- Nursing instructors are employed in clinics and classrooms.miniature model of nurse image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com
Nursing instructors work in clinics, classrooms, community colleges and private health-care centers. A nursing instructor trains nurses in the fundamental aspects of care and medicine required to work as a nurse. A nursing instructor undertakes a range of responsibilities including lecturing, managing nursing seminars and supervising students' laboratory procedures. She monitors students' progress and ensures classes are taught within the curriculum of the educational institution. The average salary of a nursing instructor as of June 2010 ranged from $44,967 to $66,613, according to the Pay Scale website. - The main responsibility of a nursing instructor is to teach students care administration techniques. She also educates students in the main tenets of biology and the physical sciences. Typical topics covered by a nursing instructor include human anatomy, nutritional needs and chemistry, as indicated on the Career Planner website. A nursing instructor also teaches strategies for caring for post-surgery patients and the terminally ill.
- A nursing instructor assesses nursing students, evaluating individual performance and identifying key areas for improvement. A nursing instructor accurately documents students' grades and their ability in clinical settings. A nursing instructor also helps create the learning curriculum with education authorities and develops a teaching schedule for upcoming semesters. She also works closely with hospitals and community health-care centers to ensure that the curriculum adequately prepares students for on-the-job requirements.
- In addition to her teaching responsibilities, a nursing instructor provides student support. She acts as a mentor and counselor to new students to ensure they have the emotional and educational support they need to get through their studies. She also helps nursing students find work after graduation. She assesses the areas in which each student has excelled and guides them into roles that best suit their skills.
- Smaller health-care facilities may accept a candidate with a registered nurse (RN) license, as stated on the Education Portal website. Extensive experience in the field involving roles with a high level of responsibility, such as hospital supervisory positions, is also usually required. To attain an RN license, candidates must complete an associate's degree, bachelor's degree or a diploma from an accredited nursing school. They can then gain licensure by passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
- Most hospitals and health-care facilities accept only nursing instructor candidates with a master's or doctoral degree in nursing or a relevant medical field. Nursing instructor candidates also must have at least one year of experience in a medical or surgical setting before finding employment. A nursing instructor is also expected to have a broad range of knowledge across the spectrum of nursing roles to teach in a range of nursing areas.
