NEW

PROGRAM PROPOSAL

WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY

Submission Date:        Fall, 2012

College:                       Dumke College of Health Professions

Department:                 Master of Science in Nursing

Program Title:              Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education

1.   Complete Program Description

The proposed Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education is a post graduate certificate to provide advanced educator skills to nurses that have a non-education focused Master of Science in Nursing degree.

Students earning a Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education will possess the knowledge and skills required to function as an effective nurse educator. The program consists of five specialty courses, totaling 15 credit hours of graduate-level credit. These five courses are currently embedded in the MSN curriculum through the four semester program.  Current master’s prepared educators can update or expand their knowledge in curriculum development, assessment and evaluation, and revitalize their teaching and learning strategies. Combining current professional expertise with the knowledge of teaching and learning strategies, students will expand and enhance the role of a health care or academic based educator. The students will be able to apply sound theoretical, evidence-based concepts and strategies to augment their individual learning and provide leadership in the utilization of research.

The Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education is a stand-alone certificate: completion of a MSN degree is a prerequisite to admission to the graduate certificate program. Certificate courses may not be concurrently applied towards the WSU MSN degree. The certificate will be awarded upon completion of the five graduate-level specialty courses listed below. The courses will be offered in a hybrid delivery format with 3 face-to-face classes and interaction enhanced by online discussions and learning activities.

Required courses (proposed) in the Certificate in Nursing Education are:

MSN 6500: Theoretical Foundations: Education

MSN 6520: Curriculum Development

MSN 6540: Measuring Competence in Education

MSN 6580: Clinical Nursing Instruction

MSN 6600: Nursing Instruction in Higher Education

2.   Purpose of Degree

The purpose of the certificate is to provide graduate students with the knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill advanced practice roles as nurse educators in healthcare facilities or higher education. The graduate certificate will provide a theoretical and practical foundation in nursing education for Masters prepared nurses who wish to assume the role of nursing faculty in an associate or baccalaureate degree nursing program or a clinical setting. This certificate will provide the opportunity to acquire some of the basic skills utilized by the nurse educator.

3.   Institutional Readiness

Currently available University, College, and MSN Program level systems and processes will fully support the needs of students seeking the certificate (i.e., Program Application, Admissions, Registration, Advising, Records, Graduation, etc.).

This certificate program will rely on current professionally qualified full time, part time, and adjunct faculty to teach the nurse educator courses.

The certificate is for graduate students only and will not impact undergraduate or lower-division education.  Faculty will be deployed such that undergraduate and graduate student needs are met. 

4.   Faculty

The courses currently taught by the MSN faculty and contracted adjunct faculty will be adequate to serve the needs of the certificate program. A total of 10 additional students can be added to these courses, capping enrollment at 20, without requiring the development of additional sections. There is one adjunct faculty currently teaching one of the courses for the graduate program educator track. All adjunct faculty must have earned at least a master’s degree in a related field to teach in the Master of Science in Nursing Program. 

No additional faculty members will be hired on a full-time, tenure-track basis to teach the courses. 

5.   Staff

No additional staff is needed to support the certificate.

6.   Library and Information Resources

No additional library resources will be needed to support the certificate.

7.   Admission Requirements

Students who have been admitted to the Weber State University Master of Science in Nursing Program are allowed to pursue the certificate post- graduation.  The MSN Program’s admission decisions are based on undergraduate degree and GPA, work experience, essay writing, letters of recommendation (international students must have a foreign transcript evaluation and have an acceptable TOEFL score). Applications are due by March 1^st each year.

For students seeking the stand-alone certificate, admission decisions will be based on the following: MSN degree from an NLNAC or CCNE accredited institution, GPA, work experience, essay writing, and a letter of intent.  Students seeking the stand-alone certificate must be admitted to the MSN program.

8.   Student Advisement

General advising will be provided by the MSN office staff, enrollment director, and program director. Each student will create a plan of study with the assistance of the enrollment director.

9.   Justification for Graduation Standards and Number of Credits

This certificate surpasses the institutional requirement of 10 credit hours as found in the PPM 11. Certificates at other regional institutions have similar credit hour requirements.

10.  External Review and Accreditation

This certificate program will be subject to accreditation standards of the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).  The faculty associated with this certificate will each be professionally qualified to teach in areas to which they are assigned.  Current and projected faculty ratios suggest that the MSN Program will be able to maintain the recommended ratios of academically and professional qualified faculty.

