How to become a nurse educator in Australia
If you can imagine yourself guiding nursing students along their path into an in-demand, diverse career where they can have a real impact on the lives of their patients, look no further than nursing education.
With nurses in high demand, as Australia tries to address a significant shortage in this workforce, the education of nurses is of vital importance. Now is a great time to step into a teaching role in nursing.
For qualified and experienced nurses, midwives and other registered healthcare professionals, becoming a nurse educator is both a worthwhile and achievable goal. It can lead to a satisfying career path with many specialised and leadership roles available.
What does a nurse educator do?
Nurse educators coordinate and run teaching programs for nursing students in both academic and clinical settings. According to the Australian Government’s Your Career website, they “design, plan, implement and evaluate the delivery of nursing education and staff development programs, and manage educational resources.”
The day-to-day tasks of a nurse educator include:
- researching, developing and implementing educational activities within the nursing curriculum
- organising work experience for nursing students in both generalist and specialist settings
- developing and running professional development courses for healthcare staff
- evaluating and reporting on course outcomes
- contributing to management, policy development, administration and student support in nurse education contexts
In terms of workplace settings, academic nurse educators work in universities and tertiary education institutes, whilst clinical nurse educators work in hospitals, healthcare centres, simulation laboratories and community health organisations.
Some roles function across both academic and clinical organisations. For example, a university nurse educator may organise and supervise practical placements in a hospital.
In both of these settings, learners can include undergraduate students, newly graduated registered nurses (RNs), hospital staff, and clients or patients.
Steps to becoming a nurse educator
There are several stages involved in becoming a nurse educator, which include both study and practical experience.
Step 1: Become a registered nurse
Most nurse educators come from a registered nursing background. Becoming an RN in Australia requires completing a bachelor’s degree approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
The most common entry pathway is via a Bachelor of Nursing, which combines theory with clinical experience and is widely available at many tertiary institutions.
After completing an approved degree, graduates can apply for registration with the NMBA to be able to practise as an RN.
Step 2: Gain work experience
As well as a relevant qualification, nurse educators need a wide range of skills which can be gained through nursing work experience. These include:
- communication and interpersonal skills
- advanced knowledge and expertise in different aspects of nursing
- competence in technology for nursing and educational practice
- leadership, mentoring and change management skills
- understanding of cultural safety and codes of conduct and ethics for nursing
- commitment to research and scholarship
As many of these skills are best developed on-the-job, nurse educator positions and courses often require at least one year of full-time post-registration clinical nursing experience.
Step 3: Complete a postgraduate degree
Completing a postgraduate degree focused on nursing education is one of the best ways into this career path. In addition to providing you with the necessary skill set and knowledge to teach future nurses, a postgraduate qualification can give you a strong competitive edge in job applications.
UTS Online's Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education provides aspiring nurse educators with expertise in interdisciplinary education, collaboration and leadership, change management, and building evidence-based teaching and learning capacity in the workplace – all the skills required to excel in nursing education.
This qualification can be completed in as little as eight months and graduates can start applying for in-demand nurse educator positions right away.
On completion of the graduate certificate, students who wish to further advance their study and career can also progress into UTS Online’s Master of Advanced Nursing, which can lead to more senior leadership roles.
Note that completing a postgraduate nurse educator course is also a pathway for other health professionals registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), such as midwives, psychologists and physiotherapists, to enter nurse education.
Entry to these courses for health professionals other than RNs usually requires completion of a bachelor’s degree and clinical experience in a hospital or healthcare facility.
Step 4: Ongoing professional development
In order to maintain and advance their career, qualified and experienced nurse educators need to complete regular and ongoing professional development.
These requirements vary in different positions and organisations, and can include:
- building up a certain number of teaching hours
- completing and maintaining currency in training certifications such as the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
- gaining training or experience in specialised healthcare areas
- completing workplace professional development courses
Why become a nurse educator?
