Master of Science in Nursing: Nursing Education

All courses are online; however, a student is required to complete two practicum courses. One 30-hour Advanced Clinical Practicum focused on population-health and another 120-hour practicum focusing on academia and leadership. Both practicums are completed with an approved, self-selected preceptor.

While much of the learning takes place online, students will need to complete their practicum hours in an approved state. Please contact your state board of nursing to verify if our program meets their educational requirements.

All students must submit a “Request to Transfer Credit” form, the course description(s), a copy of the catalog cover and the course syllabus to the program director/coordinator prior to beginning a graduate program. To determine transferability of credit, please contact the appropriate program director to receive a recommendation for transfer.

In addition to the General Admissions Requirements, the applicant must:

• Complete an application.
• Submit an official transcript from a regionally accredited college or university showing an earned Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
• Submit transcripts from any accredited institutions attended, where pre-requisites for a nursing program and BSN nursing courses were completed, and any completed nursing graduate coursework.
• Have attained a BSN undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 or better (4.0 scale).*
• Submit a current, unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license in a geographical jurisdiction of the United States.*
• Have successfully completed (defined as a grade of C or above) an approved undergraduate statistics course. An official transcript for same should be submitted.
• Submit a signed consent regarding criminal background and drug screening requirements.
• Submit evidence of having worked as an RN for at least 2,000 hours prior to starting the respective clinical/practicum tracks (ED: NