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What is a nurse educator and how to become one
A nurse educator teaches and mentors nursing students and practicing nurses. They work in academic institutions, hospitals, clinics, and community settings. Nurse educators develop curricula, design educational programs, and evaluate performance. They also serve as role models for nursing students and provide ongoing education to improve patient outcomes. Additionally, nurse educators conduct research, publish scholarly articles, and participate in professional organizations. Overall, nurse educators prepare the next generation of nurses and advance the field through research.
What general advice would you give to a Nurse Educator?
Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D.
Associate Dean of the School of Nursing Professor of Nursing, Quinnipiac University
Avg. Salary $67,983
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 6%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.44%
Asian 8.89%
Black or African American 11.18%
Hispanic or Latino 9.68%
Unknown 4.31%
White 65.50%
Genderfemale 89.29%
male 10.71%
Age - 43American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 43Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is good
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a Nurse Educator?
Pros
Competitive salary and benefits package
Flexibility in scheduling with options for part-time, full-time, and remote work
High demand for nurse educators leading to job security
Opportunity to develop leadership skills
Satisfaction in seeing students succeed and excel in their nursing careers
Cons
High stress levels due to time constraints and workload demands
Potential for burnout due to high workload and emotional investment in students
Requires advanced education and certification, leading to high student debt and time commitment
May require long hours or working weekends to meet demands of teaching schedule
Limited opportunities for advancement within certain academic institutions
Nurse Educator career paths
Key steps to become a nurse educator
Explore nurse educator education requirements
Start to develop specific nurse educator skills
Skills 
Percentages Patients 18.58% BLS 7.56% BSN 6.85% Professional Development 5.60% CPR 5.17% Complete relevant nurse educator training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New nurse educators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a nurse educator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real nurse educator resumes.Obtain the necessary licensing
Becoming a licensed nurse educator usually require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed nurse educator in most of states. 43 states require nurse educators to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.State Education Exam License Url Alabama Degree required State exam required Registered Nurse (RN) Alaska Degree required Third-party exam required Nurse, Registered Arkansas Degree required Third-party exam required Registered Nurse (RN) California Degree required Third-party exam required Nurse, Registered Colorado Degree required Third-party exam required Registered Nurse Gain additional nurse educator certifications
More About CertificationsNurse educator certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific nurse educator certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for nurse educators include Basic Life Support for Healthcare and Public Safety (BLS) and Instructor.
Research nurse educator duties and responsibilities
- Achieve instructor level for both BLS and ACLS, supporting needs of nursing staff to maintain competency.
- Demonstrate clinical competency and compassion in providing care, using technology, administering medications, performing procedures, and managing emergencies.
- Provide nursing education and clinical expertise to novice nurses entering ICU setting.
- Assist with maintaining staff certification in ACLS and BLS, advocate keeping current with unit specific certifications.
Prepare your nurse educator resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your nurse educator resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a nurse educator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Nurse Educator Resume templates
Build a professional Nurse Educator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Nurse Educator resume.
Apply for nurse educator jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a nurse educator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Nurse Educator Job
Are you a Nurse Educator?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average nurse educator salary
The average Nurse Educator salary in the United States is $67,983 per year or $33 per hour. Nurse educator salaries range between $47,000 and $97,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do nurse educators rate their job?
Nurse Educator reviews
What is there not to like? It's such a rewarding job!
Staffing ratios, unfairness, constant expectations. Healthcare is a business but doesn’t treat nurses like business employees
helping people and saving lives
the pay is not good not enough for the lifestyle I would like to live
Updated January 8, 2025