11.  Projected Enrollment

Enrollment will be capped at 10 students per educator track, accepted per year for this graduate certificate program. This would result in a total potential enrollment of 20-24 students: 10 certificate students and 10-12 generic MSN students.

12.  Expansion of Existing Program

The Certificate in Nursing Education is not an expansion of the existing MSN Nursing Education Program. A total of 10-12 MSN Nursing Administration and Nursing Education students are accepted each year into the MSN program. Core courses therefore have an enrollment of 20-24 students. Specialty courses (nurse administrator and nurse educator) have an enrollment of 10-12 students. The development of the certificate program will potentially increase enrollment in the specialty courses to 20 students, but will not increase the number of faculty required.

Need

13.  Program Need

The proposed Certificate in Nursing Education meets requests of numerous students who have completed their MSN with a focus in Nursing Administration at WSUSON. There is currently one other institution in Utah offering a post graduate nurse educator certificate in Utah; the University of Utah College of Nursing (15 credits)

Two of the primary purposes of the post-Master’s certificate in nursing education include:

• To provide advanced preparation in nursing education to nurses who have completed a non-education focused Master of Science in Nursing program and are currently or hoping to hold a position in healthcare facilities or higher education settings.
• To expand student enrollment in the WSUSON Nurse Educator Track specialty courses.

14.  Labor Market Demand

According to the AACN’s (American Association of Colleges of Nursing) 2003-04 report, Enrollment and Graduations on Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing, US schools of nursing turned away 15,944 qualified applicants to participate in entry-level baccalaureate programs. The report cited that the primary reason was insufficient faculty.  The 2010 Forum on the Future of Nursing Education, IOM (Institute Of Medicine), stated that in order to meet the projected retirement of nurses over the next ten years that a major focus on the specialized role of nurse educator will be necessary. Additionally, some nurses report that they experience career changes, many towards education and away from practitioner and managerial roles.  These potential students would greatly benefit from courses in nursing education that would augment their vitaes and provide additional career opportunities. Current job postings (fall 2011) for nurse educators include: Fortis College, Stevens-Henagar College, IHC Home Care. St. Marks’ Hospital, Davis Hospital, and WSU.

15.  Student Demand

Students who have graduated from the WSU MSN Administrator focused program have requested that we offer a certificate in Nursing Education. Inquiries from interested parties have been fielded by current faculty and the Son Enrollment Director since the inception of the master’s program.

16.  Similar Programs

A similar graduate level certificate program is in progress at the University of Utah.  There are programs outside of Utah which offer a Post-Master’s Certificate in Nurse Education. They are: the University of Northern Colorado, Idaho State University, University of Nevada, University of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University, and Walden-Kaplan and Drexel, the latter three are completely online programs.

17. Collaboration with and Impact on Other USHE Institutions

The University Of Utah College Of Nursing is the only USHE institution that may be affected by the initiation of this program. No collaboration has been sought.

18.  Benefits

Weber State University will be seen as a clear choice for Master’s prepared nurses to obtain leadership education.  As the certificate program begins producing graduates, local healthcare employers will view the WSU SON as a key partner in preparing nurse leaders.

19.  Consistency with Institutional Mission

The Certificate in Nurse Education is consistent with the University’s mission in the following ways: 

The WSU mission states that “The University provides excellent educational experiences for its students through extensive personal contact among faculty, staff and students in and out of the classroom.”  The Certificate in Nurse Education is comprised of five courses that are taught using a hybrid delivery system. This system allows students to attend three on campus face-to-face meetings each semester and then participate in the majority of their learning experiences in an online format.

Moreover, the mission states “To accomplish its mission, the university, in partnership with the broader community, engages in research, artistic expression, public service, economic development, and community-based learning experiences…”  The   WSU certificate program will provide MSN graduates the opportunity to seek additional professional certification through the NLN (National League for Nursing) as a CNE (Certified Nurse Educator) if desired.

Program and Student Assessment

20.  Program Outcomes and Assessment

1.       Facilitate Learning: Possess the knowledge and skill to create an effective learning environment in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings; implement a variety of teaching strategies, ground teaching strategies in education theory and evidence-based practices, recognize multicultural, gender, and experiential influences on teaching and learning; models critical and reflective thinking, is self-aware and effectively communicate ideas in a variety of contexts, utilize information technologies to enhance teaching and learning, and maintain a professional practice knowledge-base to help learners prepare for contemporary nursing practice.

