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Preparing Today’s Learners. Shaping Tomorrow’s Nursing Workforce.
National Nurse Educator Day
- September 24, 2026
- Part of National Nurse Educators Week (September 20–26, 2026)
Nurse educators are experienced nursing professionals who prepare the next generation of nurses, mentor practicing clinicians, and advance the nursing profession through education, scholarship, leadership, and innovation.
What Is a Nurse Educator?
Nurse educators combine clinical expertise with educational leadership to prepare students and practicing nurses for safe, competent, evidence-based practice.
They work in colleges and universities, hospitals and health systems, simulation centers, clinical education departments, nurse residency programs, and continuing professional development settings, helping learners build the knowledge, skills, and clinical judgment needed to deliver high-quality patient care.
Nursing Education at a Glance
- Graduate-Prepared Educators
Most academic nurse educators hold master’s or doctoral degrees in nursing or nursing education.
- Teaching Across the Continuum
Preparing students, new graduates, practicing nurses, advanced practice nurses, and future nurse leaders.
- A Growing Need
In 2025, more than 92,000 qualified applicants could not be admitted to U.S. nursing programs because of limited faculty and educational resources, highlighting the critical role nurse educators play in expanding the nursing workforce.
- Career Opportunity
With more than 1,500 full-time faculty vacancies nationwide, nursing education offers rewarding opportunities for experienced nurses who want to shape the future of the profession.
The Impact of Nurse Educators
Nurse educators:
- Prepare the next generation of registered nurses
- Develop clinical judgment, clinical reasoning, and safe decision-making
- Bridge classroom learning with real-world patient care
- Mentor students, novice nurses, and future educators
- Advance evidence-based nursing practice
- Promote workforce readiness and retention
- Help address critical nursing workforce needs
More Than a Teacher
Nurse educators serve many roles throughout the profession, including:
- Teacher
- Mentor
- Clinical Instructor
- Simulation Educator
- Curriculum Designer
- Evaluator
- Scholar & Researcher
- Faculty Advisor
- Academic Leader
Through these diverse roles, nurse educators prepare nurses to provide safe, competent, and compassionate care throughout their careers.
Advancing Healthcare Through Nursing Education: Leadership. Mentorship. Innovation.
Nurse educators strengthen healthcare by:
- Designing innovative curricula and simulation experiences
- Preparing nurses for safe, evidence-based practice
- Leading educational quality improvement initiatives
- Guiding future nurse leaders and advanced practice nurses
- Advancing nursing science through scholarship and research
- Supporting workforce development and professional growth
- Improving patient outcomes by strengthening nursing education
Recognition & Awareness
National Nurse Educator Day: September 24, 2026
National Nurse Educators Week: September 20–26, 2026
Recognizing the educators whose expertise, mentorship, and leadership shape every generation of nurses and strengthen the future of healthcare.
Every nurse has a nurse educator behind them.
Nurse educators prepare future nurses, mentor practicing clinicians, inspire lifelong learning, and strengthen the nursing profession through education, leadership, scholarship, and innovation.
