Master of Science in Nursing Online: Nursing Education Specialization
For a total of 33 credit hours, the Nursing Education Specialization of the Master of Science in Nursing Online degree is designed to prepare nurses to teach in post-secondary nursing programs, including schools of practical nursing, associate degree programs, and baccalaureate programs. The master’s in nursing education track also prepares leaders for staff education positions within a healthcare system or public health organizations.

Pursue a master's in nursing education specialty to open yourself up to exciting opportunities to educate the next generation of nurses, while embedding yourself at the forefront of innovation and new developments in the field. As a future nurse educator, you would be helping reduce the shortage of nurses in two ways: filling vacant faculty and educator positions as baby boomer generation nurses retire and introducing new nurses into the field or helping them to advance their skills and fill in critical gaps. May 2021 employment data showed more than 68,000 openings for postsecondary nursing instructors and teachers alone.1
By earning your online MSN in Nursing Education, you could make a huge personal impact by preparing more professionals to work as competent, dynamic leaders and practitioners. A master’s in nursing education gives you the ability to personalize and take your career in various directions based on your interests. Additionally, nurse educators gain access to higher competitive salaries and see tremendous job opportunities in a field growing much faster than others.2
Discover Your Next Step

Get a Program Brochure
Considering a nursing degree to take your career to the next level? Your journey starts here. Complete the form to get a program brochure for the Oklahoma City University MSN Online.
Get valuable insights into the OCU online experience, learn more about specialization options, and see where this degree can take you.
Common MSN Nursing Education roles:




- Developing curriculum, assessments, and learning experiences specific to your audience
- Leading training and information sessions or course instruction
- Promoting continuing education and professional development
- Staying up-to-date with best practices for both the fields of nursing and education (especially adult education and education technology)
- Conducting evaluations of existing programs and offering suggestions for updates
- Meeting with patients, students, staff members, and others based on your role for individual education sessions
- Coaching and mentoring students or nursing staff members
- Attending and presenting at professional conferences
- Conducting research and/or writing grant proposals
You can also earn your Master’s in Nursing Education to pursue a career as a:







MSN Online: Nursing Education Specialization curriculum
In addition to the core MSN online courses, MSN Nursing Education students will take 21 credit hours of educator-focused courses.
NURS 5203 Curriculum Development in Nursing Education (3 credit hours)
NURS 5222 Technology Strategies in Digital and Online Courses (2 credit hours)
NURS 5232 Teaching Strategies for Simulation in Nursing Education (2 credit hours)
NURS 5402 Teaching Strategies for Nursing Education (2 credit hours)
NURS 5703 Educational Ethics and Health Care Policy (3 credit hours)
NURS 6153 Nursing Education Evaluation Strategies (3 credit hours)
NURS 6412 Advanced Health Assessment for Nurse Educators (2 credit hours)
NURS 6414 Advanced Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for Nurse Educators (4 credit hours)
Master’s in Nursing Education FAQ
What is a master’s in nursing education?
What can you do with an MSN in Nursing Education?
- Clinical nurse educator
- Instructional nurse faculty
- Staff development nurse
- Patient educator
- Nursing school dean or department head
- Textbook developer
- Grant writer
- Public health advisor and advocate
- Disaster preparedness educator
- Military nursing educator
- Nonprofit program manager
In a nursing education role you might:
- Develop curriculum, assessments, and learning experiences specific to your audience
- Lead training and information sessions or course instruction
- Promote continuing education and professional development
- Help nurses gain hands-on experience in new techniques, best practices and new protocols, participate in new employee orientation and training
- Conduct evaluations of existing programs and offering suggestions for updates
- Meet with patients, students, staff members, and others based on your role for individual education sessions
- Coach and mentor students or nursing staff members
- Attend and present at professional conferences
- Conduct research and/or write grant proposals
- Develop and implement education materials and programs that help patients and their families with understanding diagnoses and care
- Work in a community or governmental health agency to educate the public as well as other staff members
Is a master’s in nursing education worth it?
Further, as a future nurse educator, you would be helping reduce the shortage of nurses double fold: filling vacant faculty and educator positions as baby boomer generation nurses retire and introducing new nurses into the field or helping them to advance their skills and fill in critical gaps. May 2020 employment data showed more than 61,000 openings for postsecondary nursing instructors and teachers alone. In 2019, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) reported nearly 80,500 qualified students were turned away from programs because of an insufficient number of nursing faculty.

Sources
- Retrieved on August 29, 2022, from www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes251072.htm#(1)
- Retrieved on March 25, 2022, from onetonline.org/link/summary/25-1072.00