Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing – Nursing Education Online
Develop the educational expertise you need to play a vital role in preparing the next generation of nurses.
Apply by:
12/27/23
Start class:
1/16/24
Program Overview
Why Consider the RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Education Online at USM
$23,364
Total Tuition
As few as 24 months
Program Duration
60
Nursing Credit Hours
Prepare to teach in entry-level nursing programs in both didactic and clinical courses with our Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing – Nursing Education online program at the University of Southern Maine (USM). Designed to be flexible for working nurses, this efficient degree plan features undergraduate coursework provided by the University of Maine at Fort Kent and graduate coursework from USM.
As a student, you will focus on integrating nursing, humanities, and education theory to facilitate learning and improve nursing across diverse settings. Graduate coursework for this advanced nursing program meets the educational criteria for the National League for Nursing (NLN) Nurse Educator Certificate while providing a foundation for continued professional development as well as for doctoral study. Save time and money—and take fewer courses than if you were to earn your BSN and master's separately—by earning this CCNE-accredited RN to MS in Nursing online in as few as 24 months.
The baccalaureate courses in this program emphasize the clinical reasoning that drives a culture of safety while developing your ability to use evidence-based practice to make decisions for quality outcomes. This portion of the program prepares you for graduate-level work, which teaches you to:
- Demonstrate an advanced level of understanding of nursing, humanities, and education theory and integrate this knowledge to facilitate learning and improve nursing across diverse settings
- Demonstrate teaching effectiveness to improve patient outcomes and leadership skills to implement change in practice and education systems
- Create learning experiences that support cognitive, psychomotor, and affective development
- Utilize technology in the teaching-learning process to support delivery of high quality and safe patient care
- Translate research into practice through critical appraisal of existing evidence to resolve education and practice problems, disseminate results, and develop evidence-based teaching, assessment, and evaluation practices
- Synthesize broad ecological, global, epidemiological, cultural, and social determinants of health in order to integrate evidence-based population principles into nursing curricula
- Demonstrate an advanced level of understanding of nursing, humanities, and education theory and integrate this knowledge to facilitate learning and improve nursing across diverse settings
- Demonstrate teaching effectiveness to improve patient outcomes and leadership skills to implement change in practice and education systems
- Create learning experiences that support cognitive, psychomotor, and affective development
- Utilize technology in the teaching-learning process to support delivery of high quality and safe patient care
- Translate research into practice through critical appraisal of existing evidence to resolve education and practice problems, disseminate results, and develop evidence-based teaching, assessment, and evaluation practices
- Synthesize broad ecological, global, epidemiological, cultural, and social determinants of health in order to integrate evidence-based population principles into nursing curricula
As a graduate of this RN to MS in Nursing online program, you will be prepared to make an impact in educational roles such as:
- Nursing Instructor
- Clinical Nurse Educator
- Nurse Educator
- Clinical Educator
- Nursing Faculty
- Adjunct Instructor
- Nursing Instructor
- Clinical Nurse Educator
- Nurse Educator
- Clinical Educator
- Nursing Faculty
- Adjunct Instructor
$23,364
Total Tuition
As few as 24 months
Program Duration
60
Nursing Credit Hours
Accreditation
The nursing programs at the University of Southern Maine are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 665 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington DC, 20001, 202-887-6791.
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Tuition
Our Budget-Friendly Tuition is Affordable and Competitive
Our goal is for you to earn a high-quality degree that will help improve your career and income without taking on considerable financial debt.
Tuition breakdown:
$23,364
Total Tuition
$309
Per Nursing Credit Hour
| Program | Per Program |
|---|---|
| RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Education | $23,364 |
Tuition breakdown:
$23,364
Total Tuition
Calendar
Jot Down These Key USM Dates and Deadlines
The RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Education online program offers a flexible course calendar, with multiple start dates each year to accommodate your professional and personal schedules.
Now enrolling:
12/27/23
Apply Date
1/16/24
Class Starts
| Session | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline* | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 | 1/16/24 | 12/27/23 | 12/27/23 | 1/16/24 | 1/15/24 | 3/1/24 |
| Spring 2 | 3/18/24 | 2/28/24 | 2/28/24 | 3/18/24 | 1/15/24 | 5/3/24 |
| Summer 1 | 5/13/24 | 4/24/24 | 4/24/24 | 5/13/24 | 5/15/24 | 6/28/24 |
| Summer 2 | 7/1/24 | 6/12/24 | 6/12/24 | 7/1/24 | 5/15/24 | 8/16/24 |
| Fall 1 | 9/3/24 | 8/15/24 | 8/15/24 | 9/3/24 | 8/15/24 | 10/18/24 |
| Fall 2 | 10/28/24 | 10/9/24 | 10/9/24 | 10/28/24 | 8/15/24 | 12/20/24 |
* The payment deadline for the second session of each term is the same as the first session deadline or ten days from the date of registration.
