MSN: Nursing Education Emphasis Online

Overview

Prepare To Teach the Next Generation of Nurses

There is a critical shortage of nurse educators in the U.S., which is contributing to the ongoing shortage of nursing professionals.^{(See disclaimer 1)} According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), nursing schools in the U.S. were forced to reject more than 90,000 qualified nursing school applicants in 2021 due in large part to insufficient nursing faculty.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

As a nurse educator, you could lead the way in delivering quality, effective nursing instruction to the generations of new nurses to come — helping to address the ongoing shortage of qualified professionals in the U.S.

Master of Science in Nursing with an Emphasis in Nursing Education

Offered By

College of Nursing and Health Care Professions

Class Settings

Online

Tuition Rate

Online: $600 per credit [More Info]

Cost of Attendance

Course Information

Credits: 36

Online: 8 weeks

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Transfer Credits

Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of the total program requirements in transfer (whichever is less)

Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission.

Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.

Why GCU

Earn Your MSN Degree: Nursing Education Emphasis at GCU

The Master of Science in Nursing with an Emphasis in Nursing Education at Grand Canyon University is designed to prepare registered nurses (RNs) to address the ever-changing and expanding educational needs of the nursing profession. This MSN: Nursing Education emphasis is designed for BSN-prepared RNs interested in pursuing a career in nursing education.

This nursing education emphasis at GCU can give you the opportunity to choose the focus of your practicum experience and provides direct clinical hours aimed at developing advanced skills in assessment. This degree also follows the National League for Nursing (NLN) competencies.

As a private Christian university, GCU integrates the Christian worldview throughout the curriculum. Work through faith-integrated courses as you prepare to inspire, motivate and lead the next generation of RNs and teach them how to provide evidence-based clinical care.

Coursework

Nursing Education Emphasis Course Topics

This nurse educator program includes clinical hours and a practicum capstone course, which can provide opportunities to strengthen critical thinking skills and put educational theories into practice in a supervised clinical care environment.

You can expect to explore advanced topics in areas such as:

Pathophysiology

Pharmacology

Health assessment

Curriculum design and development

Teaching methods

Methods of assessing educational needs

Program evaluation

Learner-centered education theories

Focus Areas in This Emphasis

Throughout this program, there are five main focuses you will examine.

These areas include:

Leadership, policy and advocacy

Systems, safety and quality

Health promotion and disease prevention

Analytic foundations for practice, ethics and professional role

Nursing education

Nursing Education Qualifications

This degree does not have special admission or program qualifications. However, it is expected that applicants are licensed RNs. The general admission requirements for all GCU graduate programs are housed in the University Policy Handbook and online through admission.

Helpful Resources

University Policy Handbook

Graduate Admission

Careers

Career Paths for Nurse Educators With an MSN

This MSN: Nursing Education emphasis program offers a comprehensive curriculum that aims to thoroughly prepare you to become a capable, confident and mission-driven nurse educator. Nurse educators typically work in academia, although nontraditional teaching environments are also possible.

Some of the likely settings in which a nurse educator may pursue employment include:^{(See disclaimer 3)}

Teaching hospital
Nursing school
Administrative department at a healthcare organization
Continuing nursing education programs
NCLEX® preparatory programs

Accreditation

Complete Your MSN at an Accredited University

At GCU, our educators prioritize the quality of their instruction and thoroughness of the curriculum so that our students can be well-positioned in their academics and career outcomes. We have been institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968.

The College of Nursing and Health Care Professions shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accreditor. For more information on the accreditation of nursing programs and other university approvals, please visit our University Accreditation and Regulations page.

FAQ

Master’s Degree: Nursing Education Emphasis FAQs

Read through the following frequently asked questions and answers to guide your decision-making process as you reflect upon your degree program choices and intended career outcome.

Is a nursing education course worth it?

According to a survey by the AACN, most nursing school respondents noted that nursing faculty shortages were a significant factor in turning away qualified nursing school applicants.^{(See disclaimer 1)} According to a separate survey by the AACN, the national nurse vacancy rate as of 2022 was 8.8%.^{(See disclaimer 1)} In order to educate sufficient numbers of future nurses, schools across the country need qualified nurse faculty members.

Additionally, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, postsecondary nursing instructors and teachers had a median annual salary of $80,780 in May 2023.^{(See disclaimer 4)} If you have a passion for advancing the nursing profession and the desire to inspire the next generation of RNs, then completing a nurse educator program could be well worth your time.

What are the goals of a nursing education emphasis?

Can you teach nursing with a master's degree?

Yes, you can teach nursing with a master’s degree. Of course, solely earning a master’s in nursing education will not guarantee you a teaching job. Many four-year institutions will have different requirements to become a full-time faculty member, but a Master of Science in Nursing degree is the minimum qualification required.^{(See disclaimer 3)} If you would like to further enhance your career qualifications, you might consider earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.

How long does it take to go from BSN to MSN?

What other types of master's degrees in nursing are there?

Courses

Program Curriculum

Credit Summary

Major36 credits

Degree Requirements36 credits

Core Courses

NUR-513A

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course examines nursing theory and the role of ethics for advanced registered nurses within the Christian worldview and through a leadership perspective focused on improving health care outcomes. Learners explore the moral/ethical responsibilities and legal and regulatory obligations of advanced registered nurses in health promotion and disease prevention. Learners also review evidence-based practice (EBP) literature and the research process with application to their program of study and learn to navigate scholarly EBP literature, resources, and guidelines.

