If you’re an experienced RN, becoming a nurse educator could be an opportunity to shape the future of nursing while advancing your career.
Virginia faces a growing challenge: a shortage of nurses and the nurse faculty needed to train them. Without enough nurse educators, nursing programs struggle to enroll and graduate the next generation of nurses.
We spoke with Cindy Rubenstein, Ph.D., RN, CPNP-PC, CNE, the Nursing Department Chair and Director at Randolph-Macon College and the President of the Virginia Association of Colleges of Nursing (VACN), about how developing the nurse faculty network in Virginia can help address the nursing shortage.
Related: Explore top nurse jobs across the top Virginia hospitals at On Board Virginia’s job directory!
The Key Takeaways:
•Becoming a part-time nurse educator or faculty member allows for a better work-life balance. Many nurse educators continue to practice in hospital settings to support hospital needs.
•Nurse educators often start as RNs who excel at training new nurses, educating patients, or acting as nurse preceptors for clinical rotations.
•In Virginia, you need a Master of Science in Nursing and at least two years of experience in a specialty to become a nurse educator. Take advantage of incentive and employer tuition reimbursement programs to cover education costs.
Understanding the Nurse Faculty Shortage in Virginia
While it’s clear that the healthcare worker shortage is driving demand for nurses, a lesser-known bottleneck is the lack of nurse faculty to train incoming students. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) reported that, in 2023, nearly 78,000 qualified applicants did not place in nursing schools due to a nursing faculty shortage. In addition to educator vacancies, several nursing schools reported they needed to create additional faculty positions to accommodate the student demand.
“The healthcare workforce shortage goes hand-in-hand with the faculty shortage,” Rubenstein emphasizes. “We can’t graduate more nurses if we don’t have enough educators to train them.”
For Rubenstein, addressing the nursing faculty shortage requires a multifaceted approach that rethinks traditional academic models. She encourages experienced nurses to advance their careers by pursuing part-time faculty roles that help them induct the next generation of nurses while keeping their clinical skills sharp.
This requires creating a collaborative network between academic nursing leaders, healthcare systems, and communities to address each party’s needs, a leading goal of the VACN.
One innovative clinical education model is called Earn to Learn (or Earn While You Learn). The program pays nursing students to practice their skills in a clinical setting while under the mentorship of an experienced RN. As a result, students expand their clinical critical judgment and establish an employment pipeline after graduation. And hospitals gain much-needed nursing aid to support community health.
“It’s a synergistic relationship that allows nurse educators to teach while simultaneously practicing,” Rubenstein adds.
Why Do Nurses Become Nurse Educators?
RNs become nurse educators for several reasons:
•To pursue a passion for teaching
•To advance their nursing careers
•To contribute in a meaningful way
•To create a work-life balance
To Pursue a Passion for Teaching
The most common reason to become a nurse educator is a love of teaching. Many RNs discover their passion through educating and empowering patients to make informed decisions about their health or excel at training new nurses.
Several of Rubenstein’s colleagues were nurse preceptors before formally transitioning into nurse faculty positions. “Good nurse preceptors are natural educators because they enjoy watching novice nurses grow and want to support others in the discipline.”
Virginia is increasingly relying on nurse preceptors to support the gap in nurse education by coordinating with clinical faculty to oversee rotations. The Virginia Nurse Preceptor Incentive Program awards RNs and APRNs who serve as uncompensated preceptors for nursing students based on hours and experience.
Find the eligibility requirements here.
To Advance Their Nursing Careers
Pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) helps nurses progress in their careers and is a core requirement for joining a nurse faculty. However, many nurses don’t want to leave their current position in a hospital setting.
Becoming a part-time nurse educator is the best of both worlds. Practicing part-time allows nurses to support staffing shortages while exercising their graduate-level learning. Additionally, nurse educators can gain professional growth beyond the bedside, opening doors to leadership positions in academia, hospital administration, and policy-making.
“The beauty of being a nurse is that you have so many options, wherever you are in life,” Rubenstein says. “You don’t have to feel stuck doing one thing. You can try things out to see if a path is a good fit. A part-time nurse educator role lets you test the waters instead of jumping straight into academia or another position.”
To Contribute in a Meaningful Way
Many experienced nurses transition into nurse education to reignite their passion while contributing in a meaningful way. “Teaching others fills your cup,” Rubenstein adds. “It’s incredibly rewarding to watch new nurses grow in skill and confidence that’s different from being in a clinical setting.”
Some nurse faculty report that a change in routine and a renewed purpose lets them view their profession from a fresh perspective, which helps address health worker burnout.
To Create a Work-Life Balance
RNs may notice that their life circumstances and personal needs evolve over time. As a result, exploring part-time nurse faculty positions can better fit their lifestyle compared to a traditional RN schedule.
In Rubenstein’s case, she wanted to raise a family in Virginia. “I’d just started to have kids, and it didn’t make sense to be on call at night when I had small children. Teaching part-time afforded me the balance to raise my family while giving back to my professional community. My peers still go in to practice one or two times a week.”
What Characteristics Make a Good Nurse Educator?
Not every nurse is drawn to teaching, but those who thrive in education often share key qualities:
•Passion for mentoring and training new nurses
•Strong communication and leadership skills
•Patience and adaptability in different learning environments
•Commitment to lifelong learning and staying updated on nursing practices
•Ability to educate both students and patients effectively
Prospective nurse educators and faculty must also be open to change and continued learning.
Rubenstein reminds new nurse teachers that, “a lot of times, you go from being an expert clinician to a novice educator.”
When onboarding a new nurse faculty member, Rubenstein and the VACN team focus on growing education skills through mentorship and training. Members can access a network of experienced teachers to become proficient in academic settings.
How to Become a Part-Time Nurse Educator in Virginia
For nurses interested in teaching while maintaining their clinical practice, part-time education roles offer a flexible path. Here’s how to get started:
•Earn an Advanced Degree – Many nursing faculty positions require a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or higher. Some programs offer pathways to earn these credentials while working.
•Gain Teaching Experience – Consider mentoring nursing students in clinical settings or becoming a preceptor. Preceptors support nurse faculty during clinical rotations by overseeing, mentoring, and evaluating nursing students.
•Connect with Nursing Schools – Reach out to local nursing programs to explore adjunct or guest lecturer opportunities. If teaching a nursing specialty, you’ll need at least two years of experience in the field.
•Look into Incentive Programs – Some institutions offer tuition assistance or stipends for nurses pursuing education roles.
•Apply for Faculty Positions – Check local job listings for part-time faculty roles at community colleges, universities, or hospitals. The VACN can also help RNs pursue nurse educator or faculty positions at high-need locations.
Invest in Part-Time Nurse Faculty to Alleviate Virginia’s Nurse Shortage
The nursing faculty shortage in Virginia presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Experienced RNs have the chance to step into education, shaping the future of the profession while advancing their own careers. This offers several advantages for career progression, opening new opportunities while furthering education.
Consider becoming a part-time nurse educator to take advantage of a balanced work schedule! Part-time roles benefit hospitals and academia by solidifying the pipeline from nursing programs to clinical practice without removing critical RNs from the bedside workforce.
Related: Looking for nursing roles? We’ve got nurse job postings from Virginia’s top hospitals—all in one place!
