Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

This course is an introduction to the role of academic nurse educator in facilitating student learning. Theories and science of learning, curriculum development and course design, enhancement of the learning environment, and teaching strategies for the classroom, clinical, and simulated learning setting will be explored. The course prepares individuals interested in the nurse educator role to think analytically, reason logically and communicate effectively on curriculum design and teaching strategies. The preparation of nurse educators with graduate education is critical in the face of an educator shortage. Future nurse educators must be able to function in complex roles by synthesizing knowledge to development dynamic environments for learning.

• There are no pre-requisites for taking N8066 except graduate standing of the student.
• This course is REQUIRED for students receiving NFLP funding

This course provides an introduction to theoretical foundations and evidence-based strategies for assessment, measurement, and evaluation in nursing education. Course participants explore assessment of clinical and didactic learning across cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains for diverse learners, and are introduced to strategies for curriculum and program evaluation. Emphasis is placed on development of test items, interpretation of test results, evaluation of written assignments, and assessment of clinical skill performance. Discussion of legal, ethical, and social issues related to evaluation is included. There is a specific body of knowledge, and set of skills, and collection of attitudes needed to master in the role of a nurse educator. This course is focused on educational assessment, evaluation, and grading. Evaluation provides information on student learning, the effectiveness of teaching. Thus, the course introduces learners to concepts, skills, and issues needed to understand and actively engage in educational evaluation. Nurse educators need to be aware of the purposes and limitations of assessment methods. This discussion grounds the rest of the course and each assessment or evaluation method can be viewed through a lens of reliability and validity. Key skills for educational assessment, especially in nursing, with licensing and certification as benchmarks, include test blueprint and item construction, along with item analysis. In a practice discipline such as nursing, assessment of skills and competencies in clinical, simulation or lab settings is a crucial as assessment of didactic learning. Nurse educators must also be able to provide effective, meaningful feedback on a variety of assignments. All assessment, evaluation, and grading occurs in the context of legal, ethical, and social constructs which influence interactions and outcomes so we add this perspective as the semester comes to a close. Finally, learners are introduced to curriculum and program evaluation, and accreditation to frame assessment of program quality/value.

• Although there are no pre-requisites for taking N8067, it is STRONGLY SUGGESTED that students take N8066 prior to enrolling in N8067.
• This course is REQUIRED for students receiving NFLP funding.

This course prepares nurse educators to teach in blended, hybrid, and online environments. Students will learn effective course design and teaching/learning strategies for students in the online setting, including pedagogical approaches to facilitate social processes of online learning, collaboration, and engagement. Moving from theoretical to practical application, students will create an online learning module and evaluate a sample course for quality. In this course, students develop teaching and learning strategies for the online setting that maintain the organizing framework of the nursing paradigm. This course not only models scholarly teaching and best practices for the online setting, but also develops these skills in future nurse educators that are graduates of VUSN who will be leaders in the dynamic transformation of nursing education for the future.

• This course is an elective and may be taken at any time during curriculum. While completing the design (N8066) and evaluation (N8067) electives is not required, it is STRONGLY SUGGESTED. For students who have not previously taken N8066 and N8067, permission from the instructor of record is required for enrollment.
• This course is NOT REQUIRED for students receiving NFLP funding.
• This course may NOT be substituted for either N8066 or N8067 to receive NFLP funds.

This course provides an in-depth view of teaching, learning, and evaluation of generalist and advanced practice nursing student performance in clinical and simulated environments. Students explore evidence-based strategies for the design and implementation of simulation scenarios, including effective debriefing. Trends and issues related to clinical teaching, precepting students in the clinical setting, and simulation innovation are discussed.

This capstone course in the Nurse Educator Certificate program provides the learner an opportunity to integrate new knowledge and operationalize nurse educator competencies and best pedagogical practices in an area of particular interest. Learners will explore educator role expectations and engage in reflective analysis as they complete a mentored project.

* Enrollment in N8079 is limited to NE PMC student only and is required for the NE PMC