How to hire a vocational nursing instructor

How to hire a vocational nursing instructor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step vocational nursing instructor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a vocational nursing instructor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new vocational nursing instructor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a vocational nursing instructor, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A vocational nursing instructor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, vocational nursing instructors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of vocational nursing instructors and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Vocational Nursing Instructor	Description	Hourly rate
   Vocational Nursing Instructor	Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and career and technical subjects beyond the high school level. They also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.	$20-61
   Nursing Faculty	Nursing faculty members are professionals who are responsible for providing education and instructional materials about topics that are related to the nursing profession. These professionals must maintain communication with the Director of Nursing to discuss the progress and concerns of their nursing students... Show more	$21-43
   Nursing Program Coordinator	A Nursing Program Coordinator typically works at universities and community colleges where they are in charge of coordinating nursing programs. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their employment institution, it usually includes conducting research and analyses, liaising with internal and external parties, working together with directors in developing curriculums, and overseeing committee works... Show more	$21-43

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Direct Patient Care
   • Course Objectives
   • Vital Signs
   • Clinical Facilities
   • Clinical Rotations
   • CPR
   • Direct Supervision
   • NCLEX
   • Rehabilitation
   • Registered Nursing
   • Blood Pressure
   • Syllabus
   • Acute Care

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Spearhead successful initial ACEN accreditation for DNP program.
   • Instruct and mentore students on psych rotations in clinical settings utilizing extensive knowledge of psychology, pharmacology and medical-surgical assessment skills.
   • Educate participants on diabetes, including overview information, insulin pumps, and carbohydrate counting.
   • Assemble and use equipment, such as catheters, tracheotomy tubes, or oxygen suppliers.

   More vocational nursing instructor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your vocational nursing instructor job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A vocational nursing instructor can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, vocational nursing instructors' average salary in oklahoma is 51% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level vocational nursing instructors 66% less than senior-level vocational nursing instructors.
   • Certifications. A vocational nursing instructor with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a vocational nursing instructor's salary.

   Average vocational nursing instructor salary

   $74,598yearly

   $35.86 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level vocational nursing instructor salary

   $43,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average vocational nursing instructor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$110,653	$53
   2	Texas	$59,863	$29

   Average vocational nursing instructor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	UCI Health	$184,273	$88.59	5
   2	Senior Living Properties	$115,231	$55.40
   3	Unitek Learning	$111,025	$53.38	69
   4	Grayson College	$102,759	$49.40	1
   5	Kern Community College District	$101,269	$48.69	16
   6	Mission Health Services	$93,971	$45.18	42
   7	University of California	$88,581	$42.59	18
   8	UC Santa Barbara	$84,905	$40.82
   9	American Career College	$81,081	$38.98	17
   10	University of Texas System	$76,600	$36.83	33
   11	University of California-Berkeley	$73,201	$35.19
   12	Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers	$67,207	$32.31	9
   13	Lynwood Unified School District	$54,072	$26.00
   14	UTMB HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS	$46,366	$22.29	59
   15	Falcon School District 49	$35,379	$17.01
   16	Platt College	$28,646	$13.77	14

4. Writing a vocational nursing instructor job description

   A good vocational nursing instructor job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a vocational nursing instructor job description:

   Vocational nursing instructor job description example

   The mission of Correctional Managed Care is to address the healthcare needs of underserved patient populations within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD).
   
   To provide direct nursing care to an assigned group of patients and performs nursing procedures within the scope of their education and demonstrated abilities.
   ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
   
   * Provides direct nursing care to assigned patients.
   
   * Participates in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating the nursing care given.
   * Performs admission, discharge, and transfer procedures.
   * Using the nursing plan of care in daily assignments, able to review and, under supervision, modify the plan of care.
   * Demonstrates ability to observe and record the signs, symptoms, and behaviors including the3 physiological status of patients, presents proposed revision of interventions, and desired outcomes.
   * Delivers the designated nursing interventions to assigned patients that are consistent with the state medical plan of care.
   * Notifies appropriate nursing and medical staff of changes in patient status; recognizes patient care priorities, multidisciplinary treatment plans, and potential patient care crises.
   * Follows physician's orders in the deliver of nursing care.
   * Maintains patient's privacy and confidentiality of information and records at all times.
   * Safely and properly administers medications and treatments.
   * Executes written physician's orders for assigned patients.
   * Assembles equipment and supplies for various diagnostic or treatment procedures in the specialty service area; performs or assists others with procedures or treatments.
   * Adheres to required infection control, isolation procedures, and aseptic techniques in the deliver of patient care.
   * Documents nursing care in all assigned patient records.
   * Adheres to internal controls and reporting structures.
   * Performs related duties as required.
   
   EQUIPMENT:
   
   Standard patient care supplies, equipment and mechanical devices.
   
   WORK ENVIRONMENT:
   
   Located within the confines of a prison, jail or juvenile detention center. Security clearance is required; pre-employment drug testing is also required.
   
   REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:
   
   High school or equivalent. Graduation from a Licensed Vocational Nurse Program and current license/permit as a vocational nurse in the State of Texas. No experience required.
   
   Current BLS-HP required.
   
   This is a non-benefit eligible position and limited to a maximum of 19 hours per week.
   
   Equal Employment Opportunity
   
   UTMB Health strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. As a VEVRRA Federal Contractor, UTMB Health takes affirmative action to hire and advance women, minorities, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
   
   Compensation

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right vocational nursing instructor for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with vocational nursing instructors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit vocational nursing instructors who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your vocational nursing instructor job on Zippia to find and recruit vocational nursing instructor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit vocational nursing instructors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new vocational nursing instructor

   Once you've selected the best vocational nursing instructor candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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