What Does it Take to Be a Nursing Instructor or Professor?
Occupation Description Demonstrate and teach patient care in classroom and clinical units to nursing students. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
A Day in the Life of a Nursing Professor
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as pharmacology, mental health nursing, and community health care practices.
- Evaluate and grade students’ class work, laboratory and clinic work, assignments, and papers.
- Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Coordinate training programs with area universities, clinics, hospitals, health agencies, or vocational schools.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Featured schools near , edit
Nursing Professor Required Skills
Nursing Instructors and Professors state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Types of Nursing Instructor or Professor
- Instructor Nurse
- Clinical Nursing Professor
- Registered Nurse Teacher
- Associate Professor
- Nursing Coordinator
Job Opportunities for Nursing Instructors and Professors
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 67,900 jobs in the United States for Nursing Instructor or Professor. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 24% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 16,300 new jobs for Nursing Instructor or Professor by 2026. There will be an estimated 7,300 positions for Nursing Professor per year.

The states with the most job growth for Nursing Professor are Utah, Nevada, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Nebraska, or Maryland. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Nursing Instructors and Professors Salary
The average yearly salary of a Nursing Professor ranges between $40,370 and $129,070.

Nursing Instructors and Professors who work in District of Columbia, California, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
How much do Nursing Instructors and Professors make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $66,670 |
Alaska | $79,210 |
Arizona | $81,110 |
Arkansas | $54,920 |
California | $101,320 |
Colorado | $62,720 |
Connecticut | $101,760 |
District of Columbia | $153,830 |
Georgia | $71,470 |
Hawaii | $79,560 |
Idaho | $71,680 |
Illinois | $69,310 |
Indiana | $76,280 |
Iowa | $80,490 |
Kansas | $63,640 |
Kentucky | $73,170 |
Louisiana | $72,010 |
Maine | $60,810 |
Maryland | $92,980 |
Massachusetts | $87,970 |
Michigan | $81,230 |
Mississippi | $73,840 |
Missouri | $77,540 |
Montana | $71,830 |
Nebraska | $71,400 |
Nevada | $76,120 |
New Hampshire | $77,290 |
New Jersey | $89,950 |
New Mexico | $64,660 |
New York | $91,900 |
North Carolina | $68,710 |
North Dakota | $75,650 |
Ohio | $71,950 |
Oklahoma | $59,070 |
Oregon | $76,090 |
Pennsylvania | $78,810 |
Rhode Island | $78,450 |
South Carolina | $67,430 |
South Dakota | $67,410 |
Tennessee | $75,300 |
Texas | $71,780 |
Utah | $78,360 |
Virginia | $70,540 |
Washington | $77,540 |
West Virginia | $58,530 |
Wisconsin | $86,040 |
Wyoming | $69,720 |
What Tools do Nursing Instructors and Professors Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Nursing Instructors and Professors may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Google Docs
- MEDITECH software
- Blackboard
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Learning management system LMS
- Blackboard Learn
- Course management system software
- Desire2Learn
- Collaborative editing software
- Sakai CLE
- DOC Cop
- iParadigms Turnitin
How do I Become a Nursing Professor?
Individuals working as a Nursing Instructor or Professor have obtained the following education levels:

What work experience do I need to become a Nursing Professor?

Where Nursing Instructors and Professors Are Employed

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Nursing Instructor or Professor may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: Aleksahgabrielle via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |