The Department of Nursing at Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) has launched a new certificate for graduate nurses to become certified educators. This certificate provides essential tools for registered nurses to transition into formal educator roles within both academic institutions and clinical practice settings. The efficient, flexible program consists of 3 to 4 eight-week courses and can be completed in as little as 11 months.

Admission to the Graduate Nurse Educator Certificate program follows the standard MSN admission protocol. Prospective students must submit a formal application, a current resume, and letter of intent, along with two letters of professional recommendation. With the application, all students declare their intended track: the MSN-prepared RN Certificate or the BSN-prepared RN Certificate.

The curriculum is designed to provide foundational expertise in pedagogical theory and curriculum design. The MSN-prepared RN track, for nurses who already have a master’s degree, focuses on cultivating advanced competence and confidence in teaching and learning theories and preparing nurses for the rigors of the classroom, clinical education roles, or staff development. The BSN-prepared RN track, for nurses who have a bachelor’s degree, provides expertise in their current practice, serving as a strategic introduction to graduate-level study.

“This is such an exciting opportunity for multiple reasons,” shares Dr. Terri Gibson, director of the MSN program. “We need nurse educators, and we have a great program designed to build competence and confidence in teaching, whether in the classroom or as a clinical instructor within a healthcare facility. We can help nurses process the expertise they’ve gathered through their work experience and translate that into becoming a teacher who can provide practical, enriching, and life-changing educational instruction.”

Students who successfully complete the certificate remain eligible to transition into the full MSN Education degree program. Students will take the certificate program through the SWAUOnline system and will have access to important academic support services including library and learning resources.

 

###

 

For 133 years, Southwestern Adventist University has offered Christian education. A small comprehensive university, the beautiful campus is in Keene, Texas, about 20 minutes south of Fort Worth. Southwestern Adventist University offers personable professors, numerous programs including business, music, education, nursing, master’s programs, and many ways for students to get involved both on campus and abroad. With a diverse student body that includes international students from dozens of countries and an average student/teacher ratio of 11:1, Southwestern Adventist University offers a uniquely diverse and personal college experience.