Priority Deadlines:
- Spring February 15
Campus:
- Spokane
- Tri-Cities
- Vancouver
International Student English Proficiency Exams
International students may need to surpass the Graduate School’s minimum English language proficiency exam scores for this program. If the graduate program has unique score requirements, they will be detailed below. Otherwise, please refer to the Graduate School’s minimum score guidelines.
Degree Description:
The Master of Nursing in Nurse Educator is designed to address the critical shortage of qualified nurse educators who can lead, teach, develop courses and curricula, and inspire future generations of nurses. This program equips nurses with advanced competencies in education and leadership, essential for effective instruction and mentorship in both academic and clinical settings.
Program Highlights:
- One or two year, hybrid online program designed to shape future leaders in nursing education
- Combines didactic coursework with extensive teaching practicum experience
- Comprehensive training in teaching and learning, curriculum design, and educational assessment
- Prepares graduates to fill faculty shortages and enhance quality of nursing education
Program Structure:
| Total Credits: | 30 |
| Practicum Hours: | Minimum 250 hours embedded in curriculum |
| Program Length: | 1 year full-time and 2 year part-time plans available |
| Campuses: | Spokane, Tri-Cities, Yakima, Vancouver |
| Delivery Method: | Hybrid – mixture of online learning for didactic courses (with approximately 5 synchronous sessions per class) and in-person practice experiences for practicum courses. No requirements to be in-person on campus for didactic courses. |
| Application Opens: | August 15 |
| Application Deadline: | February 15 |
Required Coursework (30 Credits):
Core Courses:
- NURS_ADV_510: Leadership in Systems and Organizations (3 credits)
- NURS_ADV_511: Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
- NURS_ADV_512: Advanced Health Assessment, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology (4 credits)
- NURS_ADV_565: Information Management for Clinical Practice (3 credits)
- NURS_ADV_584: Health Care Law, Policy, and Analysis (3 credits)
Nurse Educator Specialization:
- NURS_ADV_523: Nursing Education: Curriculum Design (3 credits)
- NURS_ADV_521: Nursing Education: Assessment & Evaluation (3 credits)
- NURS_ADV_533: Nursing Education: Teaching & Learning (3 credits)
- NURS_ADV_585: Nursing Education: Faculty Role Practicum (2 credits)
- NURS_ADV_586: Nursing Education: Capstone (3 credits)
Program Outcomes:
Upon completion, graduates will be able to:
- Design change initiatives centered on collaboration and organizational gap analysis to promote continuous quality improvement in complex academic or healthcare systems
- Demonstrate leadership traits that nurture personal and workforce development and optimize interprofessional teams across academia or the healthcare continuum
- Incorporate innovative technology and data-informed analysis that support evaluation of strategic outcomes and ensure delivery of safe and effective care or education
- Promote public health policy through engagement and collaboration with community, industry, and governmental stakeholders
- Employ evidence-based/informed academic or care delivery models that coordinate person-centered strategies to diverse populations across varied complex systems
- Demonstrate an ability to synthesize and apply nursing knowledge at an advanced level and scope of practice within academic or care settings to enhance and transform patient and population healthcare outcomes
Admission Requirements:
Educational Requirements:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree
- Minimum BSN GPA of 3.0
- RN experience preferred
- Official transcripts from all previous college work
Professional Requirements:
- Current, unencumbered RN license in the catchment area of your campus:
- Washington (all campuses)
- Idaho (Spokane campus)
- Oregon (Vancouver campus)
- Compact/MSL licenses are acceptable provided they are multi-state with Washington (and Oregon or Idaho if residing near a state border)
- License must be obtained before the start of your first semester
Recommendations:
- Vancouver/Portland area students: hold current and active license in both Oregon and Washington to open placement opportunities
- Spokane Valley area students: hold current and active license in both Idaho and Washington to open placement opportunities
- Meeting with an academic advisor prior to applying is recommended if you have any questions
International Students:
- Must obtain current, unencumbered RN license in catchment area by beginning of first semester
- Strongly encouraged to have working experience in the field of nursing in the US
- Must meet Application Requirements for International Students
Student Opportunities:
Comprehensive Teaching Preparation:
- Minimum 250 practicum hours in educational settings within catchment area of campus
