9 Qualities And Skills Needed To Be A Great Nursing Clinical Instructor


Written By: Darby FaubionDarby Faubion RN, BSN, MBA

Darby Faubion is a nurse and allied health instructor with over 20 years of clinical experience. Darby lives in Louisiana and loves exploring the state’s rich culture and history. Darby has a passion for caring for veterans and a special interest in those affected by post-traumatic stress disorder. In her quest to make a difference for veterans, she founded a non-profit called “Operation Battle Buddy.” Read Full Bio »»
RN, BSN, MBA

In the ever-changing environment of nursing and healthcare, one group of individuals plays a pivotal role in preparing the next generation of excellent nurses, and that is nursing clinical instructors. If you are a clinical nursing instructor or want to become one, you must demonstrate certain qualities and skills to succeed. Maybe you considered working with nursing students in clinicals but wonder, “What qualities and skills are needed to be a great nursing clinical instructor?”

I understand, and I remember what it felt like when I taught nursing and allied health. I wanted to do everything I could to positively impact my students and help prepare them for success in their careers. Some days, I felt like I could walk on water, and other days I felt like I was drowning! In this article, I will share what I believe are 9 qualities and skills needed to be a great nursing clinical instructor. By working to cultivate these qualities and skills in yourself, you can make a lasting impact on the students you teach, which can positively influence patients, nurses, and the profession overall.



What Qualities and Skills Are Needed to Be a Great Nursing Clinical Instructor?

(The following are the 9 qualities and skills needed to be a great nursing clinical instructor.)


#1: Excellent Communication

Excellent communication is one of the most essential skills needed to be a great nursing clinical instructor. As a clinical instructor, you set an example for how nurses should conduct themselves, including the way they should communicate with patients and staff. When I became a nursing and allied health instructor, I soon learned that most of my students mirrored my behaviors, especially the way I communicated with them and others.

If you want to become a great nursing clinical instructor, be intentional about developing excellent communication skills. Keep in mind that communication involves not only the words you speak but also how you speak them. It is crucial to be mindful of your body language because, even if you say you are listening, your body language can give off a completely different, disinterested vibe. Practice active listening to show students you value their thoughts and insight, as this is how we teach nursing students to actively listen to their patients and communicate effectively.


#2: Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is an essential skill for any nurse, and it is especially important for nursing clinical instructors to develop. One thing I loved about working with nursing students in their clinicals was the opportunities I had to challenge their thinking. As a nursing clinical instructor, you will demonstrate critical thinking by discussing the rationale behind interventions, which helps students understand how to approach problems systematically. Another reason critical thinking is an essential skill for clinical instructors is because you must evaluate your students’ performance during clinicals and encourage reflection on their clinical experiences.


#3: Time Management

As a clinical instructor, you will manage groups of students and the patients in their care. Balancing multiple responsibilities throughout your day can become overwhelming if you do not manage time wisely. Strategies to help improve time management include prioritizing tasks, setting clear goals for your students, and planning ahead. When I worked with clinical students, I made a point to arrive early each day to find out the patient census, where the charge nurse preferred my students to work that day, and which patients I was allowed to assign to students. This simple step made managing my time much easier. As I developed good relationships with nursing supervisors and staff, many of them had lists and notes prepared for me by the time I arrived, which was very helpful in planning our day.


#4: Adaptability

A key quality needed to be a great nursing clinical instructor is adaptability. As a nursing clinical instructor, you must be prepared to adapt to unexpected situations. Clinical scenarios can change quickly due to emergencies, changing patient or student needs, and adjustments to clinical site availability. Adaptability allows you to tailor your teaching methods to meet the needs, learning styles, and learning paces of your students. This is especially important in the clinical setting, where students learn to apply what they learned in the classroom to real-life patient care.


