Concentration Highlights
Intensive Full-Time Course Immersion
Coursework for the nurse educator concentration is delivered over 12 consecutive months. Courses are administered over three semesters with two eight-week sessions per semester. Students complete an average of 4 courses per semester or 10 – 12 credit hours per semester (2 classes per 8-week session averaging 4 – 8 credit hours per session). Excluding the required clinical and nurse education practicums, students complete all the necessary courses online in an asynchronous, cohort-style format.
Following a virtual orientation, students are required to complete 33 total credits of nursing coursework. This includes 12 Core Master of Science in Nurse credits and 21 nurse educator concentration credits. Students complete these credits over 12 courses, including a clinical practicum and nurse education practicum totaling 135 hours.
Nurse Education Practicums
The concentration requires students to complete 135 practicum hours. These practicum hours include a 45-hour clinical practicum and a 90-hour nurse education practicum. All students must complete these hours to graduate successfully. These practicum experiences allow students to apply the skills they’ve learned throughout the concentration in a real-world clinical nursing and education setting.
Committed Nursing Faculty
UP’s world-class nursing faculty offers students a distinctive and transformative learning experience. Students and faculty alike engage in collegial and collaborative relationships with one another throughout the concentration. Students graduate prepared to serve as leaders in nursing education.
An Accredited Nursing Concentration
The University of Providence is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and the Montana Board of Nursing (MBN). In addition, baccalaureate and master’s degree programs at the University of Providence are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). View the Nursing Accreditation page for more information.
*The Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is currently seeking accreditation through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
*The Post-Masters Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration Certificate is currently seeking accreditation through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Exam-Preparedness & Eligibility
Graduates of the nurse educator concentration will be eligible to apply for certification through the National League for Nursing’s Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) Certification exam upon graduation. Students are also eligible to pursue other examinations as deemed appropriate by certifying bodies.
Application Information
Requirements & Eligibility
Application: Applicants must submit a completed application through NursingCAS
Application Fees: Applicants must submit an $80 application fee required by NursingCAS
College Transcripts: Applicants must submit undergraduate university transcripts
Official transcripts must be sent directly to NursingCAS from the college/university
GPA Requirements: Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
Applicants with a GPA below 3.0, or who do not have a transcript with an officially calculated GPA, may be required to complete the GRE exam at the discretion of the Program Coordinator. Recommended GRE scores are 150 verbal and 149 quantitative.
Resume/Curriculum Vitae: Applicants must submit an up-to-date resume or CV
Applicants should include all volunteer and extracurricular experiences
Degree Requirements: Applicant must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Degree must be issued through an accredited nursing university
RN License: Applicant must hold an active, unencumbered registered nurse license
RN license must be issued in the state the applicant resides and works in
Admission Deadlines
Applications for the Master of Science in Nursing, Nurse Educator Concentration are accepted for fall and spring enrollments. All applications must be submitted through the NursingCAS Application on the Graduate Admissions Page:
- NursingCAS Spring 2025 Admissions Deadline: December 18, 2024
- NursingCAS Fall 2025 Admissions Deadline: August 2025
Concentration Vision
At the University of Providence Great Falls Nursing, our vision is to set the standard for nursing excellence through transformative education, innovation, and compassionate care. We aspire to empower our students with the knowledge, skills, and ethical grounding necessary to lead in the dynamic field of healthcare. Our commitment extends beyond academic excellence to nurturing a community of professionals who are dedicated to improving health outcomes, advocating for vulnerable populations, and contributing to the global health landscape with integrity and respect. We envision our graduates as pioneers of change, equipped to address the complexities of modern healthcare with confidence, empathy, and unwavering dedication to the well-being of all individuals.
Concentration Mission
The concentration’s mission is “to prepare graduates for accountable and professional nursing practice that is relationship-based, vigilant, theory-guided, and grounded in the best possible evidence.”
