Online Master's Degree MSN in Nurse Educator

Teach the next generation of nurses by earning your MSN in Nurse Educator

Combine your clinical expertise and passion for teaching in the online Master of Science in Nursing Nurse Educator program at Southern New Hampshire University. The online MSN in Nurse Educator program will 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.

The online MSN program 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). Upon graduation, you'll be eligible to sit for the national Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) exam offered by the National League for Nursing.

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See Yourself Succeed as a Nurse Educator

Designed for nurses by nurses in the field, the online MSN in Nurse Educator program will provide registered nurses with the skills and knowledge required to facilitate learning through curriculum design, teaching, evaluation and advisement. The 39-credit program can be completed in eight terms, with two courses per 10-week term and a capstone. The teaching practicum may be completed online or face-to-face, as per state authorization.

Throughout the online MSN in Nurse Educator program, you’ll learn how to:

Propose informatics systems initiatives and technologies that facilitate effective decision making in delivering upon and enhancing patient care
Employ research practices, methodologies and a spirit of scholarly inquiry to motivate change and drive real-world improvement in healthcare
Create client-centered, culturally-appropriate health prevention and promotion initiatives that improve the health, safety and quality of life for people and their communities
Generate data driven solutions for operational challenges that navigate the intersection of quality and cost in ensuring excellence in healthcare across diverse settings
Advocate for ethically responsible policies and effective systems that empower practitioners and meets the needs of healthcare consumers
Model leadership and professional practices in healthcare by building effective working relationships and facilitating ethical and strategic decision making across organizations
Synthesize educational theory, research, evaluation and experiential knowledge in nursing education settings

As a private, nonprofit university, SNHU has one mission – to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of earning your MSN online at SNHU include:

Accredited. The Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Nursing programs at Southern New Hampshire University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Affordability. Take advantage of some of the most affordable tuition rates in the nation.
Convenience. Attend class when it’s convenient for you – online education means 24/7 access.
Efficiency and flexibility. With five terms per year, you can complete your MSN degree in 20 months.
Expert instruction. Learn from instructors with relevant, real-world experience.
Minimal requirements. No GMAT or GRE required for admission.
Networking. Tap into our nationwide network of alumni for tips and career opportunities.
Student support. Count on the ongoing support of dedicated academic and career advisors specialized in your area of study.

Admission Requirements

Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 5 graduate terms. You can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials. To apply, simply contact an admission counselor, who can help you explore financial options. Your counselor can also walk you through the application process, which involves completing a graduate application ($40 fee) and providing undergraduate transcripts.

MSN students must have:

An active unencumbered RN license equivalent to NCLEX-RN examination. If a student holds active licenses in more than one state/jurisdiction all licenses must be unencumbered.
A minimum 3.0 GPA from an accredited BSN program Provisional acceptance may be extended to applicants with an undergraduate GPA between 2.67 and 2.99

SNHU nursing programs are not authorized in the state of Washington and we are not accepting students residing in Washington state at this time. Currently enrolled students who move into the state of Washington will not be able to continue in nursing courses until they move out of the state of Washington. Prospective students are encouraged to contact Admissions and current students should contact their Advisor for more information.

Career Outlook

Nursing education is a high-growth, in-demand field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for post-secondary nursing instructors is projected to increase 24% by 2026.* Much of the growth is due to a national shortage of nursing educators that's being compounded by changing educational requirements and a retiring workforce. With the BLS projecting over 3 million additional registered nurses needed by 2026 to meet the job growth and replacement needs due to a retiring workforce, nurse educators are needed to teach the next generation and continue the education of working RNs.*

Curriculum

The online MSN in Nurse Educator 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 in to or support the requirements of the Nurse Educator role. Upon graduation, you’ll be eligible to sit for the national Certified Nurse Educator exam (CNE) offered by the National League for Nursing.

