Career Opportunities With a Master's in Nursing Education

As a registered nurse (RN), you may need to earn a master's degree in order to pursue specialty roles or leadership opportunities in the field. A master's degree in nursing education can open the doors to a variety of teaching positions. From clinical instructors responsible for teaching future nurses to nurse educators who are passionate about nursing research, there exist a vast range of career opportunities for graduates with a Master of Science in Nursing-Nursing Education.

The Growing Demand for Nurse Educators

The nursing shortage crisis has been impacting the profession for many years, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating the impact at all levels of health care. Aside from lacking enough qualified registered nurses to provide all patients with the personalized care they need, the field has been facing a nursing faculty shortage. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), about one-third of the current nursing faculty members are expected to retire by 2025, leaving many open positions at colleges, universities and hospitals around the country.

What Can You Do With a Master's in Nursing Education?

The MSN-Nursing Education degree equips students with the advanced knowledge and clinical skills necessary to take on specialized roles in the nursing field. Additionally, this specialized degree program emphasizes the teaching skills required to effectively prepare nursing students for clinical roles and provide registered nurses with the ongoing training they need to maneuver the ever-evolving health care landscape.

Below are some of the nurse educator jobs you could pursue when you earn a master's in nursing education.

Nurse Educator

According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), nurse educators are responsible for teaching future nurses as well as facilitating training programs for RNs that allow them to develop new skills and stay informed of health care industry trends. Nurse educators work in a number of settings, including classrooms and clinical environments, and they primarily strive to prepare the next generation of nurses to succeed in the field and develop the skills needed to confront the complex challenges facing the health care system today.

Clinical Nurse Educator

Clinical nurse educators, commonly referred to as CNEs (Certified Nurse Educators), are professionals with advanced nursing and teaching skills. While the CNE designation reflects national certification in nursing education, some nurse educators may also earn additional certification specific to clinical instruction. These educators often work with nursing students in clinical settings and are primarily responsible for:

Creating training programs and materials for nursing students.
Helping nursing students perfect their clinical skills.
Observing nursing students in clinical settings.
Evaluating and providing nursing students with feedback.

Online Nursing Instructor

Online nursing instructors are nurse educators who develop online programming and offer remote instruction. Online nursing instructors often work with registered nurses who need to complete continuing education requirements, and they leverage the power of advanced technology to offer educational programs that are convenient and valuable.

Continuing Education Provider and Professional Development Trainer

As a continuing education provider and professional development trainer, you would be responsible for developing programming that enables nurses to complete their continuing education requirements for their nursing license. These nurse educators often work directly for hospitals, or they may contract independently with health care systems to provide nurses with valuable training that allows them to learn new technology and explore the latest research findings in the nursing profession.

Nursing Program Director or Curriculum Developer

Both nursing program directors and curriculum developers are considered leadership positions in nursing education. According to the ANA, nursing program directors are responsible for the administration of an entire nursing department, including developing the education and training programs that are available to nursing staff members. Curriculum developers specialize in nursing pedagogy, collaborating closely with the program director to develop relevant and impactful training programs for nurses.

Health Care Consultant in Nursing Education

Nursing education consultants often work directly with health care systems to advise them on the best way to create and implement nursing education programs. This position allows you to enjoy a greater sense of autonomy, and you may be able to work flexible hours, depending on the nature of your contracts.

Researcher in Nursing Education

Nurse educators who want to focus on research may pursue opportunities in academia, where they can work with students at the university level while conducting their own research projects. Researchers in nursing education have the chance to position themselves at the forefront of the latest medical advances, and they can enjoy rewarding positions in which they have a direct impact on the nursing profession.

Non-Traditional Roles for Nurse Educators

In addition to the most common nurse educator positions, you may consider several non-traditional roles after earning an MSN-Nursing Education. These niche positions allow you to combine your personal interests with your professional expertise to curate a custom career path.

Corporate Nurse Educator

According to the National Nurses in Business Association, a corporate nurse educator contracts with corporate organizations in order to provide them with educational programming about preventative health care and wellness initiatives. Corporate nurse educators work to develop curriculum programs that provide corporate employees with the information they need to live healthy and productive lives.

Public Health Nursing Education Specialist

Public health nursing education specialists work in the realm of public health to provide educational programming that will benefit the local population. According to the Association of Community Health Nursing Educators, public health nurse educators actively work to conduct research and develop programming that helps ensure a specific population has access to the resources and health care services necessary to achieve a high quality of life. Public health nurse educators tend to emphasize equity and accessibility within their programming and may have to develop specialized educational programs that address the specific needs of the population.

Government and Policy Advisor for Nursing Education

Nurse educators who want to specialize in government and public policy can pursue positions as policy advisors in nursing education. These advisors work to provide other nurse educators with insight into the latest policies being developed and implemented so that nurse educators can create relevant programming for nursing students.

Writer, Author or Content Developer for Nursing Education

Nurse educators with significant experience may be able to pursue opportunities to write books or develop content for nursing education programs. Typically, nurse educators need to have experience working in clinical settings and classrooms in order to possess enough professional insight to write a book or develop content — making this an ideal opportunity for the latter stage of one’s career.

Entrepreneurship in Nursing Education

Nurse educators also have the opportunity to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities. Nursing education is a vast specialty area, and there is significant demand for qualified nurse educators. After graduating with your MSN-Nursing Education, you may be able to create your own business through which you provide educational services or programming to nursing students or RNs. The opportunities for creative entrepreneurial endeavors in nursing education are virtually endless, allowing you to personalize your career path.

Nurse Educator Salary and Job Outlook

Charged with the task of teaching future nurses, nurse educators are expected to be in high demand, particularly as health care leaders work to resolve the nursing shortage crisis. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nurse educators earn an average annual wage of more than $86,000, though the salary range can fluctuate based on their level of experience and their place of employment. In general, nurse educators who work in hospitals earn a higher salary than nurse educators who work at colleges, universities or trade schools.

Discover What You Can Do With a Master’s in Nursing Education at Texas A&M

At a time when the nursing shortage crisis continues to impact health care delivery, the need for experienced and intuitive nurse educators has never been greater. At Texas A&M University, we are proud to offer a Master of Science in Nursing degree with a focus on nursing education. This innovative graduate degree program is geared toward registered nurses who aspire to become nurse educators. Our comprehensive curriculum allows you to explore nursing pedagogy and develop teaching skills — giving you the ability to begin teaching future nurses in both classroom and clinical settings.

Request more information about our MSN-Nursing Education degree program today.

Sources