Nurses, Where are the teachers?

According to the bureau of labor statistics the demand for nursing instructors has risen from 2012 to 2022 by 35% . The job of a nursing instructor is usually held by a mastered degree educator that teaches in a variety of settings such as colleges, universities, hospitals, technical and trade schools. But according to the American Association of college of nursing, even though we are currently experiencing a nursing shortage in the United States, over 80,000 prepared nursing applicants were rejected in 2020 from entering nursing school. The reason is both surprising and disheartening- there is only a small number of clinical placement spots for nursing students to get there nursing theory and skills training, because of such a small number of professors that teach nursing skills and theory are available to actually teach.

How can more nurses be encouraged to continue their studies to enter into the field of academics? What incentives can be offered to attract nurses into teaching? This issue is a challenge for national nurses organizations, healthcare institutions, and the private and public sector. How can we encourage nurses to choose teaching as a profession? Do you have any ideas on this dilemma? Please let us know.