The U.S. is currently facing an increasing crisis regarding the amount of healthcare professionals working in the industry. Nursing, in particular, is a career which is currently experiencing a rapid growth in demand due to the aging population, which has resulting in a constantly increasing number of individuals requiring higher levels of healthcare.
Lack of Nursing School Teachers
One of the main reasons why the U.S. is heading into a crisis when it comes to a shortage of registered nurses is the fact that the nurse faculty pool is diminishing. In the Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, a lack of professors and qualified lecturers available to take on teaching positions in nursing schools is often cited as one of the main reasons for this impending problem in the industry. For many registered nurses, going on to teach at nursing school can be a lucrative and rewarding career option. We’ve put together a simple guide to making the transition from working practice to teaching students in nursing.
Education
Pursuing a higher education is an absolute essential for nurses who are hoping to become influential in training up new students and preparing new nursing professionals for the job. In order to qualify for teaching nursing students, it will be essential for you to pursue further degrees in the field, such as a master’s degree in nursing, or even a doctor of nursing practice program which is available from reputable nursing schools such as Bradley University. Thanks to online learning, there has never been a better time for those who are hoping to transition from working practice into teaching nursing at college to pursue an advanced degree such as a DNP online.
Scholarship Programs
One of the main reasons contributing towards the lack of nurses going on to pursue postgraduate study in order to qualify to teach at nursing school is the lack of opportunities available and the fact that many registered nurses are unable to comfortably afford any further study. In order to address this issue, a number of U.S. states have introduced scholarship programs which have been designed to help aspiring nursing professors to take their first step towards postgraduate study and eventually lecturing in nursing school. States offering to fund nurses in return for a promise to commit to teaching include Georgia, Colorado, Maryland, Texas, Vermont, and Minnesota. The idea has also been picked up by various companies, including pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, who offer scholarship programs to nurses in order to increase the faculty pool.
Why Pursue Teaching as a Nurse?
Many nurses don’t enter the profession to teach, but rather to care for their patients and work in a hugely rewarding career on the front line of healthcare. But, with the current situation regarding the nursing shortage, qualified nurses may find that taking postgraduate study and focusing on the academic side of things in order to teach budding professionals can be even more rewarding. One of the strongest motivators when it comes to pursuing teaching is that this position allows nurses to influence student success and contribute to shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals.
With the U.S. on the brink of a severe nursing shortage, it’s important for experienced and senior nurses to help their profession by committing to teach students.