Now enrolling:
12/27/23
Apply Date
1/16/24
Class Starts
Have questions or need more information about our online programs?
Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?
Admissions
Read the Admission Details for the RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Education
The RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Education online program has specific requirements that applicants must meet to enroll. Please read the admission guidelines to ensure you qualify.
Admission Requirements:
- 3.0 Minimum GPA
- Statement of Purpose
- Online Application
- Unencumbered Nursing License
- Online application
- ADN/ASN from an accredited university, with a minimum 3.0 GPA OR diploma in nursing
- Current, unencumbered nursing license
- One statement of purpose/essay (in the online application)
- An undergraduate course in introductory statistics that includes descriptive and inferential statistics completed with a grade of C or higher
- Official transcripts (submitted directly from the granting institution) from all colleges/universities attended
- Students with a minimum undergraduate or diploma cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above may be directly admitted to the RN to MS in Nursing program if all admission criteria is met. Progression to the Master's program requires that the student maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or a B average, for all undergraduate courses taken at the 300/400 level.
- Students interested in the MS in Nursing programs with an undergraduate or diploma GPA of 2.5-2.99 should apply directly to UMFK RN to BSN program. Conditional admission to MS in Nursing program may be granted upon successful completion of 12 credits of 300/400 level courses with a grade of B or better. Progression to the Master's program requires that the student maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or a B average, for all undergraduate courses taken at the 300/400 level.
- Upload your essay in PDF format in the online application or email your essay to [email protected]
- Demonstrate your understanding of the nurse administrator/educator role and reasons for becoming a nurse leader
- Explain your professional goals that will be supported by the Master of Science degree
- Outline the experiences, capacity, and abilities brought to a master's program
- Document your reasons for choosing USM for this program
Official transcripts (submitted directly from the granting institution) and other supporting documents may be mailed or emailed.
Application Processing Center
University of Maine System
P.O. Box 412
Bangor, ME 04402-0412
Email Address:
[email protected]
This online program is currently offered to students located in the following states: Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and South Dakota.
Courses
See the Courses in the RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Education
Students will complete the following required RN to BSN coursework through the University of Maine at Fort Kent:
NUR 301: Promoting Healthy Communities
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduces students to the concepts and principles of community-based nursing, wherein the nurse promotes the optimum wellness of individuals, families, and communities to live and work in healthy environments. Provides an evidence and practice-based perspective to examine current and emerging issues in population health. The preferences, values, needs and culture of the community-as-client are considered to ensure safe, competent, and effective care.
NUR 309: Holistic Health Assessment with Lab
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Prepares students with the knowledge, attitude, and skill needed to complete a detailed health history interview and comprehensive health assessment. With a focus on wellness, individual adult health status will be assessed, including physical, emotional, cultural, spiritual factors, from which appropriate nursing diagnoses may be derived.
NUR 312: Conceptual Issues of Professional Nursing
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
(Fixed first course.) Promotes the development of professional knowledge, attitudes, and skills as foundational to professional nursing. Students will be introduced to selected concepts, themes, and theories that deepen an understanding of the historical, legal, ethical, and contemporary context of nursing practice.
NUR 342: Health Promotions
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to health promotion and health promotion strategies that can be utilized to improve or enhance health for individuals and families in a variety of settings. The use of evidence-based practice and prominent nursing theories will be explored to aid in the development of practical and relevant interventions for persons from different socioeconomic, cultural, and social backgrounds. Broad course content will include how biological, psychological, sociocultural, spiritual, and environmental domains influence physical activity, nutrition, and stress management across the lifespan.
NUR 380: Transcultural Care in Nursing
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Addresses the impact that social, political, cultural, spiritual, gender, age, and lifestyle factors have upon the health of individuals and communities. Provides students with evidence-based learning related to the complementary therapies and approaches used by the public and available to nurses that can be used in culturally-appropriate ways to treat illness, prevent disease, and promote well-being. Identifies personally held beliefs and values and responds to the diversity and uniqueness of individuals and populations to provide culturally-sensitive, safe, and effective care.
