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    Master's in Nursing Education Online Degree Program

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    MSN in Nursing Education Online Degree Overview

    The critical shortage of nurses in healthcare today is due in part to the shortage of qualified nurse educators to teach tomorrow’s nurses.

    If you are a Registered Nurse and interested in a career in teaching, consider earning your MSN in nursing education through an online master program.

    Nurse Educators are employed in many educational settings including colleges, universities, hospital-based nursing schools and other post-secondary institutions. Graduate nursing programs and nursing programs offer pathways to advance your career in nursing education. As a nurse faculty member, you will impart valuable knowledge and skills to future nurses - based on your own education and experience in clinical and academic settings and collegiate nursing education.

    This program format caters to working nurses and allows them to balance educational goals with personal and professional responsibilities. Nursing education degree program and nursing education programs provide the necessary skills and experiences for aspiring nurse educators.

    The MSN nurse educator program and MSN nursing education program are designed to prepare you for a rewarding career in nursing education. Nursing education courses, including advanced health assessment, are integral parts of the curriculum.

    Nursing salaries for nurse educators vary widely in the U.S. and are based upon many factors including geography, job description, specialty and experience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary in May 2022 for Postsecondary Nursing Instructors and Teachers in the United States was $78,580 per year, with a much faster than average projected job growth of 8 percent between 2022 and 2032. The National League for Nursing (NLN) sets standards for nurse educators, ensuring they are well-prepared to teach nursing students.

    Want to learn more? Watch our most recent Virtual Information Session.

    Nursing Education Program Perks

    • Online, CCNE-accredited MSN program can be completed in 24 months
    • No GRE required
    • Designed for busy registered nurses (RNs) with passion for the nursing, learning and teaching
    • Provides skills and knowledge needed to work as a nurse educator through the MSN in nursing education program
    • Students gain teaching experience through practicum and projects
    • Courses 5-10 weeks long, with 1 week off before next course
    • Access courses at any time of the day and from anywhere
    • Upon completion of the program, graduates may be eligible for the NLN Certified Nurse Educator Exam
    CCNE

    Accreditation & Licensure

    The baccalaureate degree program in nursing/master's degree program in nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Nebraska Methodist College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, (202) 887-6791.

    Graduates must pass programatic certification exam based on practice specialty

    Admissions Information

    Criteria

    Applicants are evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

    • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from state-approved program of nursing or program accredited by NLN CNEA, CCNE or ACEN
    • BSN program GPA of 3.0
    • GPA below 3.0 will be considered on an individual basis
    • Current unencumbered licensure as a Registered Nurse
    • Non- Nebraska Residents meet State Authorization
    • No GRE required for admission

    Requirements

    To be considered for admission the following items must be submitted to the Admissions Office:

    • Free NMC online nursing application
    • Current unencumbered licensure as a Registered Nurse
    • Resume
    • Official college transcripts from graduating institutions
    • Professional consultation with an admissions representative

    Deadlines

    Prospective students may apply anytime and are accepted from deadlines throughout the year. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt, and students will be notified of their application status by postal mail, email or phone.

    Starting Term - Spring 2025

    Standard Deadline - 12/6/2025

    Starting Term - Fall 2025

    Priority Deadline - 2/1/2025

    Standard Deadline - 7/11/2025

    Costs & Financial Aid

    NMC is committed to helping you find every avenue to finance your education. View the Tuition by Program & Degree page for a comprehensive list of all fees.

    Cost Per Credit Hour

    $588

    Cost of Attendance

    Nurse Faculty Loan Program

    Aimed at increasing the number of qualified nurse faculty, NFLP loans cover the cost of tuition, fees and books for part-time or full-time enrollment.

    Following completion of the advanced education program, up to 85% of the loan may be cancelled if the borrower works as a full-time nurse faculty for a prescribed period of time.

    NMC Scholarships

    NMC Scholarships consist of funds generously provided by the Methodist Hospital Foundation to assist our students.

    Student Grants or Loans

    Visit our Financial Aid page to learn more about what's available and how to apply.

    Employee Education Benefits

    Employees of Methodist Health System can find details on the MHS Intranet.

    Calculate Your Net Price

    Nebraska Methodist College Net Price Calculator.

