Teaching Nursing - The Nurse Educator

This country is currently experiencing a severe nursing shortage. One of the most critical issues contributing to this shortage is the limited number of faculty available to educate the highly qualified applicant pool of men and women who have applied to our nursing programs across the country.

Nursing education programs in Utah have not been able to meet the growing demand for well-educated nurses because of limitations in qualified faculty. The University of Utah College of Nursing offers a 15 semester hour post-master's certificate program with emphasis in nursing education for individuals who already have earned a Master's degree in Nursing. The College of Nursing also offers a 35 semester hour MS program with emphasis in nursing education for qualified registered nurses who wish to pursue graduate study to prepare themselves as nurse educators. Both options may be completed with a blended delivery program combining web-enhanced and in classroom experience.

A full-time student (8-9 hours/semester) can complete the Master's program in two academic years (four semesters). This program of study includes three core nursing courses required of all master's students, five required teaching nursing courses, four of which contain practicum components, two general education elective courses (to be take outside the College of Nursing). The Post-Master's Certificate program may be completed in one to two academic years, depending on the number of courses taken per semester. All students have to complete a Master's Synthesis course as required by the Graduate School of the University of Utah. The courses that are included in the master's program of study may also be applied to completion of the requirements for the PhD degree with emphasis in nursing education.

Program Director:
Dr. Helen Zsohar, PhD, RN
Associate Professor
801-585-9639
helen.zsohar@nurs.utah.edu

page updated: 09/29/2005