17 Qualities of Successful Nurse Educators

Nurse educators play a pivotal role in the world of healthcare. Without them, who would teach the next generation of nurses? With such a high responsibility, it takes a certain kind of person to thrive in this role.

If you're interested in not only teaching nursing students but also keeping up to date with nursing research, here are seventeen qualities of nurse educators that you should also have.

1. They Have a Thirst for Knowledge

The first necessary quality is obvious - a genuine thirst for knowledge. Without this, how will you be able to convince other students that what they're learning about is important? Plus, you'll need to get through a certain amount of education before qualifying as a nurse educator, such as a masters in nursing education. By having a real desire to soak up as much healthcare information as possible, you will flourish during your years of study.

2. They are Reliable

As a nurse educator, you must set a positive example for the nursing students you are teaching, which means being as reliable as possible. You must show up to work on time each day, come with all the right equipment, and have the lessons planned in advance. It's important to be reliable during your studies, too - you won't get far in your masters in nursing education if you constantly forget about deadlines or show up late to class!

3. They Are Great Leaders

Nurse educators and great leaders. They can stand in front of a group of future healthcare workers and guide them toward excellent nursing careers. Being a great leader isn't the same as being intelligent - even those who know everything might struggle to pass on the information in an easy-to-digest way. Some skills you need to be a great leader include:

Listening Skills

You might picture leaders as big talkers, but more often, they do not; they spend their time listening.

Great Vision

Leaders must have an ideal vision and the knowledge required to get there. As a nurse educator, this vision will often entail ensuring your students gain the sufficient knowledge needed to make excellent nurses.

Influential

Influential people make the best leaders, as they find it easier to guide others in a certain direction.

Intelligent

Leaders need to be intelligent in order to gain the respect of others. After all, without respect, they won't be able to lead.

By working on your leadership skills, you'll find becoming a nurse educator much easier.

4. They Have Exceptional Stamina

Nurse educators need as much stamina as your average nurse. This is because their days are often filled to the brim with lessons, meetings, and research. So, if you want to succeed, work on building your mental and physical stamina during your masters in nursing education days. Remember, though, that no matter how brilliant your stamina is, you should always give yourself a break when necessary.

5. Their Patience is Unparalleled

All educators, no matter what they're teaching, need to be patient. Not only will this help you when you're explaining a more complicated point to your students, but it'll also help you be patient with yourself, which you'll need during your hours of research and when you are planning classes.

6. They Are Team Players

Nurse educators spend most of their day around fellow nurses and nursing students. Due to this, you must be a team player. Being a team player means celebrating others' successes, letting other people speak, and contributing your wisdom.

Interpersonal skills are an absolute must - by being great with people, you'll find teaching, conversing, and meetings much easier.

7. They're Excellent Researchers

As a nurse educator, you won't just be spending your days teaching - you'll also be performing nursing research. For this reason, you must be an excellent researcher. Luckily, you will get loads of practice at this during your masters in nursing education. After all, you can't get through nursing school without doing plenty of research!

8. They Read a Lot

If you think that putting the books down after you complete a masters in nursing education is a relief, then becoming a nurse educator might not be for you. If you love the idea of diving into multiple books throughout your career, then good news - nurse educators read a lot. They read about being better teachers, about new healthcare developments, and anything else that revolves around their career and research. Some great books for nurse educators include:

• Nurse as Educator: Principle of Teaching and Learning for Nursing Practice - Susan B. Bastable

• Creative Teaching Strategies for the Nurse Educators - Judith W. Herrman

• The Mindful Nurse: Using the Power of Mindfulness and Compassion to Help You Thrive in Your Work - Carmel Bernadette Sheridan

• Educating Nurses: A Call for Radical Transformation - Patricia Benner, Molly Sutphen, Victoria Leonard, Lisa Day, Lee S. Shulman

• Teaching in Nursing: A Guide for Faculty - Diane M. Billings, Judith A. Halstead

• I Wasn't Strong Like This When I Started Out: True Stories of Becoming a Nurse - Lee Ed. Gutkind

Many of these books are valuable for nurses, too. By being well-read outside of education, you increase your chances of success as a nurse educator.

9. They Are Excellent Communicators

You can't succeed as a nurse educator if your communication skills are minimal. After all, how will your students take in what you're saying if you mumble, use negative body language, or speak confusingly? To ensure your students get the best experience possible, you must communicate clearly and effectively. That means speaking in a clear tone, using positive body language, and maintaining confidence.

10. They Are Open to New Tech

The healthcare world is always evolving, with the main reason for this being the constant tech advancements. While you might not need to use all the latest healthcare tech to teach your nursing students, you will need to be open to using new technologies both in the classroom and outside of it.

