Teaching Speciality Degree or Certificate

New Castle Ken · Nov 26, 2003

Originally posted by SerenaT
Looking to further my education in teaching. Have BSN and am currently teaching nursing at the community college level. Would like any input on good nursing programs that offer a degree or certificate in nursing education that address student education. Find alot on patient education, but I want to specialize in teaching future nurses.

Thanks in advance!

SerenaT

I don't have the information right in front of me but there are MSN programs in Nursing Education that would provide exactly what you want. I know there are some by distance too. A masters in education would give you the tools that you need to teach but would not be as valuable in the nursing community as an MSN. Good luck.

indie · Nov 27, 2003

I'm seconding Ken's post; I've been in education many years with a B.Ed and MA. It would have been simpler to have had an MSN.

I very much value the B.Ed (thorough prep. in psychology of learning, philosophy of learning/teaching, social policy, plus teaching strategies, curriculum and syllabus issues, classroom control, assessment (term usually used in education for 'evaluation'), audio visual aids, examination design and grading etc etc.)

The theory was followed by a year of teaching practice in a variety of educational settings, with each session assessed by at least two people. This was in the UK.

This B.Ed. degree provided a very valuable tool for me and I always felt rather sorry for those trying to teach with just the 'education' part of an MSN; it's approved for doing the job by the BoNs, but I just know I had an easier time over exam issues, class control, lesson planning, writing learning objectives etc.

However, if I were in your shoes now, I would get the MSN, probably by distance learning (try CSUDH at Dominguez Hills - they've been in MSN distance learning territory a while and know what they are doing, also reasonably priced - also a main stream Uni) and when that is all over, realize what little you have been taught about education and read some ed. philosophy (even regular grade school ed. philosophy is good background), ed. psych. etc or audit a few classes - even at junior college level to give you some real practical assistance.

I do hope this helps you decide how you are going to achieve your goals.

New Castle Ken · Nov 27, 2003

Originally posted by indie
I'm seconding Ken's post; I've been in education many years with a B.Ed and MA. It would have been simpler to have had an MSN.

I very much value the B.Ed (thorough prep. in psychology of learning, philosophy of learning/teaching, social policy, plus teaching strategies, curriculum and syllabus issues, classroom control, assessment (term usually used in education for 'evaluation'), audio visual aids, examination design and grading etc etc.)

The theory was followed by a year of teaching practice in a variety of educational settings, with each session assessed by at least two people. This was in the UK.

This B.Ed. degree provided a very valuable tool for me and I always felt rather sorry for those trying to teach with just the 'education' part of an MSN; it's approved for doing the job by the BoNs, but I just know I had an easier time over exam issues, class control, lesson planning, writing learning objectives etc.

However, if I were in your shoes now, I would get the MSN, probably by distance learning (try CSUDH at Dominguez Hills - they've been in MSN distance learning territory a while and know what they are doing, also reasonably priced - also a main stream Uni) and when that is all over, realize what little you have been taught about education and read some ed. philosophy (even regular grade school ed. philosophy is good background), ed. psych. etc or audit a few classes - even at junior college level to give you some real practical assistance.

I do hope this helps you decide how you are going to achieve your goals.

This is so similar to my background. I found out about a distance BSPS for nurses and one of the available concentrations was education (others were business, healthcare adm., and psychology). The notion was to give nurses tools that they needed to move on with their career. These courses in education with 2 courses in adult education gave me the focus of my career today. Unfortunately the nursing community never saw it that way because I was generally turned down for education positions in favor of a BSN even though a BSN program does not prepare you to develop curriculum or teach. This is similar for the nurses who chose the business or healthcare adm program too. At least not my non-nursing degrees have paid off and I can teach online courses in a variety of subjects not just limited to nursing.

Ken