What Is a Clinical Nurse Educator?

While working toward their degrees, nursing students participate in clinical rotations, where they receive hands-on experience and training. In a variety of health care settings, clinical nurse educators are the professionals who oversee such students.

Function

Clinical nurse educators design the curriculum and activities that student nurses will complete during clinical rotations. Nurse educators also demonstrate skills and evaluate the progress nursing students make throughout the program.

Types

Clinical nurse educators may work in general, specialty or mental health hospitals, outpatient clinics and home health care agencies.

Education

To become a clinical nurse educator, nurses begin by receiving a bachelor's degree in nursing and then working for several years as a registered nurse in order to gain experience in the field. Then, nurses return to school to complete a master's degree program specifically in nurse education.

Licensing and Certification

After receiving their bachelor's degrees, nurses take a written examination in order to receive a registered nursing license in the field. Those with the necessary master's degrees in nurse education may take an examination given by the National League for Nursing to earn voluntary certification as a clinical nurse educator.

Compensation

As of April 2009, the median salary for clinical nurse educators or nursing education coordinators was $72,939, according to Salary.com.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Registered Nurses
• National League for Nursing: About the NLN
• Salary.com: Average Nursing Educator Salaries

Resources

• Diploma Guide: Clinical Nurse Educator Career Overview