Nurse Educator Schools in Washington, DC
Working as a nurse in the District of Columbia is a rewarding career. However, you may now be in a position to take your career to the next stage – for example as a nursing educator. There are a series of important steps to achieve this goal. The first step is finding a program that fits your needs, such as The George Washington University RN to BSN program.
What Are the Online Nursing Education Prerequisites in Washington DC?
To become a nursing educator in the US, you'll first need an RN license which you can only acquire after graduating from an ADN or BSN. After that, you need a relevant master’s or doctorate; the latter is not mandatory. However, it is advisable to have access to the most sought-after positions.
Online RN to MSN Nurse Educator Programs
Those who have worked with an RN for some years have a handful of opportunities. Nevertheless, most are available online or as hybrids. graduates have several opportunities in Connecticut to study a nursing education MSN. Students cover a range of nursing and education-related subjects including both practice and theory, ethics, curriculum development, and evaluation methods. Eligibility requirements for applicants are:
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8or 3.0 on the 4.0 scale; send transcripts
- Minimum grades may also apply to specific individual courses (statistics, research, and health assessment are common)
- Unencumbered RN license
- Your NCLEX-RN score may be required
- CPR certification may be required
Online BSN to MSN Nurse Educator Programs
BSN graduates have several opportunities in Connecticut to study a nursing education MSN. Students cover a range of nursing and education-related subjects including both practice and theory, ethics, curriculum development, and evaluation methods. Eligibility requirements for applicants are:
- A regionally accredited BSN
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; send transcripts along with scores
- A current and unencumbered RN license
- Your NCLEX-RN score may be required
- CPR certification
Online Doctorate Nurse Educator Programs: DNP, Ph.D., or Ed.D.
There are three doctorate programs for nursing education–a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), a Doctor of Nursing Philosophy (PhD), and a Doctor of Education (EdD).
The DNP is typically for those who want to become practicing doctors, while the PhD is typically for research. The EdD is for those students who want to go on to teach, but these degrees are less common.
In DC, you can access many of these degree programs entirely online, including George Washington University's DNP program, as well as their PhD program.
The admission requirements for entering a doctorate program in nursing education are similar to the requirements for other nursing education programs but you will be required to hold a higher degree (MSN).
Nurse Educator Licensing and Certification in Washington DC
Regardless of how you choose to pursue a nurse educator program, you must have an RN license. Then you need a master's degree or doctorate. This can be either a dedicated MSN in Nursing Education or a Nursing MSN with an educator pathway.
A Certificate of Nursing Education (CNE) is not optional but preferred in most cases. It's important to ensure you apply for the right certificate:
- CNE certification is for academia
- CNEcl certification is for professional educators. You need a minimum of two years of practice and three years of formal experience
- CNEn certification is for novice nursing educators with less than three years of experience
Your RN license requires that it is kept up to date in line with specified criteria. This applies even if you do not intend to practice. CNE certification also has criteria for continued eligibility.
RN licensing in Washington, District of Columbia costs $187 for the application and $200 to enter the exam. License by endorsement is $230. The CNE is the same cost across the country: $400 for NLN members and $500 for non-members.
Who Hires Nurse Educators in Washington DC?
Nursing educators have many ways to utilize their new skills:
- Academia: Working in colleges and universities, you'll be teaching new nurses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels
- Professional education: Typically working in a clinical setting educating existing health professionals on a range of skills, procedures, tech, and more
- Private sector: Working for agencies or solutions providers, you may work on a contract basis providing any necessary training in admin or clinical education
- Charities: Lobbying or education, your skills can be used for decision-makers, interest groups, or the public where necessary