2.       Facilitate Learner Development and Socialization: Possess the knowledge and skill to facilitate a learning environment that is focused on socialization to the role of the nurse, provides resources to diverse learners to help meet their unique learning styles and needs, engage in effective advisement directed at helping learners meet their professional goals, and model professional behaviors such as involvement in professional organizations, engagement in lifelong learning, professional advocacy, and dissemination of information through publication and presentations.

3.       Evidence-based Assessment and Evaluation Strategies: Possess the knowledge and skill to implement evidence-based assessment and evaluation strategies appropriate to the learner and the learning goals, use literature resources to develop evidence-based didactic and clinical assessment and evaluation tools, use a variety of assessment and evaluation strategies, and provide timely, constructive, and thoughtful feedback to learners.

4.       Curriculum Design and Evaluation of Program Outcomes: Possess the knowledge and skill to formulate program outcomes, develop competency statements, write learning objectives, select appropriate learning activities, base curriculum design, and implementation on sound educational principles and theory, revise curriculum based on contemporary societal and health care trends and prepare graduates to function effectively in the health care environment.

5.       Change Agent and Leader: Possess the knowledge and skill to provide effective leadership in the creation of contemporary nursing education, participate in interdisciplinary efforts to address health care and educational needs of the community, provide leadership in the parent institution, evaluate organizational effectiveness in nursing education, and develop leadership skill to shape and implement planned change.

6.       Continuous Self-evaluation and Role Enhancement: Possess the knowledge and skill to  balance teaching, scholarship and service demands inherent in the academic educator role, improve role effectiveness through feedback from self, peer, student, and administrators; engage in activities that promote one’s socialization to the role of academic nurse educator, and possess a commitment to lifelong learning

7.       Engage in Scholarship: Possess the knowledge and skill to design and implement scholarly activities in an established area of expertise, use literature to design evidence-based teaching and evaluation practices, serve as a teaching resource for a variety of audiences, engage in teaching and learning inquiry, serve as a role model of scholarly integrity, courage, perseverance, vitality, and creativity.

8.       Function within the Educational Environment: Possess the knowledge and skill to contribute to the educational environment within which they practice, recognize how political, institutional, social, and economic forces impact their role, use historical knowledge and current trends as a basis for educational recommendations, develop collaborative networks to enhance nursing’s contribution and influence within the academic community, and advocate for nursing education in the political arena.

Source: American Nurses Association Scope and Standards of Nurse Administrators &

National League for Nursing Scope and Practice for Academic Nurse Educators

21.  Expected Standards of Performance

The learning outcomes listed above were selected based on the combined subject-matter expertise of the members of the WSU School of Nursing. 

Program Curriculum

22.  All Program Courses

INFORMATION PAGE

Did this program proposal receive unanimous approval within the Department? _Yes_   If not, what are the major concerns raised by the opponents?

Explain how this program will differ from similar offerings by other departments.  Also explain any effects this proposal will have on program requirements or enrollments in other departments including the Bachelor of Integrated Studies Program.  In the case of similar offerings or affected programs, you should include letters from the departments in question stating their support or opposition to the proposed program.

A Master’s Degree program must have a minimum of 30 credit hours with a maximum of 36 credit hours.

A Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, or Bachelor of Integrated Studies must have a minimum of 120 credit hours with a program maximum of 126 hours (This is a state system-wide requirement). Exceptions for the maximum number of program hours are allowed if accreditation issues require a set number of courses within a given program, i.e. Dental Hygiene, Nursing, Radiology.

An Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science must have a minimum of 60 credit hours with a program maximum of 63 credit hours. An Associate of Applied Science must have a minimum of 63 credit hours with a program maximum of 69 credit hours.

Major programs that require a minor will consist of not fewer than 30 credits and not more than 48 credits in the major field. Major programs that do not require a minor shall consist of not more than 63 credits in the major field.

A minor is a program of study generally selected to complement and strengthen a student’s major and/or enrich the student’s overall educational program.  A minor consists of not fewer than 15 credits.  Courses that are used to satisfy the general education requirements can be used as part of the minimum number of hours needed for the minor requirements, unless prohibited by a particular college or department.

Indicate the number of credit hours for course work within the proposed program. (Do not include credit hours for General Education, SI, Diversity, or other courses unless those courses fulfill requirements within the proposed program.)     ______15______ 

Submit the original to the Faculty Senate Office, MC 1033, and an electronic copy to kbrown4@weber.edu