    Curriculum

    All MSN students are required to complete specific coursework. This list should only be used as a curriculum guide. Course listings and required curriculum are subject to change.

    A student must earn a minimum of 36 total credit hours to be eligible for the Master of Science in Nursing degree. All course requirements as outlined below must be met.

    Required

    NRS 500
    MSN STUDENT ORIENTATION
    DETAILS
    This course provides an orientation for new MSN students to the Masters of Science in Nursing program at Nebraska Methodist College. Emphasis is placed on program expectations and student resources essential for success in the MSN program. Students will learn how to navigate our virtual learning platforms, access research materials, and engage with faculty and peers.

    Prerequisites: Admission to MSN program

    NRS 502
    LEADERSHIP IN AN ADVANCED NURSING SPECIALTY ROLE
    DETAILS

    In this course, students explore the transition of the nurse into the advanced nursing specialty role. This course will promote an understanding of how a nurse in an advanced nursing specialty role acclimates to new leadership responsibilities by influencing change, responding to chaos/crisis and managing conflict. The significance of team- building and interdisciplinary collaboration will be explored. Students begin to develop their professional portfolio based on program outcomes. 

    NRS 504
    ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY
    DETAILS

    In this course, students synthesize advanced concepts of pathophysiology, health assessment and pharmacology across the lifespan for the advanced nursing specialty role to complete an accurate health database, including history and holistic assessment, across the lifespan. Physiologic changes, clinical manifestations, and drug therapy are integrated to facilitate critical analysis to support clinical decision-making. Virtual clinical experiences allow for practical application of course theory. 

    Prerequisites: NRS 502, or by permission

    NRS 506
    INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
    DETAILS

    In this course, students examine nursing roles in informatics and information technology within the healthcare system. The history, theoretical models, and best practices of nursing informatics are explored. Students investigate ethical, legal, and regulatory standards and workplace policies. Exploration of digital health literacy will be performed. Students examine the consequences of using information and communication technology on the quality of care, efficiency of communications, and connections between the healthcare team, patients, and consumers.

    Prerequisites: To be taken first semester or by permission

    NRS 507
    POPULATION HEALTH IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY
    DETAILS

    In this course, students explore concepts of population health and social determinants of health. Students will investigate issues that contribute to understanding population health and health inequities. Emphasis is placed upon the analysis of a population health assessment in informing strategies to advance health outcomes. Students will explore population-focused interventions to address health risks and disparities across selected health care delivery settings. Critical analysis of population health concepts and implementation of management strategies in a community-based practice setting will be examined. The practicum experience allows for practical application of course theory. 

    Prerequisites: NRS 502 or by permission

    NRS 510
    Health Policy & Systems-based Practice
    DETAILS
    In this course, students investigate the impact of local, regional, national, and global systems and regulations on the safety and quality of care for individuals and diverse populations. The relationship between healthcare economics, health policy, and the complex health system will be explored. Students will examine legislation on current health policies and factors shaping policy development. Students will explore factors of cost containment, resource allocation, risk benefit analysis, quality, advocacy, interprofessional collaboration, and developing and implementing systems solutions in systems-based thinking.

    Prerequisites: NRS 509, NRS 513, NRS 517, or by permission

    NRS 513
    MEASUREMENT & STATISTICAL CONCEPTS FOR DATA INTERPRETATION
    DETAILS
    In this course, students apply nursing knowledge with theory and statistical methods to broaden understanding of nursing concepts and nursing outcomes. Measurement principles, descriptive statistics and relationships between variables are explored to better comprehend nursing and nursing phenomena. Using the framework of disparity and risk in a specific population, students apply content on variable association. Reports using statistics to compare groups and measure patient improvement over time are analyzed for implications for patient populations.

    Prerequisites: NRS 502 or by permission

    NRS 517
    CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF KNOWLEDGE FOR PRACTICE
    DETAILS
    The purpose of this course is the understanding of research processes and interpretation of statistics to make accurate critical appraisals. Students apply the process of drawing conclusions, finding implications, and making recommendations based on an appraised study. Students learn to judge relative merits of studies in answering particular research questions. Questions of the fit of evidence or theory within an identified agency or institutional setting are explored.

