[msn2008]

I will graduate in August, 2008 with my MSN with a major in Nursing Education from Indiana Wesleyan University's online program. If you plan to teach, obtaining a MSN with a major in education is a must! Much is expected of those in nursing education; most of which would not be taught in a MSN program with a specialization in CNS or NP.
This program is doable, although I am currently in my practicum and have had a few 'melt down' moments! All my facilitators have been supportive and always willing to answer our questions when we don't understand an assignment. The program is lock-step, with one course at a time, over 24 months. It is also asynchronous, which is important to me since I work different shifts at a hospital; sometimes I will complete assignments after the 3-11 shift.
Good luck with your decision!
Melissa

[elkpark]

Originally Posted by msn2008

I will graduate in August, 2008 with my MSN with a major in Nursing Education from Indiana Wesleyan University's online program. If you plan to teach, obtaining a MSN with a major in education is a must! Much is expected of those in nursing education; most of which would not be taught in a MSN program with a specialization in CNS or NP.
This program is doable, although I am currently in my practicum and have had a few 'melt down' moments! All my facilitators have been supportive and always willing to answer our questions when we don't understand an assignment. The program is lock-step, with one course at a time, over 24 months. It is also asynchronous, which is important to me since I work different shifts at a hospital; sometimes I will complete assignments after the 3-11 shift.
Good luck with your decision!
Melissa

I don't say this in any way to denigrate MSNs in education, but I disagree with you that it is a "must" in order to teach. Schools of nursing strive for a "well-rounded" faculty, with faculty members from a wide variety of backgrounds, including a wide variety of clinical backgrounds. Typically, position postings willl specify that they are looking for a particular variety of NP, or a CNM, psych CNS/NP, etc. (Come to think of it, I'm not sure I've ever seen a posting that specified that the school was looking for someone with an MSN in education.) In my experience in nursing academia, the vast majority of my colleagues (and myself) have had our MSNs in an advanced pratice specialty. I've encountered only a few people who actually had their degree in nursing education. Perhaps that will be different in the future, as more programs with an education concentration produce more graduates ...

A little off-topic; sorry! I didn't mean to hijack the thread.

[goingback]

MSN 2008--did you get your CNS or NP-- did this take longer than the 2 years? What specialty was your CNS or NP in?

[msn2008]

My MSN has a major in Nursing Education. A MSN can have a major as a CNS, NP, Education, Administration, CRNA, etc. Some universities offer post graduate courses for nursing education, which would be in addition to a focus as a CNS or NP. Since I knew I wanted to teach in the college/university setting, I chose a MSN with a major in Nursing Education.

The first year all online MSN students at IWU take the same courses. The second year we specialize and focus on our major. My Nursing Education courses have included: Professional Role Development of the Nurse Educator, Curriculum Design, Program Evaluation/Assessment, Teaching/Learning Strategies, Advanced Nursing Instruction, and Nursing Investigation. Most of these are not included in the CNS or NP curriculum.
Indiana Wesleyan's website is: www.indwes.edu

Feel free to ask me any other questions!
Melissa

[RNPATL]

Originally Posted by elkpark

I don't say this in any way to denigrate MSNs in education, but I disagree with you that it is a "must" in order to teach. Schools of nursing strive for a "well-rounded" faculty, with faculty members from a wide variety of backgrounds, including a wide variety of clinical backgrounds.

Hi elk -Actually, in North Carolina, the BON recently adopted rules that require that nursing faculty have an MSN in Nursing Education. I believe these rules will become effective sometime in the near future. For me, I am attending Walden University. The program is accredited and has a wonderful research focus. Like some of the other posters have said, online learning can be difficult if the individual is not self motivated. I expect to graduate in December of 2008. But I did want to clarify that some States are beginning to require an MSNeD to teach. But, I also agree with you - some colleges are in such need of nursing faculty that they will hire an MSN regardless of the concentration. This is NOT the case in my area - very few faculty opportunities at all.

[elkpark]

Originally Posted by RNPATL

Hi elk -Actually, in North Carolina, the BON recently adopted rules that require that nursing faculty have an MSN in Nursing Education. I believe these rules will become effective sometime in the near future. For me, I am attending Walden University. The program is accredited and has a wonderful research focus. Like some of the other posters have said, online learning can be difficult if the individual is not self motivated. I expect to graduate in December of 2008. But I did want to clarify that some States are beginning to require an MSNeD to teach. But, I also agree with you - some colleges are in such need of nursing faculty that they will hire an MSN regardless of the concentration. This is NOT the case in my area - very few faculty opportunities at all.

I am in NC, also, and it's my understanding (as a faculty member in a NC BSN program within the last year) that the BON does not require an MSN in education -- it requires that faculty members complete a required number of hours (and I'm not recalling the specific # at the moment, but that's not really important here) of coursework or continuing education in education topics, and it doesn't matter whether that is via having an MSN in education, or completing additional education if one has an MSN with a different focus. I have not heard of any newer requirements (or proposed requirements), and I think, personally, it would be a really bad idea to mandate that only the MSN in education is acceptable for faculty.

[RNPATL]

I agree with you. I have been trying to get on board with a local ADN program for the last year and they are requiring a MSN in Education. You are correct in that the BON requires a min. of a BSN to teach full time. Not sure why this college is requiring a MSN in Education. Thanks for the response.

[elkpark]

Lots of programs only hire Master's-prepared faculty, and/or only use BSN-prepared (non MSN) faculty as clinical instructors. Some university programs will only hire doctorally-prepared faculty, although many (most?) still use a mix of doctorally- and Master's-prepared faculty. I believe that the NC BON is going to start requiring that new faculty hires have a minimum of an MSN at some point in the next several years.

However, I've never heard of a school that required a MSN specifically in education. Often, position postings specify a particular clinical specialty and advanced practice certification, but requiring an MSN in education would be a first for me! Maybe the school is attempting to balance its faculty by adding some ed degree people to the mix of different clinical specialties already represented by the current faculty, and that's why they are looking for that at this particular time.

[RNPATL]

I have spoken with the program director several times in an attempt to apply for the FT position. Their educational position at this time, calls for an MSNeD. I agree with you that they are probably trying to get a better balance.

I am about 70% through my MSNeD program. Hopefully once I finish they will consider me for the FT position (provided one is open then).

[PlaneFlyerRN]

Greetings,

I am currently attending online classes at Thomas Edison State College in NJ with the goal of graduating with a MSN/Nurse Educator degree. When I researched the program, I noted that TESC was both regionally accredited as well as nationally accredited through the NLN.

Being in nursing is all I've ever known in the world of careers, yet it has been everything that I have wanted to do and have yet to do.

When I am no longer able to do bedside nursing, I intend for my future degree to enable me to teach nursing at the college level.

I will be a product of both my many years of experience as a nurse, as well as my formal education.

Will I be amongst the ranks of nurse educators who are able to produce a new generation of critical thinkers who make darn good nurses? Are there more than a few out there who are doing the same thing as myself?

I am unable to state for certain whether higher education in nursing is going to continue to slowly grow in avenues of online learning or not. It certainly doesn't show any evidence of decline.

If, however, online MSN programs are not respected now, will the whole lot of them fade away into a distant memory, only to be replaced by the traditional chalkboard schools that entertain our current pride in education?

Probably not, but the more of them that there are, the more of them there will be who will continue to educate nurses like me.