Purpose:
This study aimed to describe a new Health Resources and Service Administration grant-supported program for the role of clinical nurse specialist-nurse educator (CNS-NE).
Significance:
The United States is in the midst of an unprecedented nursing shortage. An insufficient number of faculty was cited by 76.1% of responding schools as a reason for not accepting qualified applicants (American Academy of Colleges of Nursing, 2005). Concurrently, the supply of clinical nurse specialists does not meet regional and national demands. The recent Institute of Medicine publications (eg, Crossing the Quality Chasm) emphasize the need to overhaul the US healthcare system, and CNSs are uniquely qualified to serve as systems leaders.
Design:
The College of Nursing has been awarded $1 million over 3 years for the development of an online program for a new role that combines the competencies of the CNS and nurse educator.
Methods:
The conceptual framework of this new master of science in nursing program is the synergy model, and course-work will focus on the development of a clinical specialty along with formal training in pedagogy. It is anticipated that the graduate of this program will serve as a CNS in a hospital and an adjunct clinical instructor for a local college or university. The nurse educator role may also be actualized as a staff development instructor or an academic faculty member. The curriculum has been planned to ease matriculation into the doctor of nursing practice program.
Findings:
The ultimate aim of the CNS-NE program is to increase the number and diversity of CNSs with nurse educator skills available for acute care settings and schools of nursing. This will improve clinical care as well as increase the capacity of nursing education programs. The CNS-NE program will combine the course requirements to qualify the graduate to take American Nurses Credentialing Center CNS certification as well as the course requirements for a National League for Nursing certificate in nursing education.
Conclusions:
This program intended to aid in easing the shortage of both CNSs and nurse educators by expanding the formal education in pedagogy beyond what is usually included in most CNS programs.
Implications for Practice:
The planned curriculum and rationale will be shared and implications discussed.