- Faculty role practicum providing authentic teaching experience in academic or clinical settings
- Hands-on curriculum design and implementation opportunities
- Assessment and evaluation practice across diverse learning environments
- Experience applying best practice learning techniques and leading educational change initiatives
Clinical Placement Types:
- Students work with clinical placement coordinators for direct-care practicum experiences (areas such as diabetes educator, wound care, palliative care, hospice care, community-based programs, mobile clinics, patient/family education)
- Students establish their own sites and preceptors for non-direct care educational practicum experiences, maximizing networking skills and professional connections
- Placements vary by year and availability
Professional Development:
- Development of personal teaching philosophy and evidence-based pedagogical approaches
- Advanced training in innovative educational technologies and instructional methods
- Experience with various teaching modalities (classroom, clinical, simulation lab)
- Mentorship from experienced nursing educators across multiple campuses
- Leadership preparation for academic and staff development roles
Educational Leadership:
- Capstone project addressing real educational challenges in nursing education
- Curriculum design experience applicable to academic and clinical teaching settings
- Development of comprehensive assessment and evaluation expertise
- Training in best practices for instruction and mentorship
Flexible Program Options:
- 1-year or 2-year completion pathways available
- Strong academic reputation with flexible hybrid format
- Balance work, family, and education through online didactic courses
- Interprofessional collaboration opportunities with diverse healthcare students
Career Opportunities:
Academic Positions:
- Nursing faculty at community colleges, universities, and technical schools (meets Washington State Board of Nursing requirement for graduate degree)
- Clinical instructor positions
- Simulation lab educators
- Academic program coordinators and directors
- Associate/Assistant Dean of Nursing Education
- Leadership roles inspiring future generations of nurses
Healthcare Education Roles:
- Staff Development Educators in hospitals and health systems
- Clinical Nurse Educators
- Patient Education Coordinators
- Nursing Professional Development Specialists
- Continuing Education Program Directors
- Clinical mentorship and instruction roles
Educational Leadership:
- Curriculum Coordinators
- Academic Assessment Specialists
- Education Technology Integration Specialists
- Nursing Education Consultants
- Accreditation and Quality Improvement Coordinators
Specialized Education Areas:
- Simulation Center Directors and Educators
- Skills Lab Coordinators
- Clinical Placement Coordinators
- Interprofessional Education Leaders
- Faculty development and training specialists
Career Placements:
Critical Workforce Shortage:
Washington State faces a documented and severe nursing faculty shortage that directly impacts the state’s ability to address its broader nursing shortage:
- Over 40% of current nursing faculty in Washington are age 51 or higher, indicating significant upcoming retirements
- 13% vacancy rate for nursing faculty positions across the state
- Washington State Board of Nursing requires all nursing faculty to hold a graduate degree in nursing
- This faculty shortage compounds the general nursing shortage, limiting nursing program enrollment capacity
Washington Nursing Shortage Context:
- In 2021, Washington State Hospital Association identified need for 6,100 registered nurses to supply the needs of Washington state hospitals
- Per Washington Center for Nursing supply and demand forecast, the RN shortage persists through at least 2030
- Addressing the nursing faculty shortage is a key factor to mitigate the RN shortage by enabling nursing schools to meet or exceed enrollments
Why This Degree Matters:
- Meets Washington State regulatory requirement for nursing faculty to hold graduate degree
- Addresses documented shortage directly impacting nursing education capacity across the state
- Enables expansion of nursing program enrollments to help meet projected RN workforce needs
- Provides clear pathway for experienced nurses to transition to rewarding education careers
- Graduates prepared to contribute to professional development of nurses and enhance quality of nursing education
Career Support:
- Academic advising throughout the program
- Clinical and academic placement assistance for practicum experiences
- Connection to nursing schools and healthcare education departments across Washington, Idaho, and Oregon
- Networking with faculty and educational leaders who helped shape the program
- WSU alumni network in nursing education
- Opportunities developed through interprofessional collaboration during the program
Contact Information:
- Wendy Ovall wendy.ovall@wsu.edu