OVERVIEW
What is a Clinical Nurse Educator?
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 provide 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. They can work with undergraduate or graduate students, depending upon the nursing education program they choose to work with. Clinical nurse educators may develop and implement a method to evaluate the learning of nursing students as they provide care to patients or clients.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Clinical Nurse Educator Do?
The role of a clinical nurse educator mainly requires collaborative work between healthcare setting interprofessional teams, nursing faculty teaching in the classroom, and students assigned to clinical learning experiences in the healthcare setting. 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 nursing student skills, knowledge, and clinical judgement
- Collaborating with nursing course faculty or working independently to develop, implement, and test student evaluation processes
- Running a pre and post clinical briefing session for students to facilitate student’s learning related to experiences the student’s will or have had in the clinical setting
- Researching methods for improved student education in a clinical setting
- Implementing strategies and learning opportunities for nursing 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 nursing student throughout their assigned clinical learning experience and sharing that information with the the student and course faculty
- Educating nursing students on optimal task performance
These and other responsibilities often define the role of a clinical nurse educator, a nursing professional with considerable skill, knowledge, and clinical judgement regarding current patient care standards and processes.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Clinical Nurse Educator?
Individuals interested in becoming a clinical nurse educator must first meet the necessary educational requirements. In particular, this means becoming a nurse and earning a bachelor’s 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’s degree, available through an expedited RN-to-MSN program or a BSN to MSN in nursing education. If you have already completed your master's degree in nursing, you may want to pursue a post-master's certificate in nursing education. These programs will focus on the educational aspects of nursing and give you insights into proper instruction, curriculum, and more.
Best Degrees for a Clinical Nurse Educator
Health & Nursing
Nursing – Education (RN-to-MSN) – M.S.
This MSN – Education online nursing program for RNs includes a BSN program...
This MSN – Education online nursing program for RNs includes a BSN program component and is a substantial leap forward for an aspiring nurse educator.
- Time: 60% of RN-to-MSN grads finish within 38 months.
- Tuition and fees: $4,685 per 6-month term during undergraduate portion, and $4,795 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 résumé 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.
Health & Nursing
Nursing – Education (BSN-to-MSN) – 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: $4,795 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 résumé 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 – Education and step into a role inspiring and empowering caregivers.
Health & Nursing
Nursing Education – 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: Students typically finish this program in 12 months.
- Tuition: $4,795 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 8 total courses in this program.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Contemporary Curriculum Design and Development
- Assessment 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 Clinical Nurse Educator Make?
$82,854
In general, the salary of a clinical nurse educator 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?
6%
The career outlook for a clinical nurse educator is positive in the years to come. In addition, nursing occupations are expected to rise 6% from 2022 to 2032, a growth rate faster than the average expansion forecasted across all occupations.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a 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’s 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.
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