How to Get a Master's Degree in Nurse Education
As the health care sector faces a critical shortage of nurses, nurse educators are stepping in to train the next generation of RNs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the medical sector should add nearly 600,000 new nursing jobs through 2018; the U.S. Bureau of Health Professions puts the number at 800,000 by 2020. To keep pace with this demand, nursing schools are scrambling to hire expert nursing instructors. A 2007 study sponsored by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing discovered a shortage of nursing faculty at 71 percent of nursing schools.
A master's degree in nurse education qualifies you to teach future nurses and develop nurse education programs. The MSN is widely available via distance graduate education, making it possible to earn a master's degree online alongside a full-time nursing career.
The secret to getting a master's in nurse education is careful research and preparation. Start the program with a clear sense of your goals, and you'll be better able to seize the opportunities that arise throughout graduate school. WorldWideLearn.com's guide to the master's degree helps you build a foundation for a successful academic journey.
Guide to Master's Degrees in Nurse Education
The discipline of nurse education has evolved in recent decades, tracking rising standards in health care training. Today's nursing curriculum extends beyond hands-on clinical experience to incorporate theoretical perspectives and more extensive medical knowledge. This evolution in formal nursing education is challenging nurse educators to approach nursing as a scholarly discipline as well as an applied practice. Academic research and advanced curriculum development have become an important part of the nurse educator's role.
To learn more about nursing and nurse education, see WorldWideLearn.com's Guide to College Majors in Nursing.
Master's Degrees in Nursing
Aspiring nurse educators encounter an alphabet soup of master's degree options. The right degree for you depends on your career goals and your current status in the nursing profession.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
The standard master's degree is the MSN in nurse education. This professional qualification takes a holistic approach to professional training, honing core nursing competencies alongside education-specific expertise. MSN programs emphasize professional leadership in clinical contexts.
Master of Science (MS) or Master of Arts (MA) with a Major in Nurse Education
The MS and MA in nurse education approach the field as an academic discipline. Courses emphasize the theoretical foundations and academic pursuit of nurse education. Like traditional academic master's degrees, the MS program culminates in independent scholarly research while the capstone of your MA is a written master's thesis.
Master of Nursing (MN)
Accelerated or Combined Master's Programs
The booming demand for qualified nurses and nurse educators is attracting legions of career changers. Accelerated master's programs accommodate working professionals with the option to earn a master's degree online in less time. Combined master's programs, meanwhile, meet the needs of career changers with degrees in unrelated fields. Options for expediting your path to the master's degree include:
- Direct-entry MSN is designed for students with a bachelor's degree in another field and typically takes three years to complete.
- RN to MSN bridge degree offers an accelerated track to the MSN for nurses with an associate degree in nursing.
- Combined BS-MSN program combines both the bachelor's and master's degree in nursing into a five-year intensive program.
Joint Programs with MBA, MPH, or Master of Hospital Administration (MHA)
Finally, certain career trajectories may be best served by a joint master's degree combining nursing education with business administration (MBA), public health (MPH), or administration. These professional master's degrees lead to careers in nurse education program management, public health administration, or curriculum development.
Learn more about your master's degree options at WorldWideLearn.com's The Master's Degree Explained and Master's Degrees Online
Specializations in Nurse Education
Earning a master's in nurse education programs involves specialized study, either in the form of elective courses or independent scholarly work.
Educational Specializations
Specialized areas within nurse education typically focus on different elements of the educational system:
- Teaching strategies
- Student-centered learning
- Curriculum development
- Student assessment
- Program evaluation
- Nurse education theory
Joint Study Specializations
Other specializations focus on the intersection of nurse education with another discipline, such as:
- Public health or patient education
- Nurse education administration
- Staff professional development programs
Academic Specializations
Or you may choose to focus on a specific nursing practice area, such as:
- Acute care
- Cardiology
- Family health
- Oncology
- Pediatrics
- Mental health
The specialization options are infinite, and in most cases, determined by your own academic interests and the availability of faculty experts in your field.
