By 2020, the demand for RNs is anticipated to be 29% greater than the available supply.* The need for nurse educators to help meet this growing demand has never been greater. Help shape the future of healthcare by educating and mentoring nurses and preparing them to make an even greater impact in the lives of their patients.
Play a pivotal role in strengthening the nursing workforce, serving as a role model and providing the leadership needed to implement evidence-based practice.
Learn to design, implement, evaluate, and revise educational programs for nurses. Fieldwork experience in NURS 6351 provides you with an opportunity to apply learning in a real-world environment. Our team of practicum coordinators is available to help at every step of your fieldwork journey.
For nurses who already hold a master’s degree, this is the right time to advance your career by adding depth to your portfolio of skills. Our program can help you prepare for nurse educator roles in a wide range of academic and practice settings. Gain important knowledge needed to develop, plan, implement, and evaluate educational programs for nursing students and other healthcare professionals.
This sequence represents the minimum credits to completion. Credits to completion will vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate, call an enrollment specialist at 1-866-492-5336.
| Course Code | Course | Credits | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Code | NURS 6002/6003 | Course | Transition to Graduate Study for Nursing | Credits | (3 cr.) |
| Course Code | NURS 6370 | Course | Foundational Skills for Nurse Educators in Academic and Healthcare Environments | Credits | (5 cr.) |
| Course Code | NURS 6321 | Course | Curriculum Development, Assessment, and Evaluation | Credits | (5 cr.) |
| Course Code | NURS 6331 | Course | Teaching Learning Strategies: Integrating Technology Into Nursing Education | Credits | (5 cr.) |
| Course Code | NURS 6351 | Course | Role of the Nurse Educator | Credits | (5 cr.) |
In this course students are introduced to Walden University and online learning. Students explore strategies for the successful participation in an online curriculum. Students also will receive a foundation for academic and professional success as scholar-practitioners and social change agents. Course assignments introduce students to resources that support success, development of graduate-level writing skills and use of APA Style, academic integrity, and the creation of a professional development plan based on each student’s chosen specialization.
In this course, students develop basic skills that are used by Nursing Professional Development Practitioners and Academic Nurse Educators in practice and academic environments, respectively. Foundational theories of learning are covered as they are applied to the Nursing Professional Development Practitioner and Academic Nurse Educator roles. An overview of the educational design process is examined. Standards and competencies for Nursing Professional Development Practitioners, Academic Nurse Educators, and Academic Clinical Nurse Educators are explored as well as concepts of organizational alignment and leadership.
The educational environment in higher education and health care settings is influenced by social, economic, regulatory, and technological transformations. Students in this course learn the theoretical foundations that drive curriculum development, assessment, and evaluation. They also focus on curriculum components, which include societal, professional, and educational trends that affect nursing education curricula.
In this course, students explore how to plan instruction on a nursing topic, creating and adapting meaningful lessons and assessment/evaluation strategies for multiple learning environments and learner characteristics. Considering the diverse learning needs and ethical considerations of different learner groups (e.g., nursing students, staff, and patients/caregivers), students examine how to effectively integrate technology tools and develop lessons encompassing those needs. Students also explore evaluation strategies and outcome measurements related to their chosen topic and how technology can assist. A final project involves adapting a face-to-face lesson for a digital learning environment. Throughout the course, students apply innovative teaching approaches for effective nursing education.
Nursing education students in this course explore the roles of the nurse educator, including staff developers, patient educators, and academic educators. Through the Practicum Experience, students translate and apply theoretical principles from their clinical specialty and teaching practices in implementing the educator role. Students will develop an appreciation for the complexities of the role of the educator and the challenges inherent to that role.
*National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice, Second Report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Congress, November 2002, http://www.hrsa.gov/advisorycommittees/bhpradvisory/nacnep/Reports/secondreport.pdf.
Note on Field Experience and Relocating
Students who are considering relocating are advised to contact their Student Success Advisor prior to any decision to relocate in order to determine how relocation may impact progress in their program. Advisors can provide information and guidance on how relocating may result in possible changes, restrictions, and/or additional requirements affecting field experience. Each Board of Nursing and Higher Education Authority governs the field experience rules and regulations in their respective states, and students may be unable to complete field experience in the state in which they plan to relocate. While Walden is committed to working collaboratively with students to secure field sites across the United States, it is imperative that students contact their Student Success Advisor immediately when considering relocating.
