Nursing Education

Currently there is a lot of concern about the high probability of a severe shortage of nurses in the upcoming years; part of that concern is fueled by the fact that there is fear that there will not be enough properly trained faculty to meet the teaching needs of students enrolling in nursing degree programs.

Now is an excellent time for anyone interested in teaching nursing to begin pursuing the career. The government is handing out grants to nursing schools to help train faculty in preparation for the upcoming needs, so financial aid may be easier to obtain or better deals may be found on student loans.

Nurses who choose to enter nursing education must pursue a master's degree. Entrance requirements generally are that the nurse have a BSN degree from a National League of Nursing accredited college (although there are some Associate's to Master's degree programs available), must have completed the Graduate Record Exam, and generally a GPA of 3.0. The average length of study is 12-18 months, although this time can vary depending on whether the student is a full- or part-time student, and the degree requirements of the particular curriculum.

With the demand for nurse educators being so great, nurses entering the education field should expect to see salaries rising and improvements in benefits, making teaching a more lucrative career for the nurse.