Courses May Include
IHP 501 Global Health and Diversity This course provides students with broad foundation in the structure of healthcare delivery systems; the political, financial and social constructs affecting the healthcare systems; and how policy and social determinants of health influence access, equity and outcomes in health. Utilizing this foundation and authentic real world scenarios, students will evaluate the efficacy of existing policy and interventions as well as lead interdisciplinary teams in the design of culturally relevant strategies to prepare students to advance the health for a specific population.
IHP 525 Biostatistics This course provides students with a basic foundation of biostatistics and its role in public health and health sciences. The course covers the statistical principles that govern the analysis of data in public health and health sciences. Included in this course are exploratory data analysis, probability theory, confidence interval testing, hypotheses testing, power and sample size determination, and multivariable methods.
NUR 506 Evidence-Based Practice Graduate nursing students build upon previous learning of nursing research and evidence-based practice in order to become proficient in critiquing, generating, translating research evidence into practice, and disseminating results to advance nursing knowledge. Emphasis is placed on identifying a researchable practice question, analysis of research findings for evidence-based practice, and ethical issues in nursing research. Students demonstrate proficiency in selection of methodologies which may be used to generate research evidence for practice.
NUR 507 Transition to Graduate Nursing Practice This course is designed to assist the registered nurse with a BSN degree to transition to graduate study in order to maximize their performance and opportunities for success. The course will cover such topics as the standards for scholarly writing, using evidence, study habits, and managing a graduate-level workload. The role of the Master's-prepared nurse as a clinical scholar, clinical expert and as leader in evidence-based practice and transformation of health care will be emphasized. The course will introduce the final capstone course and the development of a professional portfolio.
NUR 515 Advanced Nursing Concepts In this course, students will analyze the history and evolution of nursing conceptual models and theories. Students examine the linkages between empirical, aesthetic, ethical, personal, and sociopolitical patterns of knowing with the conceptual models and paradigms of nursing. Students will explore the components of conceptual-theoretical-empirical structures for theory-generating, theory-testing research, and application to practice. Students who successfully complete the course (B- or better, course work & projects) will receive 45 indirect practice hours.
NUR 530 Systems Leadership and Collaborative Practice This course provides students with the strategies and tools necessary for leadership roles in systems management and inter-professional practice. Ethical leadership concepts, analysis of diverse organizational systems across the healthcare continuum, change agency and communication skills are emphasized in the processes of coalition building, negotiating conflict, workforce planning and inter-professional team relationship building to produce quality patient outcomes. The course will enhance student ability to think systematically and develop comprehensive understanding of core competencies required to initiate and sustain change in organizations.
NUR 601 Advanced Pathophysiology Students build upon prior knowledge of physiology and pathophysiological processes to acquire advanced knowledge of the relationships between normal physiology and specific system alterations produced by injury and disease to foster clinical reasoning skills. Focus is placed on etiology, pathogenesis, developmental, genetic, environmental influences, and clinical manifestations of major health problems across the lifespan.
NUR 602 Advanced Pharmacology Across the Life Span Content focuses on current concepts in the pharmacologic therapies of common health care problems seen in primary and acute care health care. Basic pathophysiology, clinical pharmacology, modes of therapy, and monitoring parametrics are explored. Diagnosis and management of health care problems and their treatment regimens are discussed. Case studies are utilized to clarify, reinforce, and correlate therapeutics with specific health care problems.
NUR 607 Advanced Health Assessment In this course, students will build on previous clinical experience, as well as undergraduate course work to master health assessment skills and communication strategies. Students conduct comprehensive, evidence-based health assessments encompassing environmental, genetic, multicultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic factors. Students also explore ways of adapting their communication style to meet the specific needs of their audience. The course also focuses on mastering the physical and mental health exam and formulating plans to ensure effective patient-centered care. Periodic hands on simulation assignments will be utilized formatively to practice knowledge and skill acquisition. *This course may incur additional costs for practice simulation software.
NUR 635 Teaching and Learning for Nurse Educator This course explores the process of teaching and learning in nursing education. Nurse educator roles and expectations are examined. Theories and philosophies of learning and different types of teaching strategies are evaluated for their application in a variety of nursing education settings and levels of education, and for their impact on diverse learners. Emphasis is placed on who the learner is and how they learn, who the faculty is and what the faculty role entails, and the use of appropriate evidence-based teaching strategies.
NUR 640 Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education This course examines basic principles of assessment and evaluation of learning in academic, online, and clinical settings. Students will explore content about assessment versus evaluation; formative and summative assessments; test development, item analysis, developing and using grading rubrics; standardized testing in nursing - ATI, HESI, NCLEX - and evaluation of clinical performance. The course also explores legal and ethical issues related to evaluation and grading. Students who successfully complete the course (B- or better, course work & projects) will receive 45 indirect practice hours.
NUR 645 Curriculum Design in Nursing Explore strategies for the development of curricula in nursing education. Learn how to synthesize evidence from the science of nursing education with nursing professional standards and institutional missions and philosophies in developing nursing curricula. Students gain a comprehensive view of the nurse educator's responsibility in curriculum development, evaluation, and revision.
NUR 685 Nurse Educator Capstone Observe and explore the Nurse Educator role under the guidance of an experienced nurse educator preceptor during a 120 hour teaching immersion experience. Synthesize prior learning by implementing a scholarly project developed during your program of study. Students gain practical experience with a focus on an authentic demonstration of the nurse educator role and the NLN Certified Nurse Educator exam competencies.
Total Credits: 39

Program Outcomes

Students enrolled in the MSN/Clinical Nurse Leader and MSN/Nurse Educator programs must comply with requirements of the healthcare organizations where their capstone clinical immersion experience will be completed at least two terms prior to the start of the clinical components of these programs. These requirements may include (but are not limited to) criminal background checks and verification of licensure, immunization records, health insurance, and liability insurance. Students may incur additional costs to meet the healthcare organization requirements.

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	$1,881	$627
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.

Additional Costs:
$40 Application Fee, $150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)

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

University Accreditation

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges as well as several other accrediting bodies. More...

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the Internet, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers.htm#tab-6 (viewed online December 22, 2017). Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the Internet, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm#tab-6 (viewed online December 14, 2017). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.