Career Tracks for Nurse Educators
A master's in nurse education qualifies you to work as an instructor, program administrator, or researcher in various nursing education contexts. Find your niche in university degree programs, professional nursing schools, health care staff development programs, and community public health agencies. Aspiring university professors will need to complete a PhD in nurse education, also available online.
For help shaping your career goals, use the career planning and assessment tools in WorldWideLearn.com's Career Pathways guide.
Plan for a Master's in Nurse Education
Your career perspective and knowledge of nurse education master's degrees can serve you well as you plan your academic journey. The following steps take you through the process of researching graduate schools, submitting applications, and transforming yourself into a health care academic.
Step One: Find the Right Graduate Nurse Education Program
Once you've decided which master's degree is right for you, finding the right program becomes a straightforward matching exercise. Research programs for quality, program format, and availability of academic resources in your area of interest.
1. List Accredited Programs
Accreditation is the primary arbiter of quality in a graduate nursing education program. Only programs accredited by an independent regional or national agency merit your tuition dollar. Approved accreditors such as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), and regional agencies regularly review nursing education programs for adherence to basic quality standards. The value of your degree and your eligibility for financial aid depends on your school's accreditation status.
The U.S. Department of Education Web site posts a searchable database of approved accreditation agencies.
Resources
- WorldWideLearn.com offers a starting point for your research, with links to online nurse education degree programs.
The Sloan Consortium, which represents online institutions nationwide, publishes a selection of online master's degrees in nursing education.
- The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) maintains an up-to-date database of all MSN programs accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the premier accrediting authority for nursing schools.
- The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) also features a searchable database of accredited nursing master's degrees.
2. Choose Program Format: Campus or Online Master's Degree?
With a rising proportion of mid-career professionals transitioning into nursing, program format is becoming a top criterion in choosing a school. Few working adults can afford to put their nursing career on hold to train for a nurse education master's degree. As a result, the option to earn a master's degree online is steadily gaining traction.
- Online master's degrees offer convenience and flexible scheduling, thanks to asynchronous programs delivered via online digital media. Distance graduate education accommodates the applied practice component of the MSN in nurse education through local internships or clinical work, or by requiring temporary campus residencies.
- Campus programs remain a popular choice among aspiring academic researchers and professors, who rely on full-time campus program features such as teaching assistantships, library and lab access, and close collaboration with professors and peers.
Let your career goals and life circumstances determine which format is right for you, and focus your program research accordingly.
Resources
WorldWideLearn.com features Online Degree Programs and Campus Education guides to help you weigh your options and find a program that supports your chosen format. The Degrees by Location search tool directs you to local campus MSN and academic master's degree programs.
3. Compare Academic Programs
Take a close look at each master's degree program to identify those that align most closely with your professional goals. Factors to consider include:
- Curriculum and available specializations
- Faculty in your field
- Degree requirements (teaching practicum, research project, etc.)
- Academic or clinical teaching opportunities
- Research facilities
- Career support services
- Learning environment
Your career goals determine the relative importance of these factors. Academics, for example, need to work closely with a faculty mentor and to rely on research facilities to complete the degree. Professional educators, by contrast, value access to clinical practice and internship opportunities.
Resources
WorldWideLearn.com supports your program research by linking to individual master's degree information pages.
School Web sites feature links to useful information such as course descriptions and Web sites, reading lists, faculty CVs and publications, special professional development programs, and more.
Informational interviews give you an inside look into the program through the eyes of faculty, alumni, and current graduate students. Ask about research facilities, faculty and peer support, and campus activities. Alumni can give you a sense of the value of the degree as a professional credential. For best results, combine your interviews with an in-person campus visit, and tour facilities while you're there.
4. Evaluate Program Quality
Finally, identify your top schools by comparing quality and selectivity. Your goal is to find schools that fit your academic profile (your GPA, experience, test scores, etc.) and offer the best value.
