by Kathryn Sill, Public Relations Writer
The Cedarville University School of Nursing is expanding its online Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) program by reinstating a revamped nurse educator track, reducing program hours and adding additional start terms. The changes also include moving all three M.S.N. tracks to fully online programs to better facilitate student needs.
Currently, the online M.S.N. program has 63 students and offers a family nurse practitioner (FNP) track that focuses on primary care for people of all ages as well as an online global public health nursing (GPHN) track that focuses on population-based care locally and globally.The nurse educator track is designed to prepare students for a career in an academic setting, allowing them to help prepare future nurses to work in the health care industry.
Similar to the FNP track, the nurse educator track features online traditional course work and field experience through practicum hours.
Becka Wagner, Ed.D., assistant professor of nursing, and Sharon Christman, Ph.D., assistant dean and director of graduate nursing programs, spearheaded the proposal to reintroduce the nurse educator track by improving all facets of the program.
“The redevelopment of the program will improve course content, assignments will be restructured and the practicum hours will be doubled,” said Wagner.
Courses can be taken part time or completed in as little as two years as a full-time student and are taught by Cedarville faculty, who are accomplished at a regional and national level.
“There is currently a shortage of nurse educators in our country, so this program will meet that need,” Wagner said. “Furthermore, Cedarville’s M.S.N. includes biblical integration, and that is another way our program is set apart from others.”
To find out more about Cedarville’s M.S.N. program, visit cedarville.edu/Academic-Programs/MSN-Family-Nurse-Practitioner.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,711 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit cedarville.edu.