A graduate of the concentration will be a leader in healthcare. Graduates will be excellent communicators, clinicians, and leaders of change. A graduate is a lifelong learner and will enhance the nursing profession by providing nursing evidence-based practice that is population-centered, as well as grounded in spiritual, ethical, and compassionate care.
Conceptual Framework
The concentrations mission is supported by a conceptual framework consisting of the following constructs:
Relationship-Based Care
The University of Providence’s Masters of Science in Nursing, Nurse Educator Concentration honors the patient and family as the center of the care delivery team. In relationship-based practice, excellent patient care outcomes are achieved through collaborative and sacred relationships among the patient, his or her family, and the healthcare team.
Vigilance
Nursing vigilance is reflected in unwavering attention to both the patient and the care delivery environment. This vigilance protects patients from harm and ensures their safe passage as they journey through the continuum of their care experience.
Professional Accountability
The professional nurse is accountable for nursing outcomes of care delivery by ensuring vigilant care processes, maintaining expertise in practice, and creating healing care environments. The professional nurse is answerable for practice that consistently meets established standards. This accountability includes the steadfast pursuit of opportunities to coach and mentor other members of the inter-professional healthcare team. Nurses are at all times responsible for their own self-care, professional development, and proactive career management.
Change
Constant, complex change is the expected norm and sets the context for contemporary life in health care delivery. Professional nurses thrive in–and are prepared to lead and manage positive change in improving health, with patients, colleagues, and communities.
Concentration Themes
Nursing students at the University of Providence will learn these themes and more:
- Compassion, ethics, and spirituality
- Patient and family-centered care
- Leadership and effective advocacy
- Evidence-based practice
- Population and Community Health
- Transforming healthcare
- Safety and quality outcomes
- Professional accountability
- Collaboration and inter-professional teams
- Reflective practice and lifelong development
Concentration Information
Learning Outcomes
Nurse educator concentration students will achieve these outcomes and more:
- Integrate findings from the sciences and humanities for the continual improvement of nursing care across diverse settings.
- Apply knowledge of organizational and system leadership practices.
- Select and apply quality improvement strategies to optimize safety and outcomes.
- Utilize clinical scholarship as a foundation for practice.
- Apply technology to enhance care, promote lifelong learning, and facilitate data generation and use.
- Promote social justice and human dignity through policy and advocacy.
- Lead and collaborate in interprofessional teams to improve individual and population health outcomes.
Skills You’ll Learn
Nurse educator concentration students will learn these skills and more:
- Nursing Research
- Organizational Leadership
- Statistics
- Assessment & Evaluation
- Development of Needs Assessments
- Curriculum Development
Concentration Curriculum
The Master of Science in Nursing, Nurse Educator Concentration is delivered over 12 months, with new cohorts accepted in the fall (August) and spring (January) enrollment periods. Students complete an average of 4 courses per semester or 10 – 12 credit hours per semester, totaling 33 credits. Students also complete 135 total practicum hours, with 45 hours as a clinical practicum and 90 hours as a nurse education practicum.
Learn More: Master of Science in Nursing, Nurse Educator Concentration Curriculum
Masters of Science in Nursing CORE Courses
- MSN 515: Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 522: Research & Nursing Practice (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 530: Social Justice, Law & Policy In Healthcare (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 540: Organizational Leadership (3 Semester Credits)
Nurse Educator Concentration Courses
- MSN 505: Role of Nursing Education Across Diverse Settings (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 635: Informatics & Healthcare Technologies (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 652: Curriculum Development & Analysis (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 660: Innovative Teaching & Evaluation Strategies (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 670: Assessment & Evaluation In Nursing Education (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 684: Advanced Concepts In Assessment, Pathophysiology & Pharmacology (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 694: Advanced Clinical Practicum (2 Semester Credit)
- MSN 696: Practicum In Nursing Education (2 Semester Credits)
Total Master of Science in Nursing CORE Semester Credits: 12
Total Nurse Educator Concentration Semester Credits: 21
Advanced Health Assessment Hours: 45 | Teaching Practicum Hours: 90
** Upon admission to degree candidacy, a student may submit up to six (6) semester credits of appropriate graduate coursework with grades of “B” (3.0) or better from accredited graduate schools to satisfy degree requirements. The Program Coordinator, upon the advice of the Faculty Advisor, may accept transfer credits from an official transcript reflecting those credits. Acceptability of transfer credit rests on its relevance to the course of study being pursued and on the date of the instruction. Coursework older than six (6) years at graduation may not be submitted for transfer credit.