Judge program quality based on:
- Reputation
- Selectivity
- Faculty credentials
- Job placement success
- Student demographics
Resources
Admissions Counselors offer the best source of program quality information. Ask admissions staff for data on admitted applicants, including average GPA and test scores, average years of professional experience, proportion of international students, etc. Also ask to see placement statistics, including employers and starting salaries.
Rankings such as U.S. News & World Report's Nursing Graduate Schools give you a general sense of a program's reputation. You can also ask experts in your field to name the best programs.
Step Two: Apply to Graduate Nurse Education Programs
Once you've targeted your top five or ten nurse education programs, it's time to convince these target schools that you're the right fit for the next graduate class.
1. Complete Prerequisites
Start by assessing your eligibility for graduate study. Since many nursing programs are geared for career changers, there is likely to be a master's degree for you regardless of your academic background.
Degree requirements:
- BSN (bachelor's degree in nursing), for MSN programs
- Any bachelor's degree, for Direct Entry MSN
- ADN (associate's degree in nursing), for RN to MSN
Some programs require additional prerequisite courses.
Other prerequisites:
- Standardized tests such as the GRE or MAT (Miller Analogy Test)
- Work experience (required by some master's programs)
For help meeting these prerequisites, see WorldWideLearn.com's Education Resources Guide. You'll find a test preparation guide, links to prerequisite courses, and online learning tools.
2. Submit Application Materials
Most nurse education master's degree programs require these documents in addition to the application form:
- Academic transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Test scores
- Personal essay or statement of research interests
- Copy of current RN license
- Criminal background check (for some programs)
- Resume (for some programs)
In addition, expect to pay an application fee and submit a separate application for financial aid.
3. Finance Your Master's Degree in Nursing
Most nursing students rely on some form of financial aid to offset the cost of a graduate degree. Sources of college funding include the university, federal education agencies, employers such as hospitals and clinics, and private foundations. You can also reduce the cost of your education by opting to earn a master's degree online while you work full time.
Take these steps to tap into your funding resources:
- Fill out the university's financial aid application and meet with financial aid advisors.
- Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for most federal financial aid programs in a single pass, including Pell grants and Stafford loans.
- Ask your employer about educational incentives such as tuition grants and loan forgiveness programs.
- Apply for private scholarships offered by nonprofits, public health foundations, and private groups.
- Finally, consider a low-interest student loan.
For more information, see WorldWideLearn.com's resource section on graduate education funding.
Step Three: Become a Nurse Educator
Applying to graduate school is the first step toward becoming a nursing scholar. Take the next step by building relationships within the academic and professional community. The following networking resources are available to you throughout your educational journey:
Professional Associations
- Professional Nurse Educators Group (part of the ANA)
- National League for Nursing (NLN)
- National Nursing Staff Development Organization
Journals
- Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing
- Journal of Nursing Education
- Journal of Professional Nursing
- Nurse Educator
- Nursing Education Perspectives
Networking Events and Conferences
Universities and professional associations host networking events, lectures, and conferences to facilitate communication and community among nursing scholars.
Nurse education graduates should enter a rapidly growing profession in need of qualified instructors and education administrators. By planning your master's degree now, you're positioning yourself to take full advantage of the opportunities that come your way as you earn your master's in nurse education.
Sources
- Careers in Nursing: Nurse Educator, Nurse.com.
- Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs, U.S. Department of Education.
- Dracup, Kathleen, D.N.Sc., RN. "Master's Nursing Programs," American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
- Journal of Nursing Education.
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Nurse Educator specialization, Capella University.
- Master of Science in Nursing--Nursing Education Concentration, The University of North Carolina Online.
- Master's Nursing Education Overview, Villanova University.
- MSN in Nursing, Education specialization, Walden University.
- Nursing Education Master's Degree, Gonzaga University.
- "Nursing Faculty Shortage," American Association of Colleges of Nursing (Sep 2006).
- Programs in Healthcare and Nutrition, The Sloan Consortium.
- Rankings: Nursing Graduate Schools, U.S. News & World Report (2009).
- "Registered Nurses," Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2010).
Collapse 
