MSN: Nurse Educator Track (39 credits)

The curriculum and coursework for Messiah College’s MSN is designed to be instantly relevant to your area of study and career.

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Core courses

This course is designed to provide an introduction to nursing informatics, information systems, clinical decision systems, computer technology, and basic simulation design and development for use in promoting safety, quality, and data management for evidence-based nursing practice and nursing education. The student also will be introduced to computer applications needed to progress through the curriculum. The length of the course is 6 weeks. Offered online, meeting synchronously the first week of the course.

NURS 500 | 3 credits

This course focuses on the development of skills needed to understand statistical analysis and reasoning. Emphasis is placed on comprehending the use and relevance of statistics in nursing research. The length of the course is 8 weeks. Offered online.

NURS 501 | 3 credits

This course focuses on the critical appraisal of nursing research and methods of inquiry to guide evidence-based practice. Emphasis is placed on the skills and knowledge needed to critically appraise and determine the strength of evidence available to inform issues of current nursing practice and education. The length of the course is 8 weeks. Offered online.

NURS 502 | 3 credits

This course provides an in-depth analysis of physiological processes and pathological alterations that affect health across the lifespan. Synthesis and application of current research-based knowledge regarding pathological changes also are considered.

NURS 503 | 3 credits

This course focuses on a study of the pharmacotherapeutics and pharmacokinetics of broad categories of pharmacologic agents. Emphasis is placed on topics of pharmacologic mechanisms of action, effects on organ systems, routes of administration, therapeutic uses, considerations related to age and physiologic state, adverse reactions, contraindications, and drug interactions.

NURS 504 | 3 credits

This course provides an introduction to the skills of advanced clinical history taking and physical assessment. Emphasis is placed on discernment between normal and abnormal findings, recognition of common health problems, and the process of critically analyzing problems. The clinical component of the course gives students the opportunity to apply concepts, theory and practice in obtaining comprehensive health histories and physical assessment data for patients of all ages across the lifespan and states of health. Offered over 6 weeks online with two synchronous classes. 

NURS 505 | 3 credits (2 theory; 1 clinical = 60 hours)

This course focuses on a Christian perspective of ethical theories and principles for application to moral dilemmas within the social context of healthcare. Emphasis is placed on professional responsibility and accountability, patient's rights, social justice, and principles of analysis used to resolve moral and spiritual dilemmas nurses encounter in all areas of healthcare and nursing practice. Offered online over 14 weeks with two synchronous sessions.

NURS 506 | 3 credits

Track courses

The focus of this course is on professional role development of the nurse educator. Philosophical foundations of nursing education as well as learning theories and instructional methods are introduced. A review of conceptual models and theories of nursing also is presented. Emphasis for the clinical component of the course is placed on knowledge and skills needed for teaching in higher education and clinical practice settings. The length of the course is 17 weeks. Offered online, meeting three times synchronously. Prerequisites: NURS 500; NURS 501; NURS 502; NURS 503; NURS 504; NURS 505; NURS 506.

NURS 520 | 3 credits (2 theory; 1 clinical =60 hours)

This course focuses on the development of an in-depth understanding of curriculum design principles. Emphasis is placed on the analysis of curricular components including teaching/learning philosophies, mission statements, program goals, learning objectives, individual course competencies, and teaching plans. Standards and regulations influencing nursing education programs and curriculum development also are analyzed. Offered online over 8 weeks. Prerequisites: NURS 500; NURS 501; NURS 502; NURS 503; NURS 504; NURS 505; NURS 506; Prerequisite or Concurrent course: NURS 520.

NURS 521 | 3 credits

This course focuses on the concepts of measurement and evaluation in nursing. Emphasis is placed on topics of test construction, item analysis, clinical performance evaluation, course evaluation, and program evaluation. Standards for program evaluation for program accreditation as well as legal and ethical issues related to evaluation also will be discussed. Offered online over 8 weeks. Prerequisites: NURS 520.

NURS 522 | 3 credits

This course is focused on the nurse educator role in both higher education and clinical practice learning environments. Students explore various teaching modalities that facilitate critical thinking and clinical decision-making in learners. Emphasis is placed on the integration of theory and practice through practicum experiences of direct care and teaching in both the classroom and in clinical practice environments with application of evidence-based practice educational research for capstone project development. Nurse educator competencies are emphasized. Offered online over 17 weeks with three synchronous sessions. Prerequisites: NURS 520; NURS 521; Prerequisite or concurrent course: NURS 522.

NURS 530 | 6 credits (3 theory; 3 clinical = 180 hours)

This course serves as the capstone course for the nurse educator curriculum. Key topics include skills for leadership and management in clinical nursing practice education and academic nursing education environments, methods for empowerment and change within higher education and healthcare systems, application of nurse educator competencies, and components of excellence in nursing education. Clinical-practicum experiences include application of leadership and management skills in nursing education environments and completion of an evidence-based nursing education capstone project. The length of the course is 14 weeks with three synchronous sessions.  3 credits (2 theory; 1 clinical = 60 hours).  Prerequisite: NURS 530.  *Starting in 2018-2019 will be offered online over 17 weeks with three synchronous sessions.

NURS 531 | 3 credits (2 theory; 1 clinical = 60 hours)