MSN, Nursing Education, FlexPath Option
School of Nursing and Health Sciences
The MSN Nursing Education specialization is designed to prepare
professional nurses for the advanced specialty role of a nurse
educator and presents the theories, research, and best practices
relevant to nursing education. Throughout their coursework, learners
develop the knowledge and skills required to facilitate learning;
design, deliver, evaluate, and assess nursing education programs; and
effectively assess and evaluate learners in a variety of educational
settings. Successful graduates of this specialization are prepared to
pursue roles as nurse educators in academic and health care settings.
The requirements for this specialization are designed to meet the
educational requirements for the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE)
credential offered by the National League for Nursing (NLN). Learners
who pursue this specialization through the FlexPath option earn an MSN
through self-paced demonstrations of competencies.
Practicum Requirement(s):
Minimum of 100 practicum hours. See the Practicum section, below, for more information.
Thirteen Required Courses
At least 27 program points
Core courses:
NHS-FPX5004 |
Communication, Collaboration, and Case Analysis for Master’s Learners
This course prepares learners for master’s-level coursework in the
School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Throughout the course, learners
analyze how the role of the practitioner-scholar guides leadership in
the health care field and determine the ways in which they can
effectively use communication strategies expected of health care
professionals. In particular, learners examine the attributes that
contribute to effective and ethical health care leadership, including
professional collaboration, communication, inclusion, and decision
making.
Must be taken by learners in their first quarter. Cannot be
fulfilled by transfer.
| 2 program points |
---|---|---|
NHS-FPX6004 |
Health Care Law and Policy
In this course, learners examine the political, legal, and regulatory
issues impacting health care organizations and environments. Learners
analyze the effects of health care policy on health care practice and
service delivery, with particular emphasis on the strategies used to
monitor and maintain legal and regulatory compliance. Learners also
identify and apply health care policy and law concepts that promote
organizational improvement. | 2 program points |
NHS-FPX6008 |
Economics and Decision Making in Health Care
This course helps learners develop and demonstrate concepts,
principles, issues, and trends in health care economics and the
economic decision-making practices employed in the health care
environment. Learners analyze the political, legal, regulatory,
organizational, demographical, and multicultural implications of
business decisions on health care economics; explore the ways economic
and stakeholder influences affect operational planning and decision
making; and practice applying performance monitoring and process
management measures as part of the decision-making process. Learners
also examine cost-effective problem solving; community- and
population-based orientation; and effective use of health care market
research, analysis, and assessment. | 2 program points |
NURS-FPX6011 |
Evidence-Based Practice for Patient-Centered Care and Population Health
Learners in this course acquire an understanding of the nature of
evidence and its relative value and weight in making clinical
decisions that impact patient and population outcomes. In particular,
learners assess appropriate methods and analytic approaches in order
to investigate, evaluate, and synthesize the best available evidence
for potential solutions and innovations.
For Accelerated Master’s Pathway, BSN/MSN and MSN, FlexPath
option learners only.
| 2 program points |
NURS-FPX6016 |
Quality Improvement of Interprofessional Care
In this course, learners develop and demonstrate competence in the
design, implementation, and evaluation of interprofessional quality
improvement initiatives. Learners investigate models for quality
improvement, with an emphasis on outcome identification and
measurement. Learners also examine quality within the context of
patient safety through adverse event and near-miss analyses.
For Accelerated Master’s Pathway, BSN/MSN and MSN,FlexPath
option learners only.
| 2 program points |
NURS-FPX6021 |
Biopsychosocial Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice 1
Learners in this course develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities
needed to integrate select biopsychosocial concepts into professional
processes that promote quality and cost-effective patient and systems
outcomes, with particular emphasis on the ways in which these concepts
impact the National Academy of Medicine’s six aims of health care
improvement: Safe, Effective, Patient-centered, Timely, Efficient, and Equitable.
For MSN, FlexPath option learners only.
| 2 program points |
NURS-FPX6026 |
Biopsychosocial Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice 2
Learners in this course develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities
needed to integrate select biopsychosocial concepts into professional
processes that promote quality and cost-effective patient and systems
outcomes, with particular emphasis on the ways in which these concepts
impact population health, as defined by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
For MSN, FlexPath option learners only.
| 2 program points |
NURS-FPX6030 |
MSN Practicum and Capstone †
Learners in this course develop their critical thinking skills and
gain advanced nursing knowledge in preparation for master’s-level
nursing practice in a designated specialization. Learners create and
implement a personalized practicum experience under the supervision of
a preceptor at a site of their choice and demonstrate synthesis of
professional and academic growth and practice. Throughout the
practicum, learners also develop and maintain an electronic portfolio
that includes coursework products, demonstrations of competency and
outcome achievement, and practice experience documentation (number of
hours, preceptor evaluations, achievement of objectives, and
contributions to the organization).
For MSN, FlexPath option learners only.
