gaining work experience as an RN, nurses can earn their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. For senior clinical nurse educator roles, employers often require candidates to hold an MSN. Additionally, nurses who wish to perform academic research and teaching often earn a doctoral degree, such as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.
2. Earn Relevant Certification
Clinical nurse educators do not need additional licensure beyond RN licensure in the state where they’re employed, but there are a few optional credentials that can be beneficial. Obtaining either the certified nurse educator (CNE) or the certified academic nurse educator (CNE-CL) certification can help a nurse demonstrate their extensive nursing knowledge and a commitment to the role to potential employers.
3. Develop Key Skills
In addition to standard nursing skills, clinical nurse educators need certain other skills to improve their effectiveness, such as the following:
- Teaching skills: Clinical nurse educators should be well-versed in how to instruct students to promote their growth. They should also understand how to track the progress of new nurses as they learn and gain experience, and be able to create lesson plans that reflect current nursing practices and information.
- Communication skills: Clinical nurse educators must be able to communicate clearly to their students to ensure the students understand the lessons and guidance they are being given. Clinical nurse educators must also be able to communicate with staff nurses, doctors, other healthcare professionals, and fellow nursing educators to coordinate lessons.
- Leadership skills: An important part of clinical nurse educators’ work is acting as a mentor. Leadership skills can help clinical nurse educators be seen as role models, giving new nurses an ideal to aspire toward.
Clinical Nurse Educator Job Outlook
The future of clinical nurse educator positions looks positive. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that between 2022 and 2032, employment of registered nurses will grow by 6%, which is higher than the 3% average growth projected for all occupations.
Additionally, the BLS projects that jobs for postsecondary nursing instructors and teachers will increase 18% over the same period. Educational institutions will have an increased need for these professionals to help guide and educate the growing new generation of registered nurses.
Shape the Future of Nursing in Your Career
If you are looking for an impactful career that helps drive the success of new nurses, consider the benefits of earning a nursing degree from Denver College of Nursing to help you achieve your goal of becoming a clinical nurse educator. With multiple options to assist you in your educational journey, including ADN, BSN, RN to BSN, and MSN programs, DCN can help you launch or advance your career in the nursing profession.
Discover how you can make a difference in the world of nursing with Denver College of Nursing.
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