Master of Science in Nursing - Nurse Educator

The Nurse Educator (NE) track of the MSN program is designed to prepare nurses with the role competencies and knowledge they will need for positions in patient/staff education and academic nursing education programs. Nurse educator students learn to implement teaching/learning strategies that are learner-centered and to create environments conducive to developing higher level critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills in students and staff members.

Master’s level nursing education builds on baccalaureate education. Scholarly inquiry provides the foundation for preparation and provision of advanced nursing services to individuals or groups. Students apply knowledge of advanced nursing in a variety of educational and practicum sites. Master’s level nursing education fosters the ongoing responsibility of all professionals for continuing education and lifelong learning, as well as providing a foundation for doctoral study.

General Information

  1. The master’s degree program in nursing at Concordia University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
  2. All students must maintain an unencumbered RN license while in the program. As this is an online program, sometimes there are out of state requirements that apply to the clinical setting. If clinicals will take place outside the state of Wisconsin, it is the student's responsibility to make sure their program of study is eligible and meets all requirements within that state's Department of Licensing & Regulation.
  3. Students must earn a minimum of a B in all courses. Policies regarding progression and retention will be applied if the student earns less than a B in any course. 
  4. Students are expected to comply with the requirements as stated in the Student Responsibilities Agreement.
  5. Students must complete all degree requirements within a five-year period from the time of taking the first course in the program.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation the graduate student will be able to:

  1. Integrate liberal arts and sciences into advanced nursing roles and education.
  2. Analyze organizational and systems leadership principles to improve quality and patient safety in advanced nursing roles.
  3. Integrate evidence-based approaches into advanced nursing practice and education.
  4. Integrate healthcare technologies in the delivery, enhancement, and coordination of quality patient care.
  5. Analyze healthcare policies, finances, and regulations that impact healthcare systems.
  6. Integrate patient-centered care using interprofessional teams to improve health outcomes of individuals and populations.
  7. Integrate evidence-based, culturally appropriate knowledge in clinical prevention and population health at the individual and aggregate level.
  8. Assume accountability for advanced nursing practice and lifelong learning.
  9. Apply best evidence to assure competence in advanced nursing practice or nursing education with diverse populations.

Curriculum

The 40 credit NE option prepares students to teach in schools of nursing and health care settings.

Required Core Courses
BIO 650Genetics, Immunology, & Microbiology for Advanced Nursing3
NURS 530Healthcare Policy & Issues in Advanced Nursing3
NURS 534Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing Roles and Interprofessional Collaboration3
NURS 536Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan3
NURS 540Evidence Based Nursing Practice3
NURS 560Fundamentals of Health Care Informatics3
BIO 542Pharmacotherapeutics3
NURS 638Advanced Health Assessment3
NURS 692Global Perspectives/Primary Care3
or MBA 685 Special Topics in Health Care
or MBA 537 Managerial Communication
or MBA 538 Public Speaking: Professional Reports & Presentations
Specialization Courses for NE track
NURS 677Evaluation and Testing in Nursing Education3
NURS 771NE I: Role Transition for the Nurse Educator3
NURS 772NE II: Instructional Design in Nursing Education - Didactic Teaching3
NURS 774NE III: Instructional Design In Nursing Education - Clinical Teaching3
NURS 775Nurse Educator Capstone1
Total Hours40

Entrance Requirements for the Graduate School of Nursing in Addition to Graduate School Requirements

  • BSN degree from an accredited nursing school
  • Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
  • Science GPA is evaluated as part of the admission process
  • Current unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse in the USA
  • Actively working in practice. Preference is given to nurses with a minimum of two years of nursing experience.
  • Current CPR certification
  • Ability to perform Technical Standards for Registered Nurses
  • Successful completion of:  Statistics course – three credits with a minimum grade of B or higher. Must be completed before registering for NURS 540

Application/Admission Process

Students must apply online through NursingCas. All students applying for admission must submit:

  • All official college transcripts leading to the bachelor's degree
  • A formal essay addressing the following topics:
    • Your rationale for choosing a career as a Nurse Educator
    • Your personal compatibility with the CUW mission
    • Your plans for academic success in the program, including time management, stress management, and professional communication
    • Address any previous academic issues
    • Upon completion of your degree, where do you envision yourself practicing and with what populations
  • Professional resume
  • Current unencumbered RN license
  • Three letters of reference: two must be professional and/or academic and one must be from an individual who has worked with the applicant in a professional capacity and has a minimum of a Master's degree.
  • Applicants who have completed graduate level classes and wish to have them evaluated must submit these transcripts and the transfer credit form.
  • GRE exams are not required.

The deadline for fall admission is July 1.

The admission committee will review applications and a formal letter/email of acceptance or denial will be sent to the student.

Transfer of Credit

The Graduate Nursing Program will accept up to 6 transfer credits of previous graduate level coursework into the MSN program based on the following criteria:

  1. Coursework must have been completed within five years prior to admission to the program (or be approved by the MSN faculty committee).
  2. Courses transferred must be comparable in scope and subject matter to courses offered in the MSN Program. The student will need to provide a course description and the course syllabus for any course requested for transfer. A transfer credit form must be completed and submitted to the Graduate Nursing Office for approval upon admission.
  3. All courses transferred in must be at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  4. All transfer credits must be certified by the Registrar and approved for the degree by the graduate nursing program director.
  5. Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapeutics will not be accepted as transfer credits.
  6. Transfer credits will not be applied to the cumulative grade point average the student earns while in Concordia's MSN program.