    Prerequisites: NRS 509 & NRS 513, or by permission

    NRS 542
    TEACHING-LEARNING PRINCIPLES FOR NURSING EDUCATION
    DETAILS
    Teaching-learning principles and holistic adult education theories appropriate for college level students are examined. Learning theory that emphasizes andragogy and its related concepts such as transformational learning, reflective learning and self-directed learning is included. Motivational and personality characteristics for the broader social system are discussed and evaluated as are specific considerations with regard to ethnic, cultural, and other diversity topics.

    Prerequisites: NRS 502 or by permission

    NRS 544
    INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS
    DETAILS
    In this course, students integrate various educational strategies into the clinical, classroom, and online environments. The student will investigate the domains of learning and taxonomy verbiage within various learning environments. Students construct components of simulation activities into the education of nurses. Students will apply best practices in the writing, revising, and analyzing of nursing licensure exam questions and the accompanying statistical analysis.

    Prerequisites: NRS 509, NRS 513, NRS 516, or by permission

    NRS 548
    CURRICULUM/PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT & EVALUATION
    DETAILS
    This course concentrates on curriculum/program development for nursing education. The purposes, functions, design, and implementation of curriculum/program development are examined. Students will be expected to apply previous classroom/experiential learning and research to the exploration of various basic curricula/program designs.

    Prerequisites: All program course work except NRS 524, NRS 592, and NRS 594, or by permission

    NRS 549
    PRACTICUM IN NURSING EDUCATION
    DETAILS
    In this course, students will synthesize teaching and learning principles into the role of a nurse educator. Students select a nurse educator who will serve as a preceptor within the classroom and clinical environment. Collaborative opportunities within the practicum setting will be explored. Students will implement teaching-learning theories and strategies in an educational project. The precepted experience allows for practical application of the Nurse Educator role.

    Prerequisites: All program course work except NRS 592 and NRS 594, or by permission

    NRS 592
    CAPSTONE I
    DETAILS
    In this first course of the capstone sequence, students will synthesize concepts related to research, practice, education and leadership content as well as experiences learned throughout the master's programs of study. Groups of students will collaboratively begin a group-selected evidence-based project. Emphasis is placed on the process of identifying a nursing problem (PICO [T]), searching and critically appraising the literature with development of a summary matrix table.

    Prerequisites: Typically taken in the second-to-last semester, or by permission

    NRS 594
    CAPSTONE II
    DETAILS
    In this second course of the capstone sequence, students will synthesize concepts related to research, practice, education and leadership content and experiences learned throughout the master's program of study. Groups of students will collaboratively complete the group-selected evidence-based project begun in NRS 592. Emphasis will be on the process of completing an evidence-based manuscript suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal, a poster presentation suitable for delivery at a local, national or regional conference or a webinar presentation.

    Prerequisites: Typically taken in the last semester, or by permission

    Meet the Faculty

    Our nursing faculty are highly experienced and credentialed in their own fields, giving you constant real-world insight you can use. While any instructor can recite from a textbook, ours go a step further and draw from vast personal and professional experiences. Instructors here care as deeply about their students as they do the subject matter and it shows.

    Meet the Faculty

    Additional Information

    Program Outcomes

    Graduates of MSN program will be able to

    1. Integrate scholarly inquiry into nursing practice to improve outcomes in healthcare.
    2. Demonstrate attributes of a professional, transformative, and visionary nurse leader in an advanced specialty role.
    3. Embrace life-long learning to advance personal growth, the nursing profession, and health outcomes.
    4. Foster interprofessional collaboration through mutual respect, effective communication, problem solving, and conflict resolution.
    5. Address the impact of social, political, legal, and ethical influences on diverse populations, health policies, and nursing practice.
    6. Demonstrate competence in an advanced specialty role using knowledge, skills, and professional judgment to promote evidence-based nursing practice.
    7. Advocate for compassionate person-centered care in the planning, coordination, and evaluation of care for individuals, families, groups, and populations.
    8. Engage in emerging technologies and information systems to optimize the multifaceted healthcare environment and nursing practice.
    9. Navigate complex systems to improve cost-effectiveness, quality, and safety initiatives that support health care outcomes and systemic equality.

    Online Technology Requirements

    See the Online Technology Requirements

    Example Plans of Study

    Plan of Study - Fall

    Plan of Study - Spring

    MSN Blog Posts

    Professional Organizations

    Program Handbook