Graduate Nurse Educators are in High Demand: Earn an MSN from NMC
| School Overview | |
|---|---|
| Serves: | USA |
| Accredited by: | NCACHE |
| Enrollment: | Semester |
| Financial Aid: | Yes |
| Scholarships: | Yes |
Blended Distance Learning Programs Combine Hands On with Theory
The Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) Education at Nebraska Methodist College is a blended program-a meld of online curriculum with on-campus practicum. This type of program is not uncommon, but may require more on-campus time than others of its kind. The MSN Education prepares RNs for roles as nurse faculty and instructors.
The nursing industry is playing catch-up with its educators and faculty members, legions of which have retired or work within the environs of upper level academia. Community college nursing programs are ailing most critically, with shortages of nurse educators posing a systemic problem amid the growing shortage of nurses. Online programs, such as this, are provided in an effort to attract busy and professional nurses that might otherwise pursue higher degrees and positions if it were not for family and job responsibilities.
Requirements for Admission to the MSN Education
Candidates must have a completed Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree with at least a GPA of 3.0. GRE scores are not a requirement, but a valid RN license must be supplied. Applicants must be willing to remain self-motivated throughout the 38-credit program-a length of two and a half years. Online programs are convenient, in that they allow participants freedom to study on their own time, but challenging at the same time. Applicants must also supply a personal statement that supports their career and educational aims.
Curriculum
There is a general, or core, curriculum generic to most MSN degrees. These basic courses form the foundation from which subsequent specialty curriculums are built. Core MSN courses include topics such as: nursing theory, advanced research, statistics, nursing informatics, and the role of advanced practice nurses.
Education-specific curriculum includes coursework in: instruction and learning paradigms, instructional strategies, design and development of contemporary nursing curriculums, methods for course evaluation, and emerging classroom technologies specific to nursing curriculums. During the summer, students are required to spend two separate, five day, on-campus sessions involved in teaching practicum. In concert with faculty mentors, nurse educator candidates work in classroom settings, actually designing and delivering nursing curriculum.
The coursework may be tailored to fit students with a previous BSN, a Bachelors degree in another major, or BSN completion students.
Career Opportunity
Besides the traditional roles in nursing schools, contemporary nurse educators also function outside academics, in roles as instructors, trainers, and coordinators in healthcare systems both public and private. Educators are in critical need in two-year nursing programs where many new nurses begin their professional careers. Above this level, faculty are required to earn their Ph.D. in nursing education. The timeworn image of a stuffy old academician no longer is valid for nurse educators. In fact most maintain very successful and challenging clinical practices while balancing instructorship. This professional combination affords the best way to keep faculty current and fresh with the latest skills and concepts and delivers the same to new nurses hungry for relevant information.
Nebraska Methodist College specializes in healthcare degree and certificate programs and is a well-respected adjunct to the Methodist Health System.
