Advanced Professional Nurse (MS) Nurse Educator

Summary

The Nurse Educator program is designed for BS-prepared nurses who wish to devote their careers to the art and practice of teaching. This program prepares nurses for teaching careers in diverse colleges and clinical settings. Graduates will possess skills for inclusive and equitable teaching in classroom, clinical, and online settings. Upon completion, students can sit for the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) examination administered by the National League for Nursing.

Catalog Year

2024-2025

Degree

Master of Science

Major Credits

30

Total Credits

30

Locations

Online

Career Cluster

Health Science

Program Requirements

Common Core

This course prepares learners to understand advanced professional nursing roles. The professional nursing roles will be analyzed focusing on major components including educator, leader, consultant, case manager, and researcher. Socialization into the advanced professional role is explored, including an introduction to evaluation strategies, use of theories and methods of ethics, legal, professional obligations and integrating diversity, equity and inclusion, and social justice as part of the advanced nursing role.

Prerequisites: none

This course examines and evaluates concepts, theories, and models that inform advanced professional nursing. Selected nursing theories are analyzed and critiqued utilizing theory formation criteria. Learners will discuss application of nursing science and conceptual models to nursing and critically articulate use of theory-based practice in family, person-centered care, and/or advanced nursing roles. Requires entry into program.

Prerequisites: none

This course focuses on the knowledge and skills related to information systems and healthcare technologies. Learners will create and analyze informatics solutions utilizing clinical and operational healthcare data from individual and aggregate sources, to monitor and improve the effectiveness of nursing care. Requires entry into the program.

Prerequisites: none

This course provides advanced knowledge of pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment. Learners will integrate evidenced-based practice and the science of nursing related to pathophysiologic principles, pharmacologic categories, and health assessment techniques. The learner will synthesize physiology/pathophysiology, health assessment and pharmacologic knowledge in the direct care role and responsibilities across diverse settings. Requires entry into program.

Prerequisites: none

This course explores the role of the advanced professional nurse as an educational, organizational, and system leader, and change agent. Leadership, service, self-improvement and self-care theories, evidence-based practice, and skills will be explored. The concepts of power and influence are reviewed, along with advanced communication strategies for negotiation, conflict resolution, and collaboration. Learners are prepared to implement and evaluate factors such as interprofessional collaboration, culture, diversity, equity and inclusion, and strategies to anticipate and respond to future trends. Learners will evaluate leadership roles within systems and organizations. The course includes guided student experiences with a mentor. Requires entry into the program.

Prerequisites: none

Research/Methods Course(s)

This course focuses on advanced evidence-based practice. The learner will examine the role of research and its application, utilization, and integration in advanced professional nursing roles. Learners will analyze research approaches, designs, and methods. Emphasis is placed on development of analytic skills for reading and applying research in advanced professional roles. Requires entry into program.

Prerequisites: none

Emphasis Common Core

This course emphasizes analysis of teaching learning pedagogies in the context of nursing education. Learners will be prepared to integrate nursing science into the practice of teaching with emphasis on individual, family, and societal health. Emphasizes the importance of addressing diversity, equity, and inclusivity in one's philosophy of nursing education, teaching style, approaches to learner activities, and activating alternative pedagogies in online, classroom, and clinical activities. Requires entry into the program.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to develop learners' understanding of evidence-based and empirical curricular design, development, and management. Learners are exposed to major models, strategies, and techniques for conducting academic assessments of diverse learners with equitable and inclusive approaches. Learners select and/or design assessment procedures that lead to reliable, meaningful and valid evaluations. Requires entry into the program.

Prerequisites: none

This course will incorporate technology within multiple settings to provide culturally responsive teaching, student learning, and evaluation methods. Best practices of distance learning, use of the internet, simulation, innovation, and integrating computer and other technologies into nursing education will be addressed. This course explores how technology is used effectively to facilitate, support, and evaluate student learning. Requires entry into the program.

Prerequisites: none

Capstone Course

This course emphasizes implementation of effective, innovative learner-centered pedagogies in direct care practice. Learners will facilitate diversity, equity and inclusion through professional teaching practice. Simulations, field experiences, and seminar discussions will prepare learners to teach nursing in a variety of settings. Includes practice experience hours with (a) mentor(s). Requires entry into the program. Must be taken students' final semester of the program.

Prerequisites: none

Policies

Admission Policies:

The Advanced Professional Nurse MS Program application may be obtained from the School of Nursing website. Requirements for application to the Advanced Professional Nurse MS Program are:

  1. BS/BA or entry-level masters degree from an ACEN/CCNE accredited School of Nursing preferred (as verified by official transcripts) or in the final semester of an accredited RN to BS degree completion program by the start of the program (dual enrollment).
  2. Current unencumbered RN license in at least one state.
  3. Undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale (this requirement may be appealed).

Progression Policies:

The School of Nursing graduate program follows the College of Graduate Studies scholastic standards. Once admitted to the program, the student must maintain a GPA of 3.0. A student who is unsuccessful in two courses (or one course repeated) will not be allowed to continue in the Advanced Professional Nurse MS Program.