Nursing educators are responsible for mentoring, teaching and inspiring the next generation of nursing professionals to ensure they can meet the challenges of working in the modern healthcare system. To do this, nursing educators need a crucial set of skills outlined by the National League for Nursing (NLN) as the following core competencies:
- Facilitate learning
- Facilitate learner development and socialization
- Use assessment and evaluation strategies
- Participate in curriculum design and evaluation of program outcomes
- Function as a change agent and leader
- Pursue continuous quality improvement in the nurse educator role
- Engage in scholarship
- Function within the educational environment
An online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Nursing Education from Northeastern State University can equip students with the required knowledge and credentials to facilitate learning and plan curriculum. This online program’s coursework aligns with the NLN’s eight core competencies. For example, program courses include Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education, Curriculum Development, Facilitating Learning for Healthcare Professionals and Nurse Educator Role Development. This online degree program prepares students to become influential and effective nurse educators at the advanced practice level.
Why the Core Competencies Are Important for Successful Nurse Educators
Since nurse educators teach in both clinical and classroom settings, they operate under high standards set by the nursing field and nursing education sector. The best nurse educators invest in their students and prepare them to work in the world of nursing. Rather than working exclusively with patient care, nurse educators teach and mentor aspiring nurses in both classroom and clinical settings. They create a curriculum and find ways to engage students with teaching strategies grounded in evidence-based practices and educational theory. Balancing the duties of a nurse educator while keeping up with changes in teaching, medicine and technology is challenging but rewarding.
The NLN has established eight core competencies considered the gold standard for nurse educators to ensure robust training of aspiring nurses to meet the rising need in the field. The core competencies help guarantee the nursing profession’s effectiveness. To facilitate positive learning and teaching environments, the NLN developed the competencies to prepare aspiring nurses for their careers. In the past, many nurse educators began their careers as educators but with more clinical knowledge than training to become effective educators.
The academic nurse educator is an advanced and complex role entrusted to mentor, inspire and develop future nurses by following NLN’s core competencies. These standards provide a framework to assist nurse educators — especially novice nurse educators — to develop into an authority in their field.
About Northeastern State University’s Online MSN in Nursing Education
Northeastern State University’s online MSN in Nursing Education program prepares students to teach in practical nursing, diploma, baccalaureate and associate degree nursing programs and provides continuing nursing education (CNE) in clinical, academic and healthcare settings. In addition, the program’s core coursework will expand a student’s knowledge base in advanced research, evidence-based practice, cultural perspectives, current issues and professional nursing practice trends.
Learn more about Northeastern State University’s online MSN in Nursing Education program.
