Nurse Educator, Post-Graduate Certificate

Program Student Learning Outcomes

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Upon completion of the Post-Graduate Nurse Educator Certificate curriculum, the graduate will be able to:

1. Analyze the role, competencies, and responsibilities of the nurse educator across a variety of academic and health care settings.
2. Design health care-centered curricula and programs based on assessment evidence and grounded in educational theory and evidence-based practices for the identified learner and health care content.
3. Develop learner-centered, innovative curricula using evidence-based practices for teaching and learning and technology to accommodate diverse learners.
4. Facilitate learning of diverse adult learners using various evidence-based practices specific to the learning environment.
5. Develop an evidence-based assessment/evaluation plan aligned with the learning objectives and educational outcomes to determine effectiveness of the education.
6. Formulate a continuous/quality improvement plan grounded in evaluation data with consideration of health care trends, societal needs, and creativity/innovation.
7. Integrate the role of interprofessional collaborative partners in the curriculum process to ensure optimal outcomes of diverse populations.
8. Create a professional development plan for life-long learning and continued socialization in the nurse educator role.

Admission Requirements

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Applicants desiring admission into the Post-Graduate Nurse Educator Certificate program at UNCW must seek admission to the UNCW Graduate School. Admission to the UNCW Graduate School requires:

1. a completed Graduate School application.
2. official transcripts of all college work.
3. Students who are taking graduate work elsewhere must be in good standing at that institution to be eligible to take graduate work at UNCW.

Additional UNCW School of Nursing admission requirements include:

1. Active, non-restricted licensure or eligibility for licensure as a professional registered nurse in North Carolina is required unless:
   1. The student’s active, non-restricted license is from a compact state that is the student’s primary state of residence (fixed permanent and principle legal residence) https://www.ncsbn.org/compacts.htm
   2. The student is distance-based, will not be practicing in North Carolina while enrolled in school and has an active, non-restricted licensure or eligibility for licensure in their primary state of residence.
       
2. Nursing degree from a nationally accredited program and a completed graduate degree in nursing or related field OR enrolled in BSN-DNP or BSN-PhD program.
   1. Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) or equivalent doctorate in nursing from a nationally accredited program (Option 1A)
   2. Baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program and a Master’s degree in a related field (Option 1B)
   3. Baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program and enrolled in a BSN-DNP or BSN-PhD nationally accredited program and completed half (~35 credits) of program (Option 2)
       
3. Strong academic record:
   1. Minimum of 3.0 GPA in graduate degree in nursing (Option 1A)
   2. Minimum of 3.0 GPA in baccalaureate degree in nursing (Option 1B)
   3. Minimum of 3.0 GPA on completed BSN-DNP or BSN-PhD program courses (Option 2) 
       
4. A personal statement: one-page double-spaced statement describing 1) career goals, 2) the decision to pursue the nurse educator certificate, and 3) teaching experiences. 
    
5. Additional items may be requested as needed. Items include but are not limited to letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and standardized test scores
    
6. Application and supplemental documents must be submitted by the published deadline.
    
7. Students enrolled in the MSN Nurse Educator program cannot transfer to the Post-Graduate Nurse Educator Certificate program. Students must apply to the Post-Graduate Nurse Educator Certificate program and withdrawal from the MSN Nurse Educator program.

Additional Information

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1. Application for admission to the Post-Graduate Nurse Educator Certificate program will occur for the Spring semester.
2. Applicants must have access to a computer capable of supporting electronic mail, a web browser, a word processing program and multi-media presentations. In addition, applicants will be expected to use these computer applications. Remediation instruction for navigating the on-line platform is available from the TAC center: https://uncw.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/Home/.

Certificate Requirements

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1. A total of twelve (12) graduate credit hours is required for the Post-Graduate Nurse Educator Certificate.
2. All courses required in the program are open to qualified graduate students and those who are approved to take courses as a non-degree seeking status.
3. A Post-Graduate Nurse Educator Certificate student must have a “B” or better in each required course. If a student earns a “C”, he/she must repeat the course and must earn a “B” or better to progress. A student will only be allowed to repeat one course, one time and must do so before they progress in the program. A student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 to graduate.
4. Students who are enrolled in a BSN-DNP or BSN-PhD program, must complete their degree before enrolling in NSG 594 – Practicum for the Nurse Educator Role.
5. Students must complete NSG 594 – Practicum for the Nurse Educator Role within two (2) years after completion of NSG 528 Evidence-based Assessment and Curriculum/Program Evaluation.

