Nurse Educator Degree Programs

A shortage of nursing faculty is a key reason U.S. nursing schools must turn away tens of thousands of qualified applicants each year, according to a 2011 report from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

But the need for nurses keeps growing. Government data projects more than 580,000 new RNs will be needed in the U.S. between 2008 and 2018. Nurse educator degree programs play a key role in training experienced nurses to pass on their skills and knowledge to the next generation of health care professionals.

Online nurse educator degree programs: What to expect

Students in nurse educator programs are already licensed nurses. Pre-requisites for these programs vary, but most nurse educator degree programs require applicants to hold a BSN or a master's degree in nursing. Instead of teaching clinical skills, courses for nurse educators focus on topics such as curriculum design, testing and evaluation, and classroom strategies. While courses are available online at many schools, most programs also require students to complete on-site projects at community health settings or gain experience teaching in a nursing program or clinic.

Careers in nurse education

Nurse educator degrees are available at the certificate, master's and doctoral levels. While a certificate in nurse education may be a valuable credential for clinical nurses, individuals who want to focus on teaching as a career generally need a master's or a doctoral degree in nursing.

Nurse educators can work in both nursing schools and health care facilities. Some nurse educators may specialize in a particular area of practice such as pediatrics, mental health or community health. Others may have areas of expertise related to the education process itself such as curriculum design or evaluation.

Job opportunities for nursing educators also include options for nurses to maintain dual roles as educators and direct patient care providers, allowing them to stay current with today's nursing practice while helping train tomorrow's nurses.

Earn Your Nurse Educator Degree Programs Online

Explore Nurse Educator Degree Programs
Explore accredited online Nurse Educator degree programs or post graduate Nursing Educator certificate programs and request additional information about requirements, tuition, financial aid, and start dates directly from nursing schools offering programs that match your interests:

University of Phoenix

Campus

As the largest private university in North America, University of Phoenix has more than 200 locations, and is available online in most countries around the world. Whether you're seeking a college degree at an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level, we can help you reach your academic goal—and sooner than you might think.

Programs:

• M.S. in Nursing/Health Care Education
• M.S. in Nursing/Master of Health Administration
• M.S. in Nursing

Campus Locations:

Online

Grand Canyon University

Campus

Earn your degree online with Grand Canyon University. We offer approximately 100 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs that can be completed 100% online. Degree programs are available in the fields of education, nursing and health sciences, business, fine arts and production, and liberal arts.

Programs:

• M.S. in Nursing: Nursing Education
• M.S. in Nursing: Nursing Education (Bridge)
• M.S. in Nursing: Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems

Campus Locations:

Phoenix

Roseman University

Online

The USN accelerated online program offers accelerated nursing education that allows you to earn a BSN in just 14 months. This new program blends the personal convenience of online course study with enriching clinical learning in Henderson, Nevada.

Programs:

• Accelerated BSN

Walden University

Online

Balance your personal and professional commitments while earning a respected Ph.D., master's degree, or bachelor's degree online at Walden University. Programs offered in management, education, psychology and health and human services.

Programs:

• Post-Masters Certificates in Nursing - Nursing Education
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) - General
• M.S. in Nursing (MSN) - BSN Track

University of St. Mary

Online

Give your career a boost with University of Saint Mary. We offer online degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels to help make your educational and professional goals a reality.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing

American InterContinental University Online

Campus

American InterContinental University Online's flexible curriculum allows you to study when and where it's most convenient. Earn your degree at an accelerated pace from an accredited school that is respected by employers.

Programs:

• Master's (M. Ed.) in Educational Assessment and Evaluation

Campus Locations:

Schaumburg

Northcentral University

Campus

At Northcentral University, we teach individuals, not just classes. Our unique, proven online educational experience is designed to help you achieve your goals using your own style of learning.

Programs:

• International Education - Doctor of Education
• Global Training and Development - Doctor of Education
• General Education - Master of Education

Campus Locations:

Prescott Valley

Chamberlain College of Nursing

Campus

Take the first step toward advancing your nursing career. Chamberlain College of Nursing offers a highly respected degree coupled with clinical learning experience in your local area.

Programs:

• Master of Science in Nursing

Campus Locations:

Addison

The University of Liverpool

Campus

Advance your career and increase your earning potential with a masters or a doctoral degree from the University of Liverpool. Study online in small groups of business professionals.

Programs:

• Doctor of Education (Higher Education)

Campus Locations:

Online

Saint Xavier University

Campus

Saint Xavier University is a Catholic, coeducational, comprehensive university focused on the liberal arts, and offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs to students across the country.

Programs:

• Nurse Educator Certificate
• MSN in Clinical Leadership

Campus Locations:

Chicago

Keiser University

Campus

Keiser University eCampus Online offers degrees in fields that are in high demand and provides job placement assistance to all its students and alumni.

Programs:

• Nursing, MS

Campus Locations:

Fort Lauderdale