The United States is currently facing a shortage of nurses. According to American Nurses Association, the U.S. will have a higher demand for registered nurses than any other job in 2022 and 2018. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data for 2018, there are 1.1 million more nurses needed to keep the system afloat.
Many factors are responsible for the shortage, including:
- Retirees are retiring more from the aging nurses workforce
- A growing population is placing increased pressure on the health system.
- Potential nurses educators are not available
The next generation of nurses must be prepared by nurse educators in order to get into the workforce. This position is not only responsible for the education of new nurses but also provides an opportunity to improve the quality and patient outcomes.
People often wonder what nurse education is and how they can become nurse educators. A Master of Science (MSN), in Nursing, can prepare students for this career.
What is Nursing Education?
The postsecondary education in nursing includes bachelor’s, master’s, and specialized programs for practicing nurses. But, nursing education does not only include technical skills and knowledge in the field of health care. Nursing education also emphasizes the attitudes and values that nurses should have to help improve the outcomes of patients and facilities.
This is a major responsibility. Nurse educators need to be up-to-date on the latest regulations and trends in health care delivery. Aspiring nurse instructors should have extensive knowledge and experience in patient care as well as an intimate understanding of how the health system works.
Future nurse educators need an MSN to become competent in leadership and knowledge. Nurse educators who have achieved a teaching position are likely to seek continuing education certificates in order to keep up-to-date on their respective fields.
Norwich University prepares students for roles in nurse education
Norwich University offers an online Master of Science in Nurse for passionate nurses who want to improve the education of their students and nursing education. The curriculum includes the skills and knowledge that are essential for many positions in nursing education.
The program includes a Nursing Education concentration that focuses on enhancing job-ready skills. This program teaches students how to be effective nurse educators and helps them improve their clinical knowledge. Eight courses make up the Nursing Education Concentration.
- Pathology at an advanced level
- Sophisticated Pharmacology
- Curriculum Design for Nursing
- Advanced Physical Assessment
- Innovative Teaching and Learning
- Evaluation and Assessment Strategies
- Advanced Nursing Practice
- Implementing and educating the nurse educator role
Pathology at an advanced level
Individuals’ physiology can be disrupted by diseases and syndromes. These disruptions are studied in pathophysiology. This information is vital for developing effective health promotion strategies and disease prevention strategies. Advanced Pathophysiology gives nurses the ability to understand how common health conditions are caused by genetic, stress-related, and environmental factors.
The study of medications and their effects on the body at a higher level.
Pharmacology studies drugs and the effects they have on the body. To ensure patients get the right medication, in the right dosage and at the right time, it is important to have a solid understanding of pharmacology. Advanced Pharmacology provides nurses with a deep understanding of pharmacology as well as pharmacotherapeutics.
Nursing Curriculum Design
An educator and institution must work together to create a quality nursing curriculum. They need to establish goals and have a vision for how they will achieve them. Curriculum Design in Nursing deepens nurses’
Through the analysis of systematic program evaluations and other outcome standards, you can understand the concrete and theoretical elements of building a curriculum.
Advanced Physical Assessment
Advanced health assessments require the ability to evaluate a patient’s history and perform a physical examination. Cross-referencing is also required, such as the patient’s nutrition profile. Advanced Physical Assessment allows nurses to improve their critical analysis skills as well as their ability to use diagnostic reasoning to conduct accurate health assessments. This course also discusses how the assessment can be used to help create proactive strategies to prevent and promote health.
Innovative Teaching and Learning
Nursing educators must understand the learning process of adults and create an environment that supports them in developing the skills necessary to handle the demands of modern nursing. Innovations in Teaching and Learning explores the nature of nursing education, the fundamental principles and application of critical thinking skills in various care delivery contexts, and what they are.
Evaluation and Assessment Strategies
The best nurse education curriculums are flexible enough to be able to assess effectiveness and adapt to changing needs. Assessment and Evaluation Strategies provides students with strategies for evaluating performance in different scenarios and how they can integrate educational program improvements to meet accreditation agency and professional standards.
Advanced Nursing Practice
As a nurse educator, you must be able to apply the concepts and theories learned in class in a controlled setting. Advanced Nursing Practicum gives nurses 60 hours of mentored nursing work that allows them to incorporate learned concepts into applied nursing processes.
Implementing the role of nurse educator
Potential nurse educators must learn how to communicate nursing concepts and theories with students in an engaging way. The mentored 60 hours of the Nurse Education Role provides guidance to students on how to transfer previous learning into teaching strategies in both the classroom and clinical setting.
What is the role of nurse educators?
Students who have completed the MSN in Nursing Education can choose from a number of different career paths. While nurse educators teach nurses how to care for patients, there are many career options that require a background as a nurse educator. If you are curious about what nursing education is and how can you become a nurse educator, here are some answers. These are some of the career options.
Assistant Professor in Nursing
These professors are available at community colleges and universities to provide instruction in classrooms for students who are interested in nursing. They are responsible for teaching lectures, creating curricula and assigning homework. They are also primary advisors to nursing students.
A nursing professor’s role includes helping students to develop relationships and giving them information about their future careers. Mentors are nurses who help students become competent nurses.
Clinical educator
They work in hospitals and clinics. They teach in both classrooms and in the laboratories. Clinical educators are similar to nurses professors in that they give lectures and help to write curricula. They also administer and grade exams and consult with students.
CPR, computer skills, and patient care classes for doctors, staff, and patients are some of the many courses offered by clinical educators. A clinical educator may also be responsible for writing policies that apply to different units within a clinic.
Nursing Adviser
Nursing consultants ensure that healthcare facilities offer the best patient care. Nurse consultants often work in particular departments, such a pediatrics, women’s, or other areas.
s health, oncology, or geriatrics. They review the treatment plans and make recommendations for improvement. For the most effective improvement suggestions, nurse consultants will often direct observe patients or nurses.
Essential Skills for Nurse Educators
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nurses educators should have strong business skills. Nurse educators must be seen as confident, professional leaders by students. Nurse educators can also benefit from strong communication skills to build relationships within the classroom.
According to WHO, nurses educators must have excellent technical and clinical skills. They should also be able to draw on the best evidence and practices for teaching. Nurse educators need to keep up-to-date with the latest information in order to teach students.
Learn how to advance in nursing education
Norwich University offers relevant programs that are applicable and will prepare students for a positive impact on their communities and work.
Find out more about the Norwich University Online Master of Science in Nursing Program. It will teach you how to lead and provide clinical knowledge that will help you educate the next generation of nurses.
