Why Earn an Online Master of Science Degree in Nursing - Nurse Educator?
If you are currently employed in a healthcare setting, or you are looking to go straight into graduate school after obtaining your nursing bachelor's degree, an online Master of Science degree in Nursing (MSN) with a concentration as a Nurse Educator may be for you. Completing an MSN nurse educator degree program can increase your job opportunities and salary. These programs teach you to become a nursing educational leader and prepare you to teach in the college and university setting and healthcare industries, such as hospitals. Be aware that some Nurse Educator MSN programs require you to already have a current unrestricted nursing license.
Career Possibilities
Occupational Outlook and Salary Information
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), www.bls.gov, overall employment of nurses (which includes nurse educators) is projected to grow much faster than the average occupation through the year 2016. Besides finding employment in colleges and universities, nurse educator jobs are found in all healthcare industries from hospitals to offices of physicians. Salary.com states that median annual earnings for nurse educators were $70,795 as of April 2008.
Degree Specifics
Coursework Requirements
The course requirements for an MSN -- Nursing Educator degree program work to enhance the skills already obtained in a BSN program. The following list represents typical MSN coursework requirements:
- Advanced Pathophysiology and Physical Assessment
- Teaching and Learning Theory for Nurse Educators
- Nursing Education Curriculum Design
- Issues and Trends in Nursing Education
- Ethical Foundations in Nursing
- Learning and Teaching in the College and Clinical Setting
- Public Policy and Healthcare
- A Theoretical Perspective on Nursing
- Nursing Education Evaluation and Measurement
- Nursing Education Instructional Technology
Skills You Will Learn
Nursing Educator MSN degree programs help develop important skills which differ from typical nursing programs in which the student is preparing to take on a managerial nurse or a practicing nurse role. The following list represents typical skills, which graduates of an online Master of Science in Nursing - Nurse Educator may acquire:
- Designs, implements and evaluates a teaching program's effectiveness
- Improves quality of instruction and nursing as a whole through scholarly research
- Incorporates legal and ethical healthcare concerns into classroom and clinical education
