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Nurse Educator teaching healthcare professionals

Master's in Nursing Education Online MSN Track

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Register By: February 24 Classes Start: February 26

Inspire and Teach the Next Generation of Nurses 

  • Low tuition: $637 per credit x 36 credits total
  • No entrance exams
  • Provides educational content for CNE exam certification
  • Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)2
  • 5 term starts per year: No caps or waiting list
  • 22% projected growth through 2031 for post-secondary nursing instructors1

Earn Your Online MSN in Nursing Education

Combine your clinical expertise and passion for teaching with the online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Nursing Education program at Southern New Hampshire University.

Nursing educators will play a pivotal role in the future of nursing. By teaching and training the next generation of nursing professionals, you'll be a critical factor in providing equitable care for diverse populations.

This MSN program track can help prepare you to lead and teach future nursing professionals as an academic or clinical nurse educator in major universities, community colleges, hospitals and healthcare organizations.

With most nursing schools facing growing numbers of applicants, nurse educators are in high demand. The online MSN Nursing Education program offers an authentic learning experience that develops resume-building skills and knowledge required to teach the next generation of nurses. 

At the end of the program track, students will have an opportunity to put learning into practice with a practicum course that includes a 135-hour clinical and academic teaching immersion experiences under the guidance of nurse educator preceptors.

The MSN program track is based on the competencies and practice standards defined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the National League for Nursing (NLN). Graduates of the MSN Nursing Education program meet the educational requirements for the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) exam offered by the National League for Nursing.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and the master’s degree program in nursing at Southern New Hampshire University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202.887.6791.

What You'll Learn

  • Evidence-based practice and healthcare technology applications
  • Leadership and collaboration skills that can improve nursing practice
  • Advanced communication and advocacy strategy development
  • How to advance equitable health policies and regulations
  • Best teaching practices to develop and evaluate high-quality education

How You'll Learn

At SNHU, you'll get support from day 1 to graduation and beyond. And with no set class times, 24/7 access to the online classroom and helpful learning resources along the way, you'll have everything you need to reach your goals.

Fast Track Your MSN

Ready for the next phase of your career? With SNHU's 5 MSN program tracks — updated to align with today’s healthcare standards — you'll be on your way to earn your degree faster, for less.

Nurse Educator Career Outlook

Nurses are in high demand, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projecting over 195,400 new jobs through 2031 and about 203,200 openings – each year, on average – for registered nurses through 2031.1 But that's just the tip of the iceberg.

As the workforce ages, demand is also shifting to nurses with more specialized skills – and leadership and teaching are some of the most valued among them.

For this reason, jobs for postsecondary nursing instructors and teachers are expected to grow in coming years.1 Those who earn an MSN in Nursing Education will be prepared to pursue a number of different roles, from post-secondary teacher to simulation coordinator.

Consider, too, the unprecedented challenges of the recent pandemic. The evolving state of healthcare fuels a need for nurse educators – those who can help prepare nurses in a rapidly changing field – now more than ever.

Job Growth

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, career opportunities for post-secondary nursing instructors and teachers are expected to grow 22% through 2031.1

Salary

The median annual salary was $77,440 for post-secondary nursing instructors and teachers in 2021.1

Understanding the numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors—like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

According to the 2021 report, ''The Future of Nursing: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity," published by the National Academy of Medicine, nurse educators will play an invaluable role in the future of healthcare.3

"The ability to care for and protect the nation’s most vulnerable citizens depends substantially on the preparedness of the nursing workforce," the report noted.3 "The myriad factors related to national nurse education and training — licensure and certification, scope of practice, mobilization and deployment, safety and protection, crisis leadership, and health care and public health systems support — together define nursing’s capacity and capabilities in disaster response."3

Further, the report urges nurse educators to inform the next generation of nursing professionals. In doing so, the National Academy of Medicine notes, nurse educators can "help advance health equity nationwide."3

This urgency to help prepare a new nursing workforce is one of the reasons SNHU is so dedicated to creating seamless, fast pathways to an MSN degree. It's also why we offer this program with no caps or waiting lists – helping you get one step closer to the next chapter in your career.

Where Could You Work?

Hospitals

Teach patient care in classroom and clinical units to experienced nurses and nursing students.

Healthcare Organizations

Coordinate and manage the nursing program's simulation and skills lab.

Community Colleges

Instruct and evaluate the clinical training of health sciences students.

Educational Support Services

Evaluate the effectiveness of curriculums established by school boards, states or federal entities.

Universities

Oversee student services, academics and faculty research in a specific education department.

Government

Represent the educational needs of nurses and their impact on healthcare equity.

Start Your Journey Toward an Online Nursing Education Leadership Degree

Sonya Blevins

Preparing You for Success

Dr. Sonya Blevins, associate dean of nursing

“You will learn very quickly through clinical experiences what you like and don’t like. A good nursing program will help you figure out your path by the time you graduate."

Nursing Education Courses & Curriculum

The online MSN Nursing Education track can help prepare you to teach in clinical and academic settings.

Dr. Crissy Hunter with the text Dr. Crissy Hunter"Nurse educators play a vital role in the profession of nursing," said Dr. Crissy Hunter, RN, CHSE, CNE, a clinical faculty member of graduate nursing programs at SNHU. "Regardless of the setting...our primary role is advancing the profession of nursing through education."

