A new $616,500 grant will let the College of Nursing offer a new educational track for nurses who want to teach in clinical or academic settings.
The grant — funded by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration –aims to increase the number educators to fill critical shortages in the nurse-faculty workforce.
About 20 percent of UNMC’s nurse faculty is expected to retire in the next five years. Without additional nurse educators, the projected retirements will cripple the nurse educator workforce in Nebraska, said Sarah Thompson, Ph.D., Niedfelt Distinguished Professor and associate dean of academic programs in the College of Nursing.
“We need nurses interested in making an impact on the future generation of nurses,” she said. “Addressing the faculty shortage is one of the most effective ways to attack the nursing shortage.”
At UNMC, nurses can become educators in three ways:
- Through one of the college’s advanced practice registered nurse master’s degree specialties;
- A post-master’s certificate; and
- The doctoral program.
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The College of Nursing has received a grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration that will help bolster the nurse educator workforce. (Vicky Cerino, UNMC public relations) |
Courses will be delivered through distance education computer technology. The time frame for degree completion is flexible. Students can earn a master’s degree in two-to-four years, a post-master’s degree in one year and a doctoral degree in four-to-seven years.
Applications are being accepted and the college hopes to enroll 15 students who will start in January.
For more information about the program or to apply, visit www.unmc.edu/nursing and click on “Nurse Educator Track,” or contact Dani Eveloff at 402-559-5184 or develoff@unmc.edu.