Additional Links & Resources
University of Providence Quick Links
- Tuition & Fees at the University of Providence
- How to Apply to the University of Providence
- University of Providence Mission & Catholic Identity
- School of Health Professions News & Announcements
- University of Providence Accreditation Information
MSN Nurse Educator Concentration Quick Links
Healthcare Professionals Tuition Incentive
The University of Providence is committed to supporting the healthcare workforce by empowering current healthcare professionals to start, enhance, or advance their careers in healthcare. The Healthcare Professionals Tuition Incentive (HPTI) Program provides currently employed healthcare professionals with the opportunity to apply tuition discounts to in-demand programs offered through the School of Health Professions catalog.
Visit the Healthcare Professionals Tuition Incentive Program page to learn more.
Providence Health & Services Partnership
UP’s unique partnership with Providence Health allows eligible Providence Caregivers and their dependents to receive an exceptional education from an accredited, faith-based, university. Caregivers and their dependents who enroll at the University of Providence may receive many possible benefits, such as discounted tuition rates and preferred admission, as part of their education benefits. Visit the Providence Human Resources Service Portal to learn more about caregiver education benefits, the application process for the programs, and tuition discounts.
Careers As A Nurse Educator
Nurse educators play a vital role in helping to educate the current and future nursing workforce. Since most nurse educators have experience working as registered nurses, they are well-prepared to teach and advise current and future nursing professionals by applying their expertise and knowledge to a guided curriculum that prepares students to meet evolving workforce needs.
Demand for nurse educators is high across healthcare, universities, and other nursing education venues. In an analysis of postsecondary nursing instructors and teachers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that there will be a growth of 12% in job outlook between 2021 and 2031 – a rate much faster than the average national job growth rate of 5%.
Program Costs
The University of Providence is committed to affordability and providing pricing transparency for all School of Health Professions programs. Pricing transparency at UP includes:
- Accessible and up-to-date information on tuition costs, university fees, application and admission fees, deposit amounts, and additional program costs.
- Cost of attendance worksheets outlining specific tuition layouts by program and semester.
- Information about scholarship opportunities and tuition discounts for specific groups.
- Information about the financial aid process.
Visit the Tuition and Fees page to access the latest pricing information. Access the Master of Science in Nursing, Nurse Educator Concentration Estimated Cost Breakdown sheet to view pricing information for this concentration, including a cost breakdown by semester and associated concentration costs. Visit the Financial Aid page to learn more about the financial aid process.
Accreditation
The University of Providence’s Bachelor and Masters of Science in Nursing programs are fully accredited through regional and national accrediting boards.
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
The University of Providence is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Information can be found on the NWCCU website, and Comments can be directed to the NWCCU staff at the following address:
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
8060 165th Avenue NE, Suite 100
Redmond, WA 98052
(425) 558-4224
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
The baccalaureate degree programs (RN-BSN and ABSN) in nursing and master’s degree programs in nursing at the University of Providence are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791
Montana Board of Nursing
The University of Providence is accredited by the Montana Board of Nursing. Information can be found on the Montana Nursing Board website, and Comments can be directed to the Montana Nursing Board staff at the following address:
Montana Board of Nursing
PO Box 200513
Helena, MT 59620-0513
(406) 841-2380