Special permission is required for registration. Cannot be
fulfilled by transfer.
| 3 program points |
Specialization courses:
NURS-FPX6103 |
The Nurse Educator Role
In the course, learners examine the tripartite faculty role of
teaching, service, and scholarship and the responsibilities associated
with functioning as a nurse educator in an academic or health care
environment. Learners also analyze nurse educator competencies and the
professional development activities expected of those who fill this
multidimensional role.
For MSN, FlexPath option learners only.
| 2 program points |
---|---|---|
NURS-FPX6105 |
Teaching and Active Learning Strategies
In this course, learners examine how the application of educational
theory and teaching strategies facilitate learning in the classroom,
online, in the laboratory, and in clinical settings. Learners also
investigate concepts associated with the domains of learning, learning
styles, student engagement, and classroom management techniques.
For MSN, FlexPath option learners only.
| 2 program points |
NURS-FPX6107 |
Curriculum Design, Development, and Evaluation
In this course, learners examine curriculum frameworks and models
used in nursing education. Throughout the course, learners demonstrate
their understanding of these frameworks by beginning to develop
curricula that are designed to reflect professional nursing standards
and contemporary health care trends and that are structured to achieve
expected student outcomes. Learners also investigate the evaluation
process used to assess curriculum design and identify accreditation
and regulatory requirements that impact nursing curricula.
For MSN, FlexPath option learners only.
| 2 program points |
NURS-FPX6109 |
Integrating Technology into Nursing Education
In this course, learners examine the integration of current and
evolving technology into nursing education. Learners investigate the
use of multimedia, social media, computer-based technology, learning
management systems, simulation, technology tools for outcomes
assessment, and the process for selecting the appropriate technology.
Learners demonstrate their ability to integrate technology in an
academic or health care environment by developing a relevant project
and accompanying evaluation plan.
For MSN, FlexPath option learners only.
| 2 program points |
NURS-FPX6111 |
Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education
In this course, learners investigate a variety of strategies used to
assess and evaluate student learning in the classroom, online, in the
laboratory, and in clinical settings, as well as within all domains of
learning. Learners develop and demonstrate the skills required to use
assessment and evaluation data to improve the teaching-learning
process, measure the achievement of learning outcomes, and evaluate
program effectiveness.
For MSN, FlexPath option learners only.
| 2 program points |
Total
At least 27 program points
* Denotes courses that have prerequisite(s). Refer to the descriptions for further details.
Learners who do not complete all program requirements within quarter credit/program point minimums will be required to accrue such additional quarter credits/program points as are associated with any additional or repeat coursework necessary for successful completion of program requirements.
† Learners are responsible for
the cost of their travel, accommodations, food, and other expenses
associated with this course.
Alabama residents are not eligible to enroll in this specialization.
This specialization does not prepare graduates for licensure as an RN or APRN.
Learners enrolled in the MSN Nursing Education, FlexPath option specialization are required to maintain a current, unrestricted RN license throughout their program.
GuidedPath courses and FlexPath courses fulfill the program requirements and prerequisites for each delivery model.
Practicum
Learners enrolled in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program with a specialization in Care Coordination; RN-to-MSN Care Coordination; Care Coordination, FlexPath option; RN-to-MSN Care Coordination, FlexPath option; Nursing Education; RN-to-MSN Nursing Education; Nursing Education, FlexPath option; RN-to-MSN Nursing Education, FlexPath option; Nursing Leadership and Administration; RN-to-MSN Nursing Leadership and Administration; Nursing Leadership and Administration, FlexPath option; or RN-to-MSN Nursing Leadership and Administration, FlexPath option are required to complete 100 documented hours of hands-on practicum experience. Learners enrolled in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program with a specialization in Nursing Informatics; RN-to-MSN Nursing Informatics; Nursing Informatics, FlexPath option; or RN-to-MSN Nursing Informatics, FlexPath option are required to complete 200 documented hours of hands-on practicum experience.
The practicum experience requires learners to synthesize and expand the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the program by applying evidence-based methods to practice. Learners are responsible for finding an appropriate preceptor to oversee the practicum experience. With their preceptors, learners engage in in-depth work within a practice environment that reflects course outcomes. The practicum experiences offer learners an environment in which to apply their knowledge and skills. Practicum takes place at a professional site at which learners, with the support of program faculty and their on-site preceptors, participate in advanced practice initiatives. These could include program evaluation, quality improvement, and advanced practice techniques. Learners use the practicum experience to help them achieve the MSN program outcomes and competencies and the learning objectives related to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s The Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing.
Additionally, learners are required to document their practice
practicum experience in associated online coursework. The associated
practicum courses provide systematic opportunities for feedback and
reflection. Practicum hours are considered complete once all program
required practicum hours have been successfully achieved. Partial
completion of practicum hours requirements cannot be verified for
licensure or transfer of credits.