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Nursing
Teach in Nursing
Interview Tips
This website provides tips and resources on entry into the nursing field. You will have the opportunity to care for individuals and families across the spectrum. You will also be instrumental in merging science with caring to provide holistic nursing care, as well as have opportunities to collaborate with individuals from a multidisciplinary perspective – all with the goal of caring for the patient.
We suggest you listen to the stories of nurses and nursing educators. Read about nursing specialties that may interest you.
How do you begin? We suggest you listen to the stories of nurses and nursing educators. Read about nursing specialties that may interest you. The great news is that you will be able to do both within this website. You can read some real-life nursing stories now on our home page. More stories will be added to the site featuring nursing educators from across the state of Maryland. Discover the many options available to you as you explore this site.
While it may be challenging to decide on your first steps, keep in mind that most employers will be requiring a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. There are numerous funding resources available to you. There are also learning resources such as tutoring and academic success programs which can be especially valuable for someone entering higher education. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
You can influence and prepare the next generation of professional nurses. Use the career pathway tool to learn more! You might start your journey as a clinical preceptor and work with nursing students or new nurses to ease their transition from student to professional.
Dedicated nurse preceptors are vital to retain nurses in the profession. Becoming a clinical preceptor is a good way to learn key aspects of the educator role.
If you are just starting out on the path to becoming a nurse educator, this site has many resources for you.
As you think about whether or not teaching is for you, you might be interested in exploring the benefits of becoming a nurse educator, such as:
Much of a nurse educator’s day is spent preparing for and facilitating classes, whether in a classroom, lab, simulation center, or virtual environment.
Educators who oversee students in clinical settings may divide their time between campus and a nearby health care facility.
Academic life can be demanding and filled with unexpected pressures, including multiple, competing demands:
Most nurse educators are highly satisfied with their work.
Compensation for nursing faculty varies widely and depends upon the location of the job, level of education, advanced certifications, and amount of clinical and teaching experience.
In Maryland, doctorally-prepared nursing professors earn between $70,000 and $150,000 based on academic rank, years of teaching experience, and location. Part-time nursing faculty may be paid on an hourly basis or per teaching assignment. Hourly rates range from $29 to $56.
Many educators work during the academic year (typically 9 or 10 months), so the reported salary may be for that period of time instead of per year.
In many geographic regions, an experienced nurse can make more money caring for patients than teaching. Nursing schools are offering more competitive salaries to attract nurses. Nurses may be paid as part-time nursing faculty on an hourly basis ranging from $29 to $56.
Nurse educators who work in healthcare organizations spend time developing and implementing professional development that could occur in classrooms, online, skills training, and simulation.
Hospital/ Organization nurse educators responsibilities involve overseeing the orientation of:
Nurse educators focus on their own professional development by:
Nurse educators are:
If you are working in a hospital, become involved in actvities to see if you enjoy teaching:
Compensation for nurse educators in an organization or clinical setting varies widely and depends on:
In Maryland, nurse educators in a clinical setting can start around $85,000 and up.
Check out the new Career Portal to see what job listings are currently available.
Interview settings will vary; in many cases, you will have a phone or Zoom interview prior to an in-person interview. If not initially clear, it is acceptable to ask what kind of format to expect. To be ready for your interview(s), find out about the organization (mission, vision, and goals), and compile a list of questions to bring along; there will be many opportunities to ask questions important to you. Prepare your responses and practice your interview beforehand. Be aware of your appearance; dress to impress and be mindful of your posture.
Once the date and time is set, plan to be in an area with few distractions. Make sure you are comfortable with the format and practice ahead of time if possible to avoid technical issues when it is time to begin. Be sure your connection is clear, easy to hear, and free of background noise. Be sure to listen with care to avoid interrupting your interviewer(s). For Zoom or other video call interviews, be aware of the background that appears in the camera.
These interviews are typically held at the organization’s site, but can be elsewhere. Be sure to plan ahead and arrive 5-10 minutes early; notify your interviewer immediately if you are running late. The setting for these interviews can vary. You may interview with a single person or with a panel of people. Ask for their business cards or make note of everyone you meet.
Academic | Clinical |
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Interviews are typically scheduled for half to full-day. | Interviews are typically scheduled for several hours. |
Interview may be multifaceted: Department/Program Chair, and/or other Department Heads, and/or other Faculty Members. Expect to be interviewed by a group of people. If you are applying for a teaching or research position; be prepared to be asked questions about previous courses you have taught or prior research you conducted. | Interviews may be with the Supervisor or with a group including Supervisor, Peers and/or other staff members. Expect to be interviewed by a group of people. Anticipate questions about your expertise, specific initiatives you’ve created and populations with whom you worked. |
You may be provided a tour of the academic campus or a meal during your interview. | You may be provided with a tour of the institution. |
You may be asked to present on a teaching topic or aspect of your research. Some of the questions may be situational in nature. | Expect to be asked to discuss responses to hypothetical situations. |
Time from interview to decision varies and may be several months | Time from interview to decision varies and may be several months |
The time from your interview to their decision varies and may be several months. Be patient during the wait. Sending your interviewers a note of thanks is optional, but may help them remember you.
When notified of the outcome -- hopefully you will be celebrating! If not, there are many other opportunities to pursue. If not, there are many other opportunities to pursue. Use the Career Portal to search for open positions in one convenient place!
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