Offered 100% online, Quinnipiac’s new Master of Science (MSN) in Nursing Education and Post-Graduate Nursing Education Certificate programs are designed to meet the pressing need for expertly prepared nursing educators who will play a vital role in preparing the next generation of nursing professionals and supporting the continuing education of practicing nurses.

“Our new MSN and post-graduate certificate in nursing education were developed to address critical nursing workforce shortages. Increasing the number of master's and doctoral-prepared nurses will help alleviate faculty shortages within schools of nursing, which remain a significant barrier to expansion of enrollment and programs,” said Dean of the School of Nursing and Professor of Nursing Larry Slater.

Senior Associate Dean and Professor of Nursing Lisa Rebeschi said the new programs incorporate the School of Nursing’s strategic priorities to offer innovative programs that address the demands within healthcare. Both programs also align with professional competencies for nurse educators described by the National League for Nursing and the American Nurses Credentialing Center Nursing Professional Development standards.

“Our program provides learners with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed for educating students in nursing programs and providing ongoing education and professional development for practicing nurses,” Rebeschi said. “Graduates of these programs will be well-positioned to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and clinical practice.”

Associate Professor of Nursing, Concentration Director and Director of Graduate Online Nursing Programs Carolyn Bradley said the exciting new programs include practice-relevant and educator-specific courses. The mix of courses prepares graduates to educate in both the clinical practice and academic settings through roles as a professional development specialist or academic nurse educator.

“The curriculum is designed to advance in nursing practice and apply principles of teaching and learning through practicum opportunities," said Bradley. "Our graduates will be well prepared to provide education and promote practice excellence in a dynamic and changing healthcare environment." 

Quinnipiac’s new MSN in Nursing Education offers a 15-month full-time or 24-month part-time pathway to complete a 34-credit online curriculum. It includes an advanced nurse practice clinical experience requirement along with a practicum focusing on teaching and learning within an academic or practice setting for a total of 225 clinical hours. The practicum can be completed in Connecticut or in the student’s home state.

Quinnipiac’s new Post-Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education program involves 12 to 13 credits of role specialty courses taught online including: Educational Theory and Principles, Curriculum and Program Design, Teaching Methods in Academia and Practice and Evaluation Methods. For students without MSN level direct care hours, an additional one credit will be required in the Advanced Nursing Practice clinical course.

“The unique design of our program allows nurses to become leaders in evidence-based teaching and learning who will not only educate our next generation of nurses and advanced practice nurses but also implement lifelong learning that will help the nursing workforce succeed in today's healthcare environments,” Slater said.

In addition to offering two new nursing education programs, Quinnipiac’s online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Nursing Leadership has been newly revised. With its engaging curriculum, the 35-credit, two-year online course gives capable nurses the background and tools needed to step into leadership roles and elevate the standards of patient safety and care.

Bradley said Quinnipiac is uniquely prepared to help alleviate the nursing shortage by graduating nurse educators prepared to develop the next generation of nurses.

“Quinnipiac has a long history of excellence, graduating nurses since 1972. The bachelors, masters and doctoral programs in the School of Nursing are designed to meet the current needs of the profession and the workforce. Quinnipiac's unique strategic and community partnerships help to strengthen the pipeline of nurses and address the overall nursing shortage,” said Bradley.