A new graduate program at Missouri Western State University aims to address a growing shortage of qualified nursing faculty. The Department of Nursing and Allied Health will begin offering nurse educator graduate classes this fall. Students will be able to earn either a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Health Care Leadership with a Nurse Educator option or a Nurse Educator Graduate Certificate.
“There is a critical need for nurse educators across the country and particularly in our region,” said Dr. Carolyn Brose, MSN program director. “We have to be sure we are building a pipeline of nurses to meet the health care needs of the nation. It’s important that we work to sustain and build a workforce for nursing.”
Nearly 80,000 qualified candidates were turned away from baccalaureate and graduate programs in nursing in 2012 in part because of an insufficient number of qualified nursing faculty, according to a report from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
Dr. Brose said the average age of nursing faculty is increasing, with a significant percentage at or near retirement age. While the recent economic downturn kept many faculty members from retiring, a wave of retirements in the next few years is expected to accelerate the problem.
Nursing education is a specialty requiring unique knowledge and skills, including curriculum development, teaching strategies and evaluation strategies, Dr. Brose said. The master’s degree program includes 15 credit hours of foundational education courses to develop those skills, as well as 17 hours in core courses in health care leadership.
The graduate certificate includes the 15 credit hours of education courses. The certificate is for someone who already has a master’s in nursing and wants to teach in an academic environment, or someone with a bachelor’s in nursing who is engaged in supporting professional development, continuing education or in-service for their health care organization. A graduate certificate can seamlessly lead to the master’s degree if the student decides to continue.
Some of the courses are offered online, face-to-face or in a blended format. To accommodate those who are working full-time, all face-to-face classes will meet at 4:30 p.m. or later on one day per week.
The Master of Science in Nursing program at Missouri Western is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education for five years, the maximum length of time a new program can be accredited.
For more information, contact the Department of Nursing and Allied Health at 816-271-4415.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.