The role of a hospital educator, sometimes referred to as a hospital nurse educator or clinical nurse educator, is critical within the healthcare field. Many hospital educators play an integral role in helping nursing professionals keep their knowledge and skills up to date and sharp, which was essential to the workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to PubMed, the hospital educator today generally holds a master’s degree and has major responsibilities in education and training. They typically work in a centralized department of education and training. These nurses have taken some continuing education but have limited formal education training. They spend most of their time consulting, meeting, keeping records and providing in-service education.
As the hospital educator profession continues to change with the demands of society, individuals will be more involved in community health and patient education.
Importance of Hospital Education
A career in hospital education is valuable to any healthcare facility. Leaders must help in both “normal” and crisis times, keeping everything within the hospital running smoothly.
Additionally, hospital educators are largely responsible for nurses’ professional development. For example, nurse leaders in hospital education roles have the following responsibilities:
- Prepare nurses with improved competencies
- Maintain rigorous knowledge and skill among nurses
- Keep up with the latest research and evidence-based guidelines
- Train professionals in new evidence-based practices
- Problem solve to reduce errors in care
- Manage risks to nurses, patients and the hospital
- Develop more efficient processes
- Decrease ramp time (the time between when a nurse is hired and when they start to be productive at their job)
- Encourage both learning and transitions
- Mentor and serve as change agents
- Analyze outcomes
The hospital nurse leader is essential, especially in times of crisis. They continuously research new treatment practices and instruct their staff on how to utilize them. For example, they:
- Provide high-level critical care training to nurses moved to the front lines with limited critical care training
- Coach deployed nurses and initiate their first vasopressor
- Demonstrate zeroing an arterial line for newly minted front-line workers
- Educate non-critical care nurses on providing oral care when they have an intubated patient
On-the-Job Training Advantages
For future hospital educators succeed in their line of work, they must actively participate in on-the-job training. This is a specific type of training that is explicit, prescribed and delivered at the workplace.
It is also an easy way for hospital educators to learn procedures, programs, company culture and other important concepts quickly, ensuring that training advantages are:
- Easily applicable
- Focused on employee needs
- Financially beneficial
- Time efficient
- Flexible
- Social-ready
With on-the-job training, hospital educator employees can better understand concepts and apply what they learn during the start of their job or hiring process. Another benefit is salary potential.
The average hospital educator’s salary is $87,986 as of May 2022, but the salary range typically falls between $76,543 and $98,528. This is dependent on elements such as education, certifications, additional skills and the number of years spent in the profession.
Ready to Further Your Nursing Career?
If you’re looking to boost your research skills as a nurse and further your career in hospital education, earning your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree is a solid first step. Those who enroll in the MSN Nurse Educator online program at Arkansas State University will shape the future of nursing by stepping up to become critical leaders in the industry.
In as few as 12 months, students can complete the program and enter the next generation of nurses striving to advance the expertise of the field. For example, students will learn how to teach from a traditional classroom, a hospital clinic or an online setting. As a nurse educator, graduates from this program will benefit from a long, rewarding career in hospitals and other healthcare settings.
Diverse courses guide the skills needed in order to become an effective leader — one who assists in the primary care of patients while also collaborating with individuals who work in different healthcare departments. Upon graduation, each future nurse educator will have the research skills necessary to secure top positions in their field and also be a better nurse.
Learn more about Arkansas State University’s online MSN Nurse Educator online program.