A nurse educator oversees the continuing education and evaluation of the nursing staff and caregivers. They normally work with hospital administrators to develop continuing education programs and evaluations for the staff at their institution, as well as help set policies and create systems related to patient care. The nurse educator analyzes a wide spectrum of healthcare needs to provide the best educational resources for staff of a hospital or clinic. They must be able to facilitate training, evaluations, and any necessary employee remediation. This may involve development of manuals, training guides, and a variety of procedures and systems. The nurse educator typically delivers presentations to larger groups both in person and via teleconference.

A nurse educator often works with the administration and senior medical staff of a clinic or hospital to recognize able and willing nurses and caregivers, and then incorporate them into the education program at the institution as trainers. The nurse educator must work directly with and train these employees to ensure the consistency of education delivered. These programs are normally used for training new hires, another area of responsibility for the nurse educator.

To be a nurse educator, an individual must have have the degree and licensure of a registered nurse. Normally, multiple years of practical experience as a registered nurse in a hospital or clinic is required as well, along with up-to-date training certifications. A nurse educator frequently travels to receive continuing education and interact with other institutions to assist in the mutual development of best practices in policy and training. (Copyright 2018 PayScale.com)

Nurse Educator Tasks

• Support and guide clinical staff in learning, applying, and implementing care guidelines, processes, and standards.
• Participate in performance evaluations of clinical staff.
• Analyze practice and standards to identify gaps and design educational initiatives to improve care.
• Manage and coordinate educational activities and documentation.