NUR 401: Health Related Research
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduces students to the conduct of research; research sources, utilization, and dissemination; as well as concepts and principles of evidence-based practice (EBP) as a way to improve nursing practice and healthcare outcomes. Focus of the course is on developing clinical EBP questions; conducting a literature review; and to appraise and apply current, reliable research findings and clinical practice. Standards for the conduct of ethical research in qualitative and quantitative research designs are also reviewed.
NUR 413: Health Care Ethics & the Law
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The focus of the course includes examining ethical and legal issues in the context of nursing and healthcare practice. Students explore the principles of ethical reasoning and decision-making to resolve of ethical dilemmas present in healthcare. Students analyze the ethical obligations, policies, and laws that guide healthcare delivery. Students examine current ethical issues.
HLT 407: Leadership & Management in Healthcare
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Prepares students to assume leadership, decision-making roles, and political awareness within an increasingly complex and changing health care system. Principles of leadership and management are examined in context of their application within current and prospective global health care environments. Role development and values clarification are emphasized.
NUR 302: Pharmacology
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Provides students with knowledge about general principles of drug actions along with nursing responsibilities and accountability in the administration of medication over the lifespan. Using the nursing process, numerous pharmacologic classifications will be discussed including mechanisms of drug actions, key adverse effects, and drug interactions. Genetic and genomic considerations will be examined. Students will develop skills needed for safe practice including calculating dosages and administering various medications.
NUR 435R: Concepts in Patho
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examines normal and abnormal human physiologic and pathological processes encountered in clinical practice. Emphasis is placed on the integration of knowledge of pathology, genetic, pharmacologic, and biochemical concepts and disease symptomatology into the delivery of nursing care. 3 credit hours. Prerequisites: BIO 401 or Valid RN license or (for international students) approval to practice nursing in your jurisdiction or instructor permission.
NUR 384: Global Health & Humanitarianism
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Provides an opportunity for students to develop personally and professionally as global citizens by applying their knowledge and skills to examine and address social, economic, political, and environmental factors that influence global health and healthcare challenges through a framework of humanitarianism and service. Introduces students to health disparities that exist in the world and developing countries around the world and fosters student critical thinking and discussion about healthcare and humanitarianism efforts within a global environment. This practicum course satisfies the university general education requirements for global awareness and learning for citizenship, and for nursing students in lieu of NUR 380: Transcultural Nursing. This course is closely tied to the International Medical Relief or related international service programs.
NUR 606: Leadership, Health Policy, and Role
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines the complexity of the U.S. Health Care System, international systems, and current efforts directed at health care reform. Past, current, and potential roles of graduate prepared nurses, related to access, equity, and the goals of healthy people are examined. Socio-political, economic, and ethical issues embedded in public policy decisions are explored. Attention is given to the role of graduate-prepared nurses in influencing, creating, and implementing policy for diverse populations across the lifespan. FIXED FIRST COURSE.
NUR 603: Nursing Theory and Knowledge Development
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Contemporary issues in theory development and the social production of knowledge for nursing are explored in this course. The social and historical context of knowledge development in nursing are examined with an emphasis on the relationship between theory, research, interprofessional collaboration, and nursing practice.
NUR 604: Nursing Research
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The appraisal and use of research and other evidence to provide high quality health care, to initiate change, and to improve nursing practice are the foci for this course. Emphasis is on developing relevant clinical questions, searching for evidence, systematic appraisal of evidence, and determining whether and how to apply the findings. Commonly used research designs and ethical principles to ensure human subject protection are examined. Strategies for organizing evidence and implementing evidenced-based practice changes are explored.
NUR 624: Community and Population Based Health
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An interprofessional approach to caring for communities and populations across the lifespan. Major components include concepts of health, levels of prevention, epidemiology, culturally responsive care, global health issues, emergency preparedness, and control of health problems. Community assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation applied to complex health issues.
NUR 611: Advanced Pathophysiology Integrated Health Assessment and Pharmacology I
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is the first in a series of two courses that explores an integrated study of pathophysiology (including the genetic, biochemical, and environmental bases of diseases), health assessment, and pharmacology. The emphasis is on an understanding of the interconnectedness of these three areas of science. The foci are diseases and disorders involving: genetics, cellular biology, mental health disorders, cardiovascular system, hematologic disorders, inflammation disorders, respiratory system, infectious diseases, and cancer.
