I am at a crossroads. How do I get a chance to work in academia? I have my MSN and have been a bedside RN since 1994. I am tired but not sure which direction to take.
I've been told that BSN nursing programs are begging for educators. I have been asked to apply, but I do not have my master's. I would start applying at schools in your area and just start interviewing to get a feel as to what will work for you. Good luck!
You could work as a clinical instructor or as a ADN teacher, but you must have a Doctorate for Bachelors of nursing program. You should try to get a coffee date with a director of nursing at a Community College to ask what your next steps should be.
All the best,
Sharon
Take a chance and apply. You don’t always have to have experience in academia to get hired.You do have experience teaching as a bedside nurse.
I have been teaching for several years. I love it. Schools need instructors with bedside experience constantly. One of the best ways to see if you enjoy it and "get you foot in the door" is clinical adjunct. Look at your local college websites and apply. Also, this gets a lot of the hiring process out of the way and you will be ready to go when a full-time position opens up. Be prepared, it will probably be a pay cut for you.
You would be a real asset to academia with your experience.
Look at local universities. They will hire you on contract ( not tenure track) each term . Outline what courses you can teach ( Med/surg, psych, meds etc). Do the sky looking at course descriptions in their catalogue. Be prepared academia pays 2/3 of actual nursing. Push back on whatever salary they offer, know your worth. Do not sign a contract that allows the to record and own your lectures, that will replace you.
Good luck !
Start by getting an adjunct position teaching clinicals if no full time positions are posted. Then if something becomes available, the faculty already knows you and you will be easier to train. :)
*Explore and apply ☺️☺️
You can do this easy my friend 🥰. Don’t limit yourself! I had a friend who did 1 year CVICU get her Bachelors and get a teaching job at ASU in AZ. No other experience. Just 1 year in critical care. 1. Apply like crazy to whatever you want! 2. Apply for staff jobs at local colleges, and even to be a Nursing school Clinical Educator. 3. Explore on YouTube and Podcasts different jobs out there that are more laidback and less stressful. No one could tell you what direction to take. Explode and apply! And know that they may or may not pay comparably to floor nursing. So you might take a pay cut to get the job you love. Maybe not though! But the jobs are there. I promise. And your experience in ER + MSN will get you there. Best of luck to you!