Program Purpose

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The purpose of the Post-Graduate Nurse Educator Certificate program is to educate baccalaureate-prepared registered nurses who have a graduate degree, or are currently enrolled in a graduate degree program, in nursing or a health-related area critical to nursing to function in the nurse educator role. Through fully online didactic courses and a practicum experience, the certificate program will teach nurses evidence-based curriculum design, delivery, and evaluation skills to educate diverse learners in institutions of higher learning and a variety of healthcare contexts.

The 12-credit curriculum can be completed in three or four semesters. Completion of the program will enable nurse educators in the state of North Carolina to meet the requirements for the North Carolina Board of Nursing and enable the graduates to meet the education requirement for specialty certification examinations.
 

Post-Graduate Nurse Educator Certificate Required Courses

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NSG 519 The Nurse Educator Role and Evidence-based Education Foundations course must be completed first and is a pre-requisite for all other courses.

NSG 527 Evidence-based Curriculum Design and Development Across Settings is a pre-/co-requisite to NSG 528 Evidence-based Assessment and Curriculum/Program Evaluation.

NSG 519 The Nurse Educator Role and Evidence-based Education Foundations, NSG 527 Evidence-based Curriculum Design and Development Across Settings, and NSG 528 Evidence-based Assessment and Curriculum/Program Evaluation are pre-requisites for NSG 594 Practicum for the Nurse Educator Role  

NSG 519 The Nurse Educator Role and Evidence-based Education Foundations Credit Hours: 3

NSG 527 Evidence-based Curriculum Design and Development Across Settings Credit Hours: 3

NSG 528 Evidence-based Assessment and Curriculum/Program Evaluation Credit Hours: 3

NSG 594 Practicum for the Nurse Educator Role Credit Hours: 3

NSG 519 The Nurse Educator Role and Evidence-based Education Foundations  

Course Description:  An introduction to the foundations of the nurse educator role in academic and healthcare settings, professional organization competencies, and the curriculum/program design process. The course introduces teaching/learning theories and adult learning principles, and the impact of evidence-based practice, health trends, societal needs, diversity of adult learners, policies and procedures (program/agency), and ethical/legal standards on the curriculum/program design process. Students will assess and prioritize learning needs, identify an audience, and select an appropriate learning theory. The importance of creativity and innovation in education are also examined.

Credit Hours:  3

Corequisite courses: None

Prerequisite courses: None

Course repeatability: Course may not be repeated.

 

NSG 527 Evidence-based Curriculum Design and Development Across Settings 

Course Description:  This course provides essential elements which define and operationalize curriculum/program design and development across academic and healthcare settings. The student will explore relevant teaching and learning theories and evidence-based practices for effective teaching from the perspectives of education and nursing as a foundation for designing curricula/programs. They will select relevant teaching and learning theories, develop relevant learning objectives, and plan evidence-based content, instructional strategies, instructional resources, and facilitation techniques for diverse learners, settings, and delivery formats. Students will analyze curriculum/program design for alignment and effectiveness for the learning need, learners, and education setting.   

Credit Hours:  3

Corequisite courses:  None

Prerequisite courses: NSG 519

Course repeatability: Course may not be repeated.

 

NSG 528 Evidence-based Assessment and Curriculum/Program Evaluation  

Course Description:  This course provides the key elements of assessment construction and evaluation of both student learning and program effectiveness. The student will explore relevant teaching, learning, assessment, and evaluation models from the perspectives of education and nursing across academic and healthcare settings. The student will practice planning, constructing, and analyzing evidence-based assessments to evaluate the aligned objectives. Students will explore formative and summative evaluations and the use of outcome-based data to plan for continuous quality improvement of teaching and programs.  

Credit Hours:  3

Corequisite courses: NSG 527

Prerequisite courses: NSG 519 and NSG 527

Course repeatability: Course may not be repeated.

 

NSG 594 Practicum for the Nurse Educator Role  

Course Description:  This course is a faculty-guided nursing education practicum for application and synthesis of the nurse educator role within a student-selected academic or health care setting. Students will assess learning needs, and design, develop, deliver, and evaluate education. Students are expected to collaborate with an experienced nurse educator mentor to seek opportunities and participate in the curriculum process. Students will participate in continuous/quality improvement and explore professional development opportunities for continued growth in the nurse educator role. The practicum hours will be completed under the supervision of a selected nurse educator mentor. 

Credit Hours:  3

Corequisite courses: None

Prerequisite courses: NSG 519, NSG 527, and NSG 528

Additional Restrictions/ Requirements: UNCW approved practicum site and preceptor; submission of required health and background requirements; must be taken within 2 years after the completion of NSG 528; BSN-DNP and BSN-PhD students must complete their degree before enrolling in NSG 594.
Course repeatability: Course may not be repeated.