Nurse educators are in short supply. During 2024, academic programs turned away more than 80,000 qualified applications to BSN and graduate nursing programs due to insufficient faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, clinical preceptors and budget, according to a report from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).
This faculty shortage presents an opportunity for existing nurses. You may have assumed that taking an educational role means walking away from clinical practice and/or returning to school, but that is not always the case. In many settings, you can start teaching as an adjunct or clinical instructor relatively quickly, depending on local program requirements.
Whether you want to become a nurse educator as a side gig or full-time career, your best starting point is to get educated on the core requirements, realistic salary expectations and actionable advice needed to get you started.
The importance of nurse educators
At a fundamental level, nurse educators instruct and evaluate nursing students across a variety of environments. You will find them working in traditional classroom settings, guiding hands-on practice in clinical rotations and conducting training sessions for professional development.
These roles exist in both academic institutions—like universities, community colleges, and dedicated nursing schools—and within clinical settings, where hospital staff development educators keep their facility’s workforce trained and compliant.
These professionals are currently in high demand. More than 62% of full-time nurse educators were over the age of 45 during the 2022-23 academic year, according to a report from the National League for Nursing (NLN). This suggests many institutions may face upcoming retirements and related openings. Job growth for RNs is projected at 5% from 2024 to 2034, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
By becoming a clinical nurse instructor, you can help nursing schools admit and train more students, thereby supporting efforts to address the national nursing shortage.
Why nurse education is one of the best nursing side gigs
Sermo polling suggests that education is often not the first side hustle that comes to mind for nurses who seek flexibility. In a poll, respondents thought paid medical surveys (40%) and telehealth nursing (17%) seemed the most doable with their current schedules, with nurse instructing ranking third (14%).
However, the traditional nurse educator side gig allows you to use your brain and your vast clinical experience in a less physically demanding role. You are not adding another grueling 12-hour shift to your week. Instead, you are guiding a clinical group or facilitating an online course.
Adjunct clinical instruction often includes one clinical day on-site with students, plus additional time dedicated to prep work, grading and communicating with your students. Semesters usually run around 15 weeks during the fall and spring, leaving your summers completely free unless you actively choose to teach.
If you work three 12-hour shifts per week, this can often fit into existing schedules, though exact feasibility depends on shift patterns and recovery time. You still retain two to three full days to rest and recover. If you work five 8-hour shifts, fitting in a clinical day requires a bit more coordination. You can talk to your clinical coordinator about aligning your teaching day with your regular day off, or negotiate a 4-10 schedule (working 4 10-hour days each week) with your primary employer. Schedules like these depend on your employer and local norms, so it’s worth discussing flexibility options with both your clinical coordinator and HR.
With online teaching, you can work from home. However, many instructors report that the time commitment can end up being greater than face-to-face teaching due to additional email and asynchronous communication with students.
These roles also provide professional development. Every semester strengthens your CV and opens doors to curriculum development, simulation leadership or full-time roles in academia. “I picked up a few adjunct clinicals just for some extra cash, wound up loving it, and took the FT position when it became available after someone retired,” one NICU nurse on Sermo reveals.
The barrier to entry may be lower than you assume. Most roles require a master’s degree in nursing, though some prefer a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or Ph.D., according to the American Nurses Association-Illinois.
Finally, you may find personal fulfillment from educating students, as evidenced by some Sermo members’ comments. “I am a pediatric clinical instructor for a local nursing program and I love my students,” one perioperative nurse writes. “One of the activities I enjoy most about our work is educating students who rotate through my service for a few months,” another nurse shares.
How to become a successful nurse educator
Here are eight actionable tips to help you secure a role — and thrive in it.
Start as an adjunct before committing full-time
You can take on one clinical group per semester to test whether teaching fits your lifestyle without upending your primary career. Many full-time educators begin this way. If you love it, you have a foundation to build on. If you discover it is not for you, you walk away with leadership experience on your CV.
Reach out to local nursing programs proactively
You don’t have to wait around for official job postings to appear online. Find the contact information for the department chair or clinical coordinator at local institutions, introduce yourself and inquire about adjunct openings.
Invest in your MSN when the timing is right
If your goal is to teach on the side and local programs only require a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), you can jump in right away. However, if you discover a passion for education and want to pursue didactic instruction, online course facilitation or tenure-track roles, you’ll likely need a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) at least.
Pursue the CNE certification once eligible
Although not always required, you can obtain a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) certification from the NLN to demonstrate expertise to hiring committees and potentially increase your earning potential. Eligibility varies based on degree level and teaching experience, but generally includes an active RN license, a graduate degree in nursing and documented experience in an academic or educator role.
Lean into your clinical specialty
Your hands-on bedside expertise is an asset. Academic programs need instructors who can speak to real-world clinical judgment. Whether you excel in the ICU, thrive in labor and delivery, or master med-surg workflows, that specific niche makes you valuable.
Develop your teaching skills intentionally
Seek out continuing education focused specifically on adult learning principles, modern curriculum design and simulation-based education. When you take the time to understand how adults learn, you can become a highly effective instructor and a standout candidate for future promotions.
Connect with nurse educators
Professionals who have successfully walked this path can offer you advice. Ask them about the unexpected challenges, what they wish they had known before starting and their strategies for balancing hospital shifts with grading papers. The Sermo nursing community includes nurse educators who have shared their advice.
For example, one nurse shared a series of tips for job interviews, including to highlight examples of times you used decision-making, collaboration, independence and leadership. “Use real examples from your experience,” they write. “Focus on what you did, what impact it had, and what you learned.”
Do not wait until you feel ‘ready enough’
The healthcare system is in need of nurses to start teaching right now. Some programs allow nurses with a BSN and experience to serve as clinical instructors, particularly if they are enrolled in a graduate program, albeit many institutions typically require or strongly prefer an MSN for didactic or tenure-track positions.
Nurse educator salary averages
Naturally you’ll want to understand the financial realities of an educator role before you alter your professional trajectory.
The average nurse educator salary in the U.S. is $86,530 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The broader range spans from roughly $49,120 for the lowest 10% up to $130,320 for the highest 10% of earners, according to BLS, and a role’s setting can impact where its salary falls within that range.
For example, instructors in colleges and universities tend to make less than instructors in hospital settings (the average salary for each is $86,900 and $106,620, according to the BLS stats). For many professionals, the slight dip in academic pay is a worthwhile trade-off for improved schedule flexibility, or the elimination of physical labor.
On average, nurse educator roles often have lower salaries than nursing roles. Still, you can receive a substantial financial boost without taking an extra overtime shift. While part-time roles often don’t include benefits like health insurance or retirement matching, they can help fund advanced certifications or boost your savings while relying on your primary employer for benefits. You can also further supplement this income by participating in paid medical surveys on Sermo during your downtime.
Know your worth before you negotiate
Many highly skilled professionals underestimate their negotiating power when transitioning into new roles. Institutions need your clinical expertise to keep their programs running. Before accepting an offer, research the institutional salary bands using data from BLS, ZipRecruiter and/or Glassdoor. Understand the difference between negotiating a per-course flat rate versus a per-credit-hour rate, and factor in the premium value of a CNE certification if you hold one.
Enhance your career while shaping the future of healthcare
A nurse educator role offers a pathway to give back to your profession while diversifying your income streams. You do not have to abandon your clinical practice to start teaching. With the ongoing faculty shortage, you’ll be using your skills in a meaningful way.
If you are ready to explore your options, share strategies for balancing clinical shifts with grading or connect with peers who have successfully navigated this transition, you can join Sermo’s nursing community and forge new connections.
