• Nursing instructors need a passion for lifelong learning and compassion for students.nurse on duty image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com
  
  Without enough nurses, the quality of health care suffers. In fact, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that hospitals with higher levels of nursing staff reduce negative outcomes by up to 12 percent. By teaching the nurses of the future, nursing instructors supply a steady stream of qualified nurses, which in turn keeps staffing at ideal levels. To successfully teach future nurses, instructors must possess several key qualities.
  
  

Highly Educated

• Nursing education positions require an advanced degree, and tenure-track or clinical positions often require a doctorate. This ensures that nursing faculty come with a record of research skills and the requisite knowledge. For example, the University of Iowa College of Nursing requires doctorates for all tenure-track and clinical-track positions, although a master's degree suffices for lecturer positions. Likewise, Seattle University College of Nursing requires a doctorate for faculty.
  
  

Experienced

• Unlike professors in many other fields, nursing instructors spend considerable time teaching clinical courses that involve hands-on practice for students. Nursing instructors who lack clinical experience fail to demonstrate the best practices for students. They may also lack the professional knowledge to help students overcome limitations--a key role for nursing educators, according to the Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow website. As a result, many university positions require extensive clinical experience. In addition, many nursing instructors continue to work in clinical settings to maintain their competence and develop specialties, notes Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow.
  
  

Caring Personality

• Like any educators, nursing instructors who demonstrate compassion and empathy achieve greater success. In fact, the Diseases Attacking the Immune System Foundation suggests that nursing schools consider compassion as one of several key criteria for nominating teachers for its faculty award. Compassion for students encompasses everything from listening patiently to their questions to creating an unbiased environment for students to contribute ideas--traits the DAISY Foundation recommends.
  
  

Collaborative

• Nursing instructors collaborate with other faculty to conduct research and create a well-rounded curriculum for students, notes the Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow website. In the clinical setting, nurses collaborate with a wide variety of health care professionals. Therefore, educators who feel comfortable with collaboration create more effective learning environments and model a crucial skill in classroom and clinical settings.
  
  

Lifelong Learner

• Health technologies, medications, laws and treatments evolve at a rapid pace, and nursing students expect insight into the latest developments. Nursing instructors who further their education and experience anticipate changes in the field and prepare their students for the future of nursing, advises Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow. In addition, continuing education ensures that nurses maintain their licenses and develop areas of specialization. It also helps them adapt to changes in information technology, which is why the National League of Nurses recommends that instructors seek education in information technologies.
  
  

Strong Writer

• Nurses--whether in clinical practice or teaching future nurses--need strong writing skills. The University of Louisville Writing Across the Curriculum Newsletter notes that writing encourages critical thinking and reflection--skills nurses need to solve problems. Nursing instructors who lack writing skills struggle to convey the relevance of research and writing assignments, and they lack the ability to model sound writing practices.