With the proper education and experience, nurse educators may specialize in two different ways:

1. Type of care. High-demand areas of care will seek nurse educators with those specialties— possibilities including adult health/gerontology, psychiatric & mental health, pediatrics, public health and many others. Demand for all specialties will fluctuate based on evolving demographics and long-term industry trends.
2. Student education level. Educators may favor training students in one of several levels of nursing, including practical/vocational nursing, registered nursing (associate or bachelor’s degree), master’s degree or doctoral degree level positions.

The National League of Nursing identifies the following as the primary nurse educator core competencies:

• Facilitate learning
• Facilitate learner development and socialization
• Use assessment and evaluation strategies
• Participate in curriculum design and evaluation of program outcomes
• Function as a change agent and leader
• Pursue continuous quality improvements in the nurse educator role
• Engage in scholarship
• Function within the educational environment

Yes, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN),  Nursing faculty shortages are limiting student capacity at a time when the need for registered nurses continues to rise.

The AACN’s 2018-2019 Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing report found that “nursing schools turned away 75,029 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2018 due to an insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, clinical preceptors, and budget constraints.”

The AACN cites the following primary reasons for the nurse educator shortage:

• Faculty age continues to climb, and a wave of retirements is expected over the next 10 years
• Higher compensation in clinical settings draws candidates away from faculty roles
• Master’s and doctoral nursing programs are not generating enough candidates for nurse educator programs

The result is that nurse educators are in very high demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 17% increase in employment from 2024-2034, significantly higher than most other types of postsecondary teachers.*

Nurse educators work in primarily classroom or clinical environment. The typical duties/job description of a nurse educator may include:

• Giving lectures and leading classroom discussion
• Advising students
• Grading papers
• Handling administrative work
• Continuing their education in nursing
• Supervise student teaching, internships and research
• Oversee lab and clinical education
• Design curriculum to help ensure courses meet state accreditation requirements

Many nurse educators help grow the scientific base for the practice of nursing by staying involved in research and evidence-based practice efforts.

The Herzing Post Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education program may be completed in 8 months when attending full-time. Complete the 16-credit program and you’ll be eligible to sit for the Certified Nurse Educator exam and become a certified nurse educator (CNE).

No, you will need more than an associate degree in healthcare administration to apply for certification.

To become eligible for certifications you will need to earn a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration. After obtaining your bachelor’s degree, these certifications include:

• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt (LSSYB) from GoLeanSixSigma
• Certified Specialist in Managed Care (CSMC) through Healthcare Financial Mgmt Associations (HFMA)

Healthcare administrative work settings include hospitals, physician offices, nursing and residential care facilities, outpatient care centers, insurance companies and government agencies. Administrators typically work alongside medical personal in an office environment.

As a healthcare administrator, your day-to-day tasks may vary. They could include meetings, communications (either written or verbal), and working with medical personnel from your own or different departments.

Your role may also involve day-to-day operations that keep things running smoothly. This may include staffing, patient relations, scheduling and inventory control.

The benefits of working in health administration include:

• You can work in many different settings, including hospitals, healthcare clinic, long-term care facility, doctor’s offices, insurance companies and government agencies.
• Career mobility is high, as your versatile skillset is applicable in many different environments and gives you more choice in pursuing your career path.
• The field is growing, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating a 23% increase in employment for medical and health services managers from 2024-2034.*
• You can help people get better, but you don’t necessarily need to be directly involved in patient care and treatment.

Yes, and it’s projected to rise. The BLS projects employment of medical secretaries/administrative assistants to rise 4% from 2024-2034.*

Now is a good time to get the education you need to start a career in healthcare administration & management.