NUR-514A

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course examines the role of leadership, organizational science, policy, and informatics in supporting safe, high-quality, cost-effective patient care within interprofessional, dynamic health care environments. Learners explore various organizational relationships within health care systems and prepare to participate in the design of cost-effective, innovative models of care delivery and practice change proposals. Professional leadership theories and how they shape the nurse leader in such things as collaboration, conflict resolution, decision-making, and negotiation are introduced. Learners discuss change management theories and evaluate the ethical, social, legal, economic, and political implications of practice change and health care informatics along with strategies for managing human, fiscal, and health care resources in a variety of organizational systems. Learners also examine the uses of patient-care, information systems, and communication technologies and discuss the design, implementation, and evaluation of electronic health record systems and clinical decision support systems. Prerequisite: NUR-513A.

NUR-550A

4 Total Credits

Course Description

In this course learners examine the process of scientific inquiry, knowledge generation, utilization, and dissemination of evidence into advanced nursing practice in order to propose quality-improvement initiatives that advance the delivery of safe, high-quality care for patient populations. Learners critically evaluate evidence, including scientific findings from the biopsychosocial fields, epidemiology, biostatistics, genetics, and genomics, and apply levels of evidence and theoretical frameworks to design culturally appropriate clinical prevention interventions and population-based care that reduces risks, prevents disease, and promotes health and well-being. Learners also consider strategies to evaluate health policy and advocacy issues, the state of health care delivery, patient-centered care, and ethical principles related to health beliefs, health promotion, and risk reduction for diverse populations. Learners apply these strategies to work towards recognizing gaps in nursing and health care knowledge, identifying potential solutions or innovations for those gaps, planning and implementing practice changes, and evaluating the outcomes in order to improve practice. Prerequisite: NUR-514A.

NUR-590A

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course provides an opportunity for learners to complete their evidence-based practice (EBP) project proposal that addresses a problem, issue, or concern in their specialty area of professional practice. Learners previously identified a problem amenable to a research-based intervention, searched the literature, and proposed a solution. Now learners explore implementation considerations and various evaluation methodologies, complete the project proposal by developing a plan to implement the solution into the intended practice area, and design an evaluation plan that assesses the EBP project proposal's intended outcome(s). Prerequisite: NUR-550A.

NUR-641EA

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course focuses on advanced physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacologic principles to guide the nursing education learner in interpreting changes in normal function that result in symptoms indicative of illness and the effects of selected pharmacologic substances on that process. Evidence-based research provides the basis for determining the safe and appropriate utilization of medications and herbal therapies on human function. Appropriate education for various prescribed pharmacologic agents is incorporated. Prerequisite: NUR-590A.

NUR-643EA

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course builds upon learners' previous health assessment knowledge, offering advanced health assessment content to provide the foundation for the advanced registered nursing role of nurse educator. This course emphasizes knowledge of health assessment, including physical, psychosocial, and spiritual health assessment; risk assessment; and functional assessment in diverse populations in the promotion of health and prevention of disease. Topics, such as effective communication and client teaching/counseling to elicit patients' interpretation of their health status and perceived barriers, are incorporated throughout the course to maintain a nursing focus on patient responses to illness or the threat of illness. This course utilizes technology to foster the learner's mastery of head-to-toe assessment skills and techniques, including effective communication and documentation of findings. Prerequisite: NUR-641EA.

NUR-646EA

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course prepares learners to deliver advanced nursing knowledge within practice, professional, and academic settings. Specific emphasis is placed on effective methods to facilitate learning and fostering critical thinking skills in diverse health care populations and settings. Learners synthesize advanced nursing knowledge of pathophysiology, pharmacology, and assessment within the integration of technology. Learners complete 50 direct patient care clinical hours in a specialty area to integrate advanced nursing knowledge and advanced assessment skills into practice. Practicum/field experience hours: 50. Prerequisite: NUR-643EA.

NUR-648EA

4 Total Credits

Course Description

In this course, learners contribute to the development of nursing curricula, focusing on different phases of the curriculum creation and improvement processes. Learners examine methods of curriculum design, assessment of learning outcomes, and best practices for curriculum development, including aligning curriculum to professional standards, writing learning objectives, creating formative and summative assessments, and using data to improve learning outcomes. Prerequisite: NUR-646EA.

NUR-665EA

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course culminates with two experiences for the learner: 50 hours of direct care clinical and 100 hours of an education practicum, both of which must be completed with an approved nurse preceptor in their respective settings of the learner's choice. These clinical and practicum experiences afford learners the opportunity to continue the synthesis of advanced clinical nursing knowledge and skills at the start of the course and then demonstrate educational competencies in their selected areas of interest (e.g., assessment of learning needs, program/curriculum planning, implementation, and assessment/evaluation) in either a traditional or nontraditional setting. This course offers opportunities for learners to begin integrating the role of the advanced nurse and the advanced educator based on the NLN competencies into their professional behaviors. Direct Care Clinical (50 hours) and Educational Practicum (100 hours) experiences totaling 150 hours. Practicum/field experience hours: 150. Prerequisite: NUR-648EA.

GCU cannot and will not promise job placement, a job, graduate school placement, transfer of GCU program credits to another institution, promotion, salary, or salary increase. Please see the Career Services Policy in the University Policy Handbook.
Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change

More Resources

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Financial

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Information

Admission

Apply for Your MSN at GCU

Prepare to educate future nurses by submitting an online application to GCU’s MSN program.

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American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2022, October). Nursing Faculty Shortage Fact Sheet. AACN. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
Clinical, practicum and immersion hours completed locally.
Gaines, K., MSN, RN, BA, CBC. (2023, Sept. 18). How to Become a Nurse Educator. Nurse.org. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Postsecondary Nursing Instructors and Teachers, as of May 2023, retrieved April 30, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as postsecondary instructors and teachers, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc., against a pool of candidates.

MSN: Nursing Education Emphasis

Prepare To Teach the Next Generation of Nurses

Earn Your MSN Degree: Nursing Education Emphasis at GCU

Take Classes for Your MSN Online