According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 1.1 million new registered nurses will be needed by 2022. These new nurses will replace the expected 500,000 retirees and fill the 100,000 new RN positions created each year. With this need for new nurses comes a need for nurse educators to provide proper training. Nurse educators play the crucial role of ensuring that new nurses are prepared to meet the growing demand for their services.
There has been a shift in thinking for hospitals, with more seeking nurses who have acquired a bachelor’s in nursing (BSN) under the belief that such training leads to better expected patient outcomes. Nurse educators are in an important position within this hospital system. They are trained nurses who can deliver the most crucial information to new nurses, given their intimate understanding of the challenges of the profession and how to best convey critical knowledge that is essential to a hospital’s success. As for nurses, this increasing need in the education field has a certain additional incentive. There is a reported $20,000-$30,000 pay gap between nursing faculty and practicing nurses, inducing more nurses to turn to teaching.
Another area offering career and education growth for nurses is through the Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. Due to a physician shortage, there is an increased need for direct providers, and nurses are entering such programs in order to fill the gap. The doctoral programs prepare nurses for careers in health administration, education, clinical research and advanced practice, allowing nurses to become experts in their profession and assume a variety of leadership roles.
With increased education comes more opportunity for nurses within the profession. However, even the most well-trained nurses can have circumstances arise that lead to mistakes in patient care, leading to possible complaints made to the Illinois Nursing Board. Williams & Nickl has extensive experience working with nurses to defend their license if faced with such a challenge. If you end up in a situation where your license is at risk, Williams & Nickl will effectively help you through the process.