Are You Ready To Make The Transition From Bedside To Classroom?

Making the transition from taking care of patients as a nurse, to teaching others how to properly do the same job can be both rewarding and challenging. As a nurse you deal with patient care on a daily basis, but taking those skills to the classroom is not for everyone.

Teaching takes a certain kind of person, and just because you are a fantastic nurse does not necessarily qualify you to share your knowledge with others. That being said, future nurses can gain an immense amount of practical skills from a teacher who has applied textbook theories in the real world with real patients. Here are a few things to consider before you change careers.

Can a great nurse be a great educator?

The Theory-Practice Gap.

The theory practice gap has been an issue in the medical field for decades. Although the standard of teaching has greatly improved in recent years, some students still sit in classrooms taught by books rather than teachers who have real experience in the field.

This is a great opportunity for current nurses looking to begin a teaching career. You can make a real difference with students who can learn from your insight during their studies. Teaching a prospective nurse how to deal with the death of a patient through theories in a textbook is nothing compared to telling that student about specific stories you yourself experienced.

Students will be more prepared to begin their clinicals with a background of learning from an experienced nurse rather than one provided by a teacher who never stepped outside the classroom. You can make a real difference by training future medical professionals, while closing the gap between theory and practice.

Learning from those who have been there first-hand.

Leaving the theater for a desk job.

One of the biggest issues encountered by nurses who leave the field for a teaching career, is the lack of excitement experienced outside of the hospital. This is especially applicable to those who worked in fast-paced emergency rooms where each day brought new challenges in addition to the long hours.

When you are used to testing your limits on a daily basis, the transition to a desk job can be much more difficult than anticipated. While teaching is very rewarding in its own right, your days will also be spent preparing lesson plans and paperwork.

For nurses who have gotten used to the drama of the theater, the monotony of stapling test sheets together can quickly push them back to the nursing field. If you are looking towards teaching with a slower way of life in mind, nurse educators are needed more than ever and your expertise will be warmly welcomed in the classroom.

Are you ready?

Facing the challenge.

If you are serious about changing careers, consider finding a mentor with a senior member of your faculty who has made the transition from patient care to education themselves. Be aware that the assimilation process can take time, and that teaching is not for everyone.

Teaching is an extremely rewarding way for nurses to share their practical knowledge with others and make a real difference in the medical community. If you are prepared for the challenges that await, and are ready to begin the next chapter of your career, the job of a nurse educator may be right for you.

Jessica Galbraith is an American freelance writer living in the UK. She is author of the blog The Fly Away American and likes used office furniture.

The post Are You Ready To Make The Transition From Bedside To Classroom? appeared first on NursingFacultyJobs.com.

by Jessica Galbraith via NursingFacultyJobs.com