A career in nursing education offers a clear and achievable pathway into the profession and is rewarding for several reasons.
A growing profession
At the frontline of healthcare services, nurses make up an increasingly important part of Australia’s health workforce.
The nursing profession is growing rapidly, and the Nursing Supply and Demand Study predicts an increase in the percentage of RNs (including Nurse Practitioners) within the workforce from 85.2 per cent in 2022 to 87.5 per cent by 2035.
The need for nurses is also diversifying into different aspects of care. These range from all aspects of hospital operations to managing chronic diseases, emergency services and mental health. In short, Australia needs more nurses, including those with specialised skills.
In order to achieve this, we need more nurse educators. Job growth in this field is predicted to reach over 11.4 per cent by 2028, providing an additional 1,700 jobs in nursing education and research by 2033. Educators with specific skills are also required to teach the next generation of specialised nurses.
Make an important contribution to Australian healthcare
Australia’s healthcare system is under pressure due to a number of different factors. These include an ageing population with complex health issues, lack of progress in health systems reform and post-COVID burnout amongst healthcare workers.
Burnout has had a strong impact on nurses in particular. A report by Beamtree and Health Roundtable states that addressing burnout within the healthcare system is crucial, as is the need to “invest in our people because without them there is no healthcare.”
In order to maintain our nation’s high standards in healthcare, nothing is more critical than ensuring a stable, educated and functioning health workforce. Given that nurses make up 54 per cent of this workforce, nurse education makes a vital contribution to maintaining our world-class health system – a key aspect of the enviable Aussie lifestyle.
Job satisfaction
The Roy Morgan Image of Professions Survey 2021 reveals that 88 per cent of Australians rated nurses as ‘high’ or ‘very high’ for their ‘ethics and honesty’. This marks the 24th consecutive survey in which nurses are ranked as the highest-rated profession.
Nurses are respected and highly regarded in their communities, and people rely on the care that they provide. This can range from emotional support to practical and often life-saving care.
As teachers for this valued occupation, nurse educators gain a high level of professional fulfilment, knowing that their work plays a crucial role in growing and supporting this vital part of the healthcare workforce.
How much does a nurse educator make?
The average salary for nurse educators in Australia is $108,000 per annum, with senior roles attracting higher salaries of around $128,000 per annum.
This is compared to an average salary for Australian RNs of $83,000 per annum and around $106,000 per annum for senior roles.
Why study nursing education with UTS Online?
A postgraduate qualification in nursing education can be your stepping stone into a top role in this rapidly growing and rewarding field.
According to UTS Online Senior Lecturer Dr Carmen Axisa, "As a nurse, you have the power to make a real difference in the lives of your patients and our Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education can help you take your impact to the next level… you'll not only build your expertise, but you'll also be able to lead and manage change to improve healthcare outcomes for your patients."
For those who wish to extend their skills and move into a diverse range of specialist, leadership and management roles, the Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education also provides a pathway into further study in the UTS Online Master of Advanced Nursing.
UTS Online’s postgraduate nursing courses are taught in a collaborative learning environment. Students engage in interactive activities that address real-world challenges relevant to their nursing practice.
Study is designed with busy nurses and healthcare professionals in mind. With fully online units and six course intakes per year, you’ll have the flexibility to organise your course around family, job and personal commitments.
Throughout your learning journey, you’ll also have the support of a dedicated Student Success Advisor and experienced academic staff to guide your studies and offer invaluable career mentoring advice.
Influence workplace outcomes in healthcare settings
Build your expertise in interdisciplinary education, collaboration and leadership to influence workplace outcomes in healthcare settings.
Ranked #1 for academic reputation in nursing and midwifery, UTS Online can equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to innovate nursing education.
Reach out to our Student Enrolment Advisors today on 1300 477 423. Learn more about how you can transform the future of healthcare with the UTS Online Master of Advanced Nursing, Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education and our other postgraduate nursing degrees.
