Nursing Education
Inspire and Mentor the Next Generation of Nurses
Nurse educators are integral to the health care system. Without them, the next generation of nurses would be unprepared for an ever-changing health care industry.
The role of a nurse educator is multifaceted and includes facilitating learning and learner development, assessment and evaluation of learning and curriculum, leadership, mentoring, role modeling, contributing to scholarship or research, and quality improvement. They not only share their nursing expertise, but also their sense of caring and compassion as they facilitate learning. Nurse educators are found in schools of nursing, hospitals, and community settings. Continuing education and staff development are instrumental in helping nurses maintain nursing care competencies.
If you are interested in broadening your impact on the nursing profession, the role of a nurse educator is worth exploring.
Enter East Carolina University’s Nursing Education Program
We offer a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Nursing Education and a Post-Master’s Certificate (PMC) in Nursing Education. Both program options prepare you for the role of a nurse educator in any setting.
Our MSN and PMC Nursing Education program options are primarily online to provide maximum flexibility. To ensure you receive a well-rounded experience, with your individual input, our faculty locate teaching practicum preceptors and sites relevant to your area of interest near where you live.
In our program, you’ll advance your nursing knowledge to the graduate level for both practice and nursing education. You’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of how to teach learners in varied settings. You’ll develop teaching skills by engaging with emerging technologies that will help you meet nurse educator competencies. You’ll also expand your interdisciplinary skills and advanced nursing knowledge to help you in the nurse educator role.
Why ECU’s MSN Nursing Education Concentration
East Carolina University’s College of Nursing, along with our other health science colleges, are the top producers of health care professionals in North Carolina. Our College of Nursing is a designated Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing (NLN). ECU College of Nursing’s MSN programs and our MSN-Nursing Education program are consistently ranked as a top Master’s program by the U.S. News & World Report.
2026: #6 Best Online Master’s in Nursing Education Program, #9 Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs, #1 Online Public Master’s Program in North Carolina
2025: #7 Best Online Master’s in Nursing Education Program, #10 Best Online Master’s in Nursing Program, #1 Online Public Master’s Program
Exceptional Faculty
The faculty members of ECU College of Nursing and the MSN Nursing Education program maintain active clinical practices or pursue research. They understand the nurse educator requirements you’ll need to succeed because they have decades of experience in teaching and nursing education leadership. You’ll not only benefit from their extensive knowledge of teaching, but you’ll also receive personalized mentorship as well.
Student-Centered Resources
ECU’s 303,000-square-foot health science building houses the College of Nursing, College of Allied Health Sciences and Laupus Health Sciences Library, giving you access to the equipment, books, journals, and simulation labs with high-fidelity manikins. We also have student support services, counseling, and technology support to help you with your personal and online learning needs.
Scholarships
General scholarships are available to MSN nursing education students. ECU also shares information regarding available Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant funds.
Professional Connections
During the program, you can make professional connections with faculty and guest speakers. We also have student organizations for you to get involved and connected. Additionally, our teaching practicum courses require onsite experiences, offering you the opportunity to work with faculty, nursing professional development specialists, nurse educators, interprofessional team members, and directors or administrators of organizations.
Courses you’ll take to earn your MSN in Nursing Education or PMC in Nursing Education
East Carolina University’s MSN in Nursing Education concentration thoroughly prepares you to meet nurse educator requirements with courses such as:
- Theory for the Practice of Advanced Nursing
- Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing
- Educational Concepts, Theories, and Strategies in Nursing
- Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for Advanced Practice Nurses
- Evaluation in Nursing Education
ECU’s MSN Nursing Education concentration curriculum gives you the in-depth knowledge you need for the role of a nurse educator. Our curriculum plan includes full-time (2-years) and part-time (3-years) options. However, these plans are suggestions, and we can individualize plans of study on admission. The MSN Nursing Education concentration requires a minimum of 37 semester hours (40 semester hours if students have no prior academic nursing teaching experience). A sample curriculum guide follows.
ECU’s Post-Masters Certificate (PMC) in Nursing Education is offered for nurses who hold at least an MSN or currently enrolled nursing graduate students who want to gain additional knowledge of the nurse educator role. The PMC-Nursing Education option is 13 semester hours.
What can you do with your MSN with a nursing education concentration?
Working in a Clinical or Community Environment
The role of a nurse educator in a hospital setting may involve nursing professional development specialist and unit educator roles. Nurse Educators in a clinical setting often collaborate interprofessionally and provide training and mentoring to staff and patients. ECU’s MSN in Nursing Education prepares you to:
- Use simulation-based strategies that mirror real-world situations.
- Promote collaboration among health care and other hospital professionals.
- Plan, implement, and evaluate teaching sessions or training for hospital staff, including onboarding, continuing education, or unit/hospital-based training needs.
- Design quality improvement initiatives to improve patient care outcomes.
Working in an Academic Setting
While you’ll incorporate the same teaching tools used in a clinical setting, teaching in an academic setting is focused on teaching aspiring nurses about patient care. You will gain knowledge and practical experience on how to teach learners in a variety of academic settings, including clinical, classroom, laboratory, and online, such as:
- Plan, implement, and evaluate curriculum.
- Use active teaching strategies to facilitate learning.
- Plan, teach, and evaluate learners in clinical, classroom, and lab courses.
- Evaluate student learning needs and learning outcomes.
Take Your Nursing Skills to The Next Level
Graduates of our MSN Nursing Education concentration are scholars who understand the integration of the science and art of nursing for best practices in teaching and learning. They are leaders who are improving health care for everyone. Our graduates are eligible to take the Certified Nurse Educator exam upon completion of the program.
Accreditation for ECU’s MSN Nursing Education Program
East Carolina University’s College of Nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). In addition, ECU is the only public university in North Carolina fully accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare for its nursing simulation program.
Faculty
The following faculty members will be your instructors as you move through the Nursing Education concentration:
- Alison Swift, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, Concentration Director
- Jennifer Sugg, EdD, MSN, RN, CCRN, CNE, Clinical Placement Coordinator
- Elizabeth Toderick, DNP, RN, CNE
- In addition, other experienced faculty members within ECU College of Nursing teach in our core and clinical core curriculum and may also teach Nursing Education concentration courses.
Admission Requirements
Ready to join us? Applicants for admission into the MSN Nursing Education program must meet the ECU Graduate School and College of Nursing Admission requirements. Currently, the MSN/PMC in Nursing Education programs do not require the GRE for admission. Admission requirements for the MSN also include:
- A baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited program (MSN). For PMC-NE ONLY: must hold a graduate nursing degree (MSN or higher).
- A minimum GPA 2.7 in undergraduate studies and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in nursing major.
- Currently holds a non-restricted license to practice as a registered nurse (RN) in North Carolina or an NCSBN-compact state (Individual advisement may be necessary for licensure regulations for online out-of-state students).
- A statement of purpose describing the applicant’s interest in graduate study, career goals, and the MSN degree relationship to those goals.
- Current CV or resume.
- List of 3 references who can speak to your academic ability and/or professional ability.
- One year of RN full-time working experience to enter nursing education concentration specialty courses
- A personal interview with a concentration faculty.
Though no applicant who falls below the ECU College of Nursing Graduate concentration minimum admissions requirements are guaranteed admission, ECU Graduate School policy allows requests for admission by exception. The ECU Graduate School makes final decisions on these requests.
For More Information Visit:
MSN Nursing Education Find your Program
PMC Nursing Education Find your Program
ECU Graduate School
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