NUR 612: Advanced Pathophysiology Integrated Health Assessment and Pharmacology II
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This is the second in a series of two courses that explores an integrated study of pathophysiology (including the genetic, biochemical, and environmental bases of diseases), health assessment, and pharmacology. The emphasis is on gaining an understanding of the interconnectedness of these three areas of science. The foci are diseases and disorders involving the: renal, endocrine, gastrointestinal, neurological, musculoskeletal, and reproductive systems. Prerequisite: NUR 611.
NUR 663: Clinical Project and Clinical Practicum
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides an opportunity to synthesize advanced nursing knowledge, skills, and behaviors, which serve as the foundation for the role of the nurse educator. The emphasis is on applying research and other evidence within a given practice setting. Under the direction of a faculty member and guidance from a preceptor, students complete a clinical project aimed at improving healthcare outcomes for individuals, populations, or systems. The project is completed in a clinical practice setting and requires a minimum of 35 supervised hours and 75 hours of preparation. Prerequisite(s): NUR 603 (or concurrent), NUR 604, and OLME NUR 612.
NUR 635: Evaluation and Measurement in Nursing Education
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on the role of the nurse educator in the assessment and evaluation of learning. Application of key strategies to effectively measure achievement of learning outcomes in a variety of settings will be surveyed. Experiential exercises in the development, use, and critique of measurement and evaluation methods to classroom and clinical learning situations will be explored. Course topics include the role of evaluation in classroom instruction, test construction, reliability, validity, test evaluation and interpretation. Legal, ethical, and regulatory issues, and the importance of evaluating personal teaching effectiveness are also explored.
NUR 636: Foundations of Nursing Education
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This is the first in a sequence of three courses designed to prepare the professional nurse for a role in formal teaching. Various philosophical perspectives and frameworks for understanding the concepts of teaching and learning are examined. Exploration and critical analysis of historical, recurring, and current issues in nursing education will be addressed. The call for radical transformation within nursing education will be explored—and specific issues concerning these changes when put into practice will be discussed. It is expected that learners in this course will develop sensitivity, knowledge, and skill in exploring the role of educator in both clinical and classroom learning environments. Students will develop a teaching philosophy statement. Prerequisites: NUR 603, NUR 604, NUR 611, and NUR 612.
NUR 637: Methods of Education in Nursing
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This is the second in a sequence of three courses designed to prepare the professional nurse for teaching roles. Components of course and curriculum development including: assessment of learners’ needs, course outcomes, content selection and development, assignment development, evaluation methods, and common legal issues within nursing education are examined. An emphasis on how a paradigm shift to learning is impacted by technology and the changing relationships between education and work will be discussed. The scholarship of teaching; assessment and quality assurance; as well as the politics and process of curriculum reform will be explored. Using different methods, students will design, implement, and evaluate two learning activities. Prerequisite: NUR 636.
NUR 638: Education Practicum and Seminar
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This is the final nurse educator course designed to prepare the professional nurse for teaching roles. In this course, the concept of “praxis” is fully realized. With guidance from a faculty member and preceptor, students will select educational experiences to develop, implement, and evaluate their teaching in different settings. Experiences can include and are not limited to, in-service programs, classroom teaching, clinical teaching, simulation, or community education programs. Minimum of 35 supervised hours and a minimum of 75 hours of preparation. Prerequisite(s): OLME NUR 637.
Students will take one of the following:
NUR 659: Information Management and Health Care Technology
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides an overview of the role of information systems and technology in health care. The emphasis is on how information system/technology can improve the quality and delivery of patient care in a variety of health care settings. Factors that contribute to the adoption of health care information technologies and the challenges regarding their successful utilization are examined.
NUR 692: Quality Improvement
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The purpose of this course is to introduce the principles and practice of quality improvement as practiced in health care settings. The course integrates theory, evidence-based practice, and systems thinking. The content focuses on describing, measuring, improving, and evaluating the quality and safety of health care services. Students develop competencies in identifying opportunities for quality improvement, selecting and using quality improvement tools and measurement methods, and presenting their work in a professional context. Learning occurs through assigned readings, discussions, exercises, and applied practice through an individual quality improvement project.
For the RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Education online program, you will complete 24 hours of undergraduate credits and up to 21 hours of General Education credits through the University of Maine at Fort Kent and 36 hours of graduate credits (MSN core courses, Nursing Education courses, and one elective) through the University of Southern Maine School of Nursing.
Students may need up to 21 additional General Education credits, to be determined upon transcript review. A block transfer of 69 credits for General Education courses will be awarded with proof of an active RN license.
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