Area of Study Overview
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The Nurse Educator specialty builds on the education and clinical competence of experienced professional nurses. This program prepares experienced baccalaureate prepared registered nurses to assume the roles of faculty in institutions of higher education and/or nurse educators in various health care settings. The program is designed for independent learners who desire an online experience coupled with clinical learning experiences that relate to today’s healthcare education challenges and opportunities. Graduates meet the educational requirements for national certification programs.
The Nurse Educator program prepares graduates for teaching roles in healthcare and academic settings. A Nurse Educator certificate is awarded in addition to the degree upon MSN program completion.
Credit Distribution
I. Core Courses (12 Credits)
| NUR-529 | Health Policy | 3 |
| NUR-530 | Evidence-Based Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NUR-531 | Nursing Informatics: Concepts and Issues | 3 |
| NUR-600 | Nursing Leadership in a Global Community | 3 |
II. Direct-Care Core Courses (9 Credits)
III. Specialty Courses (9 Credits)
| NUR-630 | Theoretical Foundations and Instructional Strategies in Nursing Education | 3 |
| NUR-700 | Curriculum Theory and Development in Nursing Education | 3 |
| NUR-710 | Testing, Assessment, and Evaluation | 3 |
IV. Practicum Courses (6 Credits)
| NUR-740 | Nurse Educator: Seminar and Practicum I | 3 |
| NUR-750 | Nurse Educator: Seminar and Practicum II | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 36
NOTE:
Completion of 150 on-ground, supervised hours is required in each Practicum course. Application for Practicum placement is submitted six months in advance. The Practicums must be taken consecutively at the same facility.
Course descriptions, advisories, and prerequisites can be found in this publication. It is the student’s responsibility to know and to satisfy advisories and prerequisites prior to course registration. In the MSN degree program, the core courses are to be taken first and the Practicums are to be taken last and may not be taken concurrently with core courses.
Program Competencies
In addition to the MSN degree outcomes, the graduate of the Nurse Educator program will be able to:
- apply theories of education and related sciences to the development and evaluation of nursing and healthcare curricula;
- facilitate learning of individuals and groups using theories of education, nursing, testing and evaluation, and technological innovation;
- apply leadership strategies to contribute to the ongoing development of the profession of nursing and nursing education;
- utilize research to analyze the outcomes of nursing interventions and improve nursing practice and nursing pedagogy;
- apply strategies that recognize multicultural factors in teaching and learning;
- utilize theories of change to advance the profession of nursing;
- analyze ethical theories and ethical decision making in the educational setting;
- analyze trends in healthcare and nursing education and their impact on the profession of nursing, nursing education, and the delivery of patient care; and
- design curriculum, implement, and evaluate curriculum based on sound educational principles, theory, and research.