11. They Have Exceptional Clinical Knowledge

Nurse educators are intelligent - fiercely intelligent. That makes sense, as they aren't just teaching students all of the information they need to pass their exams; they also teach them how to be patient, empathetic, and caring nurses.

So, to become a successful nurse educator, you must have exceptional clinical knowledge as well as emotional intelligence. Luckily, you have control over the amount of clinical knowledge you have - as long as you put in lots of effort during your masters in nursing education, you'll come away with the necessary information required to teach future nurses.

12. They Have a Sense of Humor

Being a great educator isn't just about standing in front of a group of learners and talking them through the day's work. By doing that, you'll likely find many of your nursing students getting bored rather quickly. To keep them engaged with the material, you should have a sense of humor. Not only will this help keep your students entertained, but it will also help you get through the tougher days.

13. They Are Open-Minded

As a nurse educator, you'll spend your days working with a variety of students wanting to become nurses. While some may show more promise than others, it's important to treat every single student the same and have faith in every single one. Luckily, through your years as a nurse, you'll have learned how to be non-judgmental. When dealing with so many different patients, you have to be!

It's not just people you should be open-minded about, though - it's also new healthcare discoveries and technology. The nursing world will look different when your career ends to what it did when you started, and by being open to those changes, you ensure you pass on a well-rounded and up-to-date education.

14. They Make Time for Self-Care

Like nursing, being a nurse educator has many challenges. Sometimes, your students might be disorganized, technology might play up, or the project you're working on seems to fall through. While not every part of work will be in your control, you do have control over how you treat yourself when you leave work for the day. The best nurse educators make time for self-care, as they understand that it boosts your mood, health, and brain function. Some tips for indulging in self-care include:

Putting Your Phone Down

Sometimes, the kindest act you can do for yourself is putting your phone away. When you're spending your days teaching nursing students, researching healthcare, and talking to the faculty, some moments away from screens and communication is a must.

Buying Items Because You Like Them

While it isn't always sensible to splurge, you are allowed to treat yourself after spending your days earning a salary. Is there a cute top that keeps popping up on your phone? Buy it!

Spending Time Pampering on Your Days Off

Many nurse educators find they can't put in much effort during their working days - face washing and a quick pump of moisturizer are enough! To help you feel better about yourself, though, it's a good idea to spend time pampering on your days off. Catch up on all the things you've missed out on, like deep conditioning, face masks, and painted nails.

Enjoying Non-Healthcare Related Hobbies

If you're studying for a masters in nursing education to become a nurse educator, you're probably pretty passionate about healthcare. That doesn't mean you shouldn't have other hobbies, though. In fact, having other hobbies is a form of self-care, as it allows you to indulge your time in something you love just because you love it.

15. They Have a Creative Streak

Nurse educators need to be more than logical and critical - they also need to be creative. This is because no two days will look the same, and sometimes you'll need to think creatively about how you'll plan your lesson or how to go about some research. So, if you have a creative side and you worry it won't help during your nursing years, don't worry, as it will!

16. They Can Make Quick Decisions

If you want to succeed as a nurse educator, practice making quick decisions when you study for your masters in nursing education. This is because you won't always have time to think over your options - sometimes, you'll need to come up with a solution incredibly quickly, which requires the ability to keep calm under pressure alongside critical thinking. Plus, this is a lesson you should pass on to your nursing students, too.

17. They Are Truly Passionate About Nursing

The most successful nurse educators are those who are genuinely passionate about nursing and passing on their knowledge. By caring about the quality of healthcare, you are more likely to put in the effort required to teach a new set of reliable, caring, and hard-working nurses.

How to Become a Nurse Educator

If you have a lot of the qualities that make a nurse educator, then you likely want to get started in this exciting career. Here's how:

Gain Experience as a Registered Nurse

The first step is to gain experience as an RN for a minimum of two years. All that you learn now will be crucial in the future!

Complete a Masters in Nursing Education

Next, you should pursue your masters in nursing education. This will teach you what you need to know about educating future nurses and will usually take a minimum of two years. The University of Texas Arlington offers an exceptional program for aspiring nurse educators, equipping students with the knowledge and tools needed to excel in this vital role within the healthcare field.

Do Your Clinical Placement

During your education, you'll also need to put many hours into your clinical placement. This part is crucial, as it's when you gain relevant teaching experience.

Get Your CPR Certification

Next, apply for your CPR certification, as this will allow you to become a certified nurse educator.

Find Your First Role as a Nurse Educator

Once you've gained the correct amount of experience alongside your qualifications, you can pursue your first proper role as a nurse educator. Enjoy it!

Becoming a nurse educator requires certain qualities alongside hard work. It is more than worth it, though, as you get to shape the next generation of nurses.