Nursing Education

Mission Statement 

The mission of the York College Master’s in Nursing Education program is to offer a solid liberal art professionally based educational experience that guides students in attaining the knowledge, skills, and values essential for the role of the professional nurse educator. Emphasis will be placed on the facilitators of learning, learner development and socialization, use of assessment and evaluation strategies, leadership, scholarship, evidence practice, curriculum design, teaching and learning strategies, with the ability to educate students of diverse cultural groups within the urban community. 

Philosophy 

The York College Department of Nursing’s philosophy encompasses the faculty’s beliefs about the concepts of Education, Nursing, Persons, Society, Environment and Health; which provides a framework for the nursing curricula. The department’s mission, philosophy and outcomes are consistent with, and responsive to the York College Vision and Mission statements; the New York State Education Department’s guidelines for nursing program registration; the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) The Essentials: Core Competencies For Professional Nursing Education (2021); the National League of Nursing’s Scope of Practice for Academic Nurse Educators and Academic Clinical Nurse Educators (2019), the Quality Safety Education for Nurses’ competencies; the American Nurses’ Association Standards of Scope and Standards of Practice (2020), and the new ACEN’s Standards and Criteria for Baccalaureate and Master’s degree programs (2023).  

Education 

The faculty believes that education for professional nursing practice is rightfully conducted in an institution of higher learning, with a foundation of liberal arts and sciences supporting the professional nursing major. A master’s in nursing education prepares the learner for various roles and areas of practice upon graduation in pursuit of new and innovative roles that result from healthcare reforms and changes in an ever evolving, global healthcare system (CCNE, 2018). Nursing education is a partnership characterized by mutual respect between faculty and students. The responsibility for learning lies with the students, who come equipped with prior knowledge and experiences, as well as a desire to learn. The faculty facilitates the students’ spirit of inquiry and provides educational experiences that foster the responsibility, independence, and critical thinking of the learner.  

Nursing 

The faculty believes that nursing is an evidence-based practice profession, which promotes optimal health across the life span through case findings, health teaching, health counseling, and provision of care and support. Nursing is committed to the ethical care, and the nurturing of well and sick people, individually and in groups; and the provision of culturally congruent care. Nursing focuses on health promotion and wellness, maintenance, restoration and/or rehabilitation. Professional nurses are self-directed, effective communicators, accountable for their own actions, proactive in addressing health care issues, and able to make sound clinical judgments. Nurse educators facilitate learning, learner development and socialization of the professional nurse to meet these competencies. 

Curriculum Concepts 

The program curriculum concepts will be used to assess student competencies to function in the nurse educator role. These concepts include:  

• Education/Knowledge  

• Leadership/Mentorship  

• Safety/Quality Improvement  

• Research/Evidence Based Practice (EBP)/Scholarship  

• Informatics/Technologies  

• Policy/Advocacy/Change 

• Collaboration – Inter-professional /Communication/Coordinator  

• Ethics 

(Based on AACN Essential, NLN Scope of Practice for Academic Nurse Educators, ANA & ANPD Scope of Practice Standards) 

Upon completion of the program, the graduates will be able to: 

• Facilitate learning in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical environments using a variety of teaching and learning strategies. 

• Facilitate learner development and socialization in the role of the professional nurse 

• Demonstrate the use of leadership, change, critical thinking theories and strategies in decision making, using education best practices and foster professional growth. 

• Assess and evaluate learning in the classroom, laboratory and clinical environments using nursing science and evidence –based practice 

• Formulate learner and program outcomes for curriculum designed to prepare learners to practice in diverse contemporary healthcare environments. 

• Use informatics and technology to analyze current trends in healthcare that influence curriculum design, learner competencies and professional development. 

• Incorporate the principles of quality improvement and safety to improve the learning experience and growth in the nurse educator role. 

• Integrate ethics, policy and advocacy strategies to effect nursing education leadership in the community. 

• Collaborate with stakeholders and inter-professional teams to communicate and recommend educational activities to align with the organizational strategic plan. 

• Synthesize concepts to apply culturally competent and learner centered care education to a diverse learner population. 

• Engage in nursing scholarship activities to demonstrate skill in teaching and learning knowledge, and professional development. 

(Based on AACN Essential, NLN Scope of Practice for Academic Nurse Educators, ANA & ANPD Scope of Practice Standards)