Well-trained nurses are the core of quality patient care. Their clinical expertise and years of hands-on experience make them essential members of healthcare teams and trusted caregivers for patients and families.
Behind every skilled nurse is a strong educational foundation, one built by nurse educators. These professionals teach, mentor and prepare the next generation of nurses with current, evidence-based instructional methods across academic and clinical settings.
But what is a nurse educator, and how do you become one? Learn how to become a nurse educator with this guide that outlines the career path, job responsibilities and degree requirements. You’ll also learn how the online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at St. Thomas University can support your goals.
What Does a Nurse Educator Do?
A nurse educator’s responsibilities vary depending on their role and work environment. Academic nurse educators teach in college and university settings, delivering lectures, facilitating clinical simulations and assessing student learning. They also contribute to curriculum design and help evaluate program effectiveness over time.
Clinical nurse educators teach nursing students and new nurses in hospitals and healthcare facilities. They guide learners through daily clinical skills, help them apply classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios and often mentor students well beyond graduation. Clinical educators may support nursing specialties, such as neonatal care or emergency medicine.
Nurse educators may also move into other nursing career paths that employ their advanced skills and mentoring abilities. Nurse researchers, nursing school administrators, assistant directors of nursing and chief nursing officers (CNOs) typically have a background in nursing education and instruction. Some may also pursue medical school to become physicians or advanced specialists.
Education Requirements for Becoming a Nurse Educator
The minimum requirement for a nurse educator is usually a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). MSN-prepared nurses may specialize in areas like gerontology, family care or mental health, or they may complete a general MSN that equips them with broad clinical and educational competencies. Nurses can pursue an MSN online or on campus, offering flexibility in scheduling and location.
For more advanced education and additional career opportunities, many nurse educators earn a DNP from institutions accredited by an agency like the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). A DNP is a terminal nurse educator degree and provides the highest level of instruction on nursing administration, technology and patient care. Like an MSN, nurses can earn a DNP online on a flexible schedule without disrupting their careers.
While an MSN qualifies nurses for many educator positions, a DNP can expand career opportunities and is increasingly valued by employers seeking educators who can teach at the highest level and model evidence-informed practice.
Steps to Becoming a Nurse Educator
Most nurse educators follow a structured educational and professional pathway before entering the field. Typical steps include:
- Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and obtain registered nurse (RN) licensure.
- Gain clinical nursing experience (typically two to five years, depending on your graduate program’s requirements).
- Pursue an MSN to build expertise in a clinical specialty or apply directly to a DNP program if you plan to advance quickly into an educator role.
- Complete the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) certification, which includes preparing for and passing the CNE Exam.
- Apply for nurse educator jobs in your chosen setting (nursing schools, hospitals or clinical training programs).
Nurse educators often build strong professional relationships with students, colleagues and interdisciplinary healthcare teams. Many remain in education throughout their careers, while others advance into leadership or administrative roles across healthcare and academic environments.
Prepare to Empower the Next Generation of Nurses With an Online DNP From STU
If you have a passion for supporting patients and fellow nurses, a role as a nurse educator may be an ideal fit. This rewarding career allows experienced nurses to pass on their knowledge, shape student success and positively influence the future of nursing.
Many nurses looking to advance from an MSN to a DNP, or to enter a DNP program directly, find that STU’s online Doctor of Nursing Practice program offers the rigor they need to succeed. Throughout the program, working nurses gain support from experienced faculty, build strong connections with fellow DNP students, and gain the in-demand credentials and skills required for career advancement, preparing them to positively impact the next generation of nurses and the future of healthcare.
Learn more about STU’s online Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