Like all MSN tracks at SNHU, the Nursing Education program track requires the following 5 core courses:

  • Role Development and the Transformation of the MSN Nurse
  • Interprofessional Leadership in Healthcare
  • Epidemiological and Biostatistical Applications in Healthcare
  • Global Health & Diversity
  • Evidence-Based Practice & Scholarly Inquiry

Upon completing your core, you'll take the following Nursing Education track specific courses:

  • Advanced Clinical Pathophysiology. Build upon existing knowledge of physiology and pathologic aspects of human disease across the lifespan. Advanced clinical pathophysiology, pathobiology, immunology, and genetics will all be analyzed. You'll gain knowledge to foster advanced clinical reasoning and decision-making skills. You'll then examine clinical manifestations of major health problems across the lifespan and explore the management of illness and health restoration.
  • Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning. Build on previous clinical experience and prior knowledge to master health assessment skills and advanced communication strategies. You'll conduct comprehensive health assessments incorporating environmental, genetic, multicultural, ethnic and socioeconomic factors. You'll also gain mastery of the advanced history and physical exam, formulate plans to ensure effective patient-centered care and adapt your communication style to meet the specific needs of diverse individuals and families.
  • Population Care Management. Build upon previous health promotion and disease prevention knowledge and gain additional management skills to improve the health of populations. You'll assess health risks, services and needs of populations, analyze data to drive the improvement of care and investigate funding resources to address deficiencies. You'll also demonstrate the ability to coordinate care through the establishment of interprofessional partnerships to address gaps in care and develop, implement and evaluate improvement plans.
  • Facilitating Learning and Teaching Innovation in Nursing Education. Explore the use of teaching and learning assessment strategies for nurse educators. Emphasis is placed on application of evidence-based practice to enhance student learning in clinical, didactic and online learning environments. You'll examine various teaching and learning methods, including using innovative education technologies. Topics in this course include feedback strategies, test construction and item analysis and developing and using rubrics.
  • Curriculum Foundations in Nursing Education. Explore the role of the nurse educator in curriculum design and evaluation. Emphasis is placed on the process of developing curricula to include evaluation of program outcomes. You'll examine policies, accreditation, professional standards and regulations that are designed to ensure program compliance and the achievement of learner outcomes. You'll also explore learning strategies that guide the development and revision of programs and outcomes.

The MSN Nursing Education track integrates hands-on learning throughout. You'll be required to complete a practicum experience, helping you apply your skills in an authentic healthcare setting.

The online MSN Nursing Education track is aligned to the core competencies defined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the National League for Nursing. The program provides the essential skills required by registered nurses to either transition into or supports the requirements of the nurse educator role. Graduates of the MSN Nursing Education track meet the educational requirements for the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) exam offered by the National League for Nursing (NLN).

Curriculum Requirements & Resources

  • Clinical practice experience (CPE): Clinical practice hours are incorporated into all graduate nursing programs accredited by CCNE. SNHU incorporates these authentic learning experiences into your MSN program through indirect and direct clinical experiences. You'll be able to achieve these CPE hours through coursework and assignments and time spent with a preceptor. Please connect with our Student Experience team to learn more about clinical practice experiences by track.

Students enrolled in the MSN program must comply with requirements of the organizations where their clinical practice experiences/practicum will be completed. These requirements may include (but are not limited to) a criminal background check, active and unencumbered license verification, immunization records, professional liability insurance. Students may incur additional costs to meet organizational requirements (ex. drug screening, physical examination co-pay, etc.). These requirements must be met prior to registering for the clinical practice experience course. 

It is a requirement that nursing students carry their own medical malpractice insurance while enrolled in practicum courses. At least two terms prior to the start of the clinical components, students will be required to demonstrate proof of having an active individual medical malpractice certificate.

HEaRT Experiential Learning

Looking to gain professional healthcare experience, even before you graduate? Do it with HEaRT.

Specially designed for learners in healthcare and nursing, HEaRT (Higher Education and Real World Training) is a powerful experiential learning opportunity at SNHU. These online, asynchronous, voluntary experiences help connect students with employers to help solve real-world business problems – so you can be ready to make an impact in your field.

University Accreditation

New England Commission of Higher Education Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.

ANCC Accredited Provider

At Southern New Hampshire University, we’re committed to your success — even beyond graduation. That’s why we’re committed to delivering accredited continuing education for nurses and healthcare professionals. From one-hour webinars to multi-day conferences and more, these opportunities are built to help you continue to meet the needs of communities across the globe.

Visit our SNHU continuing education page to learn more.

Southern New Hampshire University is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Commission on Accreditation.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition rates for SNHU's online degree programs are among the lowest in the nation. We offer a 25% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Online Graduate Programs Per Course Per Credit Hour
Degree/Certificates $1,911 $637
Degree/Certificates
(U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)*
$1,410 $470

Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.
*Note: students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional Costs:
Course Materials ($ varies by course)

Students enrolled in the MSN program may be subject to ongoing licensure checks through a third party vendor, additional fees will apply and may vary by state.

Frequently Asked Questions

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References

Licensure and Certification Disclosures

SNHU has provided additional information for programs that educationally prepare students for professional licensure or certification. Learn more about what that means for your program on our licensure and certification disclosure page.