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Explore Career Possibilities
Nursing
Teach in Nursing
Interview Tips
Would you like to be a nurse?
Welcome to our world!
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.
So you want to be a nurse...
- First, build a repertoire of knowledge:
- What area of nursing am I interested in? Pediatric nursing-what does that involve?
- Ask questions-talk to relatives and friends who are nurses; perhaps the nurse in your doctor’s office.
- Be focused in your questioning:
- Tell me about work intensity?
- What are the hours?
- What are rotating shifts and the likelihood I might be working on a night or evening shift, or holidays?
- What are work and competency expectations from managers and peers?
- Second, take a hard look at yourself:
- Nursing is a life-long profession. Life-long learning is an expectation.
- Engage in problem-solving.
- Begin looking at nursing programs that fit your needs.
- Volunteer at senior centers, hospitals, or at health-related community events.
- Secure a job in a health-related field.
- Third, know what to expect:
- Nursing school is challenging-be prepared to study and learn.
- Engage in values clarification-ethics are foundational to nursing.
You may want to be both a nurse and involved in nursing education
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!
Initial Nursing Program *
- Associate’s Degree (2-year Community College)
- Bachelor’s Degree (4-year College or University)
- For those with a Bachelor’s Degree in another field: Accelerated/Transitional Bachelor Degree (College or University)
- Master’s Degree (College or University) – Master’s Entry Degree Programs are available
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) – requires a high school diploma or GED and generally involves 75 hours of classNameroom learning and 100 hours of clinical training. If you are not sure about nursing as a profession, this provides a preview of challenges and the satisfaction of working directly with patients.
- Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) – a one-two year program preparing you to take the NCLEX Practical Nurse (PN); upon passing this examination, you would be eligible for licensure as an LPN.
Graduate Programs **
- Master’s Degree
- Doctoral Degree (PhD or DNP)
- Post-Doctoral Study – This is an option primarily for those nurses who are aiming to develop a research career.
- operating at an accredited College or University
- approved by the State in which they operate AND
- accredited by a Professional Nursing Organization approved by the U.S. Dept. of Education. (Many PhD Programs are accredited by their University, typically this is the Graduate School)
Would you like to become a nurse educator?
Great choice!
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.
- Listen to the stories of nursing educators to learn how others have navigated this career change.
- Learn more about options to further your education, obtain certifications, and get tips on applying to educator positions from the Resources page.
What are the benefits of becoming a nurse educator?
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:
- A chance to share knowledge, skills and expertise
- Opportunity to influence future generations of nurses
- Ability to affect change
- Variety and flexibility
What is a Typical Day Like for an Academic Educator?
Much of a nurse educator’s day is spent preparing for and facilitating classes, whether in a classroom, lab, simulation center, or virtual environment.
- They may teach general courses or focus on areas of specialization, such as geriatrics or pediatrics.
- Nurse educators must stay current with new nursing methods and technologies on the leading edge of clinical practice.
- Academic educators also advise students, grade assignments, attend faculty meetings, participate in committee work, and keep up with current nursing knowledge and practice.
- Many faculty members are also engaged in research adding to the scientific evidence for nursing practice.
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:
- Research and publishing
- Participation in professional organizations
- Attending or speaking at conferences
- Serving on editorial boards and reviewing articles and textbooks prior to publication
- Writing grant proposals to bring new funding and initiatives to their school
Most nurse educators are highly satisfied with their work.
- Interacting with students is rewarding and fun!
- Educators take pride in preparing new nurses to care for patients.
What Is the Salary Range for Academic Educators?
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.
- Salaries are generally higher in urban locations than they are in rural areas.
- Recent data for a variety of faculty positions.
- Many nurse educators choose this path because the hours and working conditions are preferable when raising a family or going to school.
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.
- Summer and winter term teaching is often compensated separately.
- You can boost your income by working part-time as a registered nurse during the school year and over the summer caring for patients.
- Educator salaries typically increase after completing a doctoral degree.
- Those taking administrative or leadership positions also see an increase in salary.
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.
What is a Typical Day Like in a Hospital or Healthcare Organization?
Nurse educators who work in healthcare organizations spend time developing and implementing professional development that could occur in classrooms, online, skills training, and simulation.
- They teach classes focused on speciality areas such as Critical Care, Pediatrics, Operating Room and Labor & Delivery.
- Nurse educators must stay current with innovative practices and advancements in technology that contribute to improved patient outcomes.
- They collaborate with physicians, pharmacists, physical therapists and other healthcare professionals to improve outcomes by implementing evidence-based practice.
- Nurse educators evaluate the knowledge and skills-based competencies of the nursing staff.
Hospital/ Organization nurse educators responsibilities involve overseeing the orientation of:
- New nurse graduates
- Newly hired experienced nurses
- Nurses who are new to a speciality (Critical Care, Emergency Department, Labor and Delivery etc.)
Nurse educators focus on their own professional development by:
- Participating in professional organizations at the local and national level
- Attending or present at conferences
- Obtaining/maintaining speciality certification
Nurse educators are:
- Teachers
- Mentors
- Leaders
- Advocates
What things can I do to see if I would like to be an educator?
If you are working in a hospital, become involved in actvities to see if you enjoy teaching:
- Precepting
- Providing inservices on new practices/policies
- Teaching a class on a topic of interest
- Become a “superuser” for healthcare software
- Joining an education committee at your facility
What is the Salary Range for Nurse Educators in a Clinical Setting?
Compensation for nurse educators in an organization or clinical setting varies widely and depends on:
- the scope of the role
- level of education
- advanced certification
- teaching experience
- years practicing as a registered nurse.
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 Tips
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.
Telephone or Virtual
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.
In-person
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.
The next steps may vary across institutions and whether their focus is academic or clinical as seen in the table below.
| Academic | Clinical |
|---|---|
| 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 |
After the Interview...
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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