#5: Internal Motivation

Internal motivation is crucial to being successful as a nursing clinical instructor. This quality helps you stay committed to your role, even when you face challenges, which is crucial for maintaining high nursing education and patient care standards. Internal motivation helps you develop the resilience you need to adapt to the ever-evolving healthcare environment. Additionally, internally motivated instructors are more likely to invest time and effort into their students and serve as dynamic role models by demonstrating the dedication and passion for which the nursing profession is so well-known.


#6: Strong Leadership and Management Skills

Exceptional leadership and management skills are needed to be a great nursing clinical instructor. As a clinical instructor, you will not only oversee the performance of nursing students, but you will also be setting an example for how these future nurses should act and conduct themselves. Therefore, it is especially important to demonstrate strong leadership and management abilities. Leading by example is the best way to teach students. For example, be willing to offer extra help when staff nurses are short-handed, and be mindful of where your students are at all times. Your students observe everything you do, even when you think they are not paying attention.


#7: Cultural Competence

Demonstrating cultural competence is one of the most important things you can do as a nursing clinical instructor. Cultural competence helps you teach students how to provide care that responds to and respects the cultural needs of their patients. Modeling cultural competence is an excellent way to show students how to work in culturally diverse settings, which is essential for success in their careers. Additionally, cultural competence helps build trust between you, your students, facility staff, and patients. When your students feel understood and believe they can trust you, they are more likely to be engaged with what you teach, which helps promote their academic and professional success.


#8: Empathy

I don’t know about you, but when I was in nursing school, I was petrified when it came time to begin clinicals! I was excited about getting to care for patients but worried I would fall on my face! I think all nurses felt that way at some point while in nursing school. If you stop for just a moment and remember what it was like to be a nursing student, I am sure you will agree that empathy is one of the main qualities needed to be a great nursing clinical instructor.

Demonstrating empathy helps foster a positive learning environment where students are comfortable asking for help and advice and learning from mistakes, which is crucial for their growth as confident, competent nurses. Empathy enhances communication and sets a positive example for how students should treat patients, their families, and their coworkers.


#9: A Commitment to Lifelong Learning

Nursing is a profession that is ever-changing. New technologies, medications, treatments, and healthcare policies are introduced daily. Because things change so rapidly, it is essential for nursing clinical instructors to be genuinely committed to continuous growth and learning. Commitment to learning means you will be aware of changes and can educate your students on the latest developments that will impact the way they provide care. Additionally, when you embrace lifelong learning, you create a pattern of behavior for your students to follow that will benefit not only them but their patients, teams, and organizations.



My Final Thoughts


Being a great nursing clinical instructor requires a broad range of skills and qualities. If you want to become a nursing clinical instructor, it is normal to question, “What qualities and skills are needed to be a great nursing clinical instructor?” From a willingness to demonstrate professionalism and empathy to being able to motivate and inspire students, it takes a sincere desire to influence others and impact nursing to succeed as a nursing clinical instructor.

In my years of experience as a nurse and allied health educator, I learned that developing the 9 qualities and skills needed to be a great nursing clinical instructor featured in this article was a great way to promote not only my own success but that of my students. With determination, you can succeed as a nursing instructor, as well. If you have been on the fence about pursuing the role of a nursing clinical instructor, I encourage you to take a leap of faith! The profession is ever-evolving, and we need dedicated nurses like you to help train the next generation of nurses!



List Of Sources Used For This Article


1. “What Is Critical Thinking in Nursing? (with Examples, Importance, & How to Improve)” (nursingprocess.org)
2. “The Characteristics of an Effective Clinical instructor from the Perspective of Nursing Students” (BMC Nursing)
3. “What Is Cultural Competence in Nursing? (with Examples, Importance, & Barriers)” (nursingprocess.org)


Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA
Darby Faubion is a nurse and allied health instructor with over 20 years of clinical experience. Her work history includes clinical experience in pediatrics, mental health, addiction and behavioral disorders, geriatrics, wound management, and communicable disease. Darby has worked in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health and hospice agencies. Darby also has experience as a nursing and allied health educator at both community college and university levels. Her love for nursing and nursing education led to her becoming a test-taking strategist and NCLEX prep coach.