MSN - Nurse Educator & Site Requirements

• Current license in state where practicum site is located.
• Master of Science degree or higher, preferably with a nursing education concentration, from an accredited nursing program.
• Minimum of three years of teaching experience in an education or practice setting.
• Employed at the education or practice site where practicum practice experience hours will be completed.

• A nurse educator working in area of focus such as staff development, client
  education, higher education, or an area of specific interest to the student.
• A nurse educator with expertise that aligns with the educational goals of the
  student: classroom teaching, online education, staff development, community
  education, etc.
• A nurse educator who is well established in the clinical or educational agency
  and can assist student in networking with other professionals.
• A nurse educator who has experience mentoring new graduates and/or graduate
  level nurses and understands the implications of the preceptor role.
• A nurse educator who has the time and resources to allocate to the preceptor
  role.

All MSN-NE students will complete and log a minimum of 168 practice experience hours within the practicum courses. An additional 18 hours are accrued in NSG 510 for a total of 186 practice experience hours in the curriculum. There is flexibility in the students’ schedules; this allows the preceptor to identify preferred days/time they are available.

Practice hours are designed to demonstrate synthesis of expanded knowledge acquired within the MSN Nurse Educator curriculum. Practical learning experiences are structured across a series of two practicum courses that include course strategies for meeting overall program outcomes. The series of courses provide the student the opportunity to design, implement, and evaluate an evidence-based educational project and disseminate findings to the academic community. The project reflects and demonstrates synthesis of the student’s knowledge from all courses and unique practice experiences in the student’s specified area

• 32 Direct Care Core Hours: Time spent in the under the direct observation of the preceptor (including time spent at the approved practicum site), observing and participating in nurse educator role functions.
• 136 Functional Care Core Hours: Time spent working towards the development of nurse educator role competencies (i.e. NLN/WHO nurse educator core competencies)
• 18 Additional Practice Hours: Time spent on experiential learning assessments in NSG 510

• Shares expertise to facilitate student development of nurse educator competencies.
• Functions as a role model in nursing education.
• Creates and environment that facilitates learning.
• Helps the student navigate the clinical site and gain practice experience that aligns with the nurse educator role.
• Communicates with the student and course faculty to provide the optimum learning experience for the student.
• Provides course faculty with information (Preceptor Review Form will be available in Typhon) about student performance that faculty will use to evaluate student learning.
• Validates student completion of practice experience activities and hours in Typhon.
• Evaluates the experience as a way to provide feedback to UNCW about the preceptor role.

The faculty will contact preceptors the first week of the practicum course. The faculty will provide the preceptor with additional guidance, expectations and their contact information. Preceptors are encouraged to communicate with faculty often. Faculty are available to answer questions and/or meet with preceptors if requested. Consult with faculty at any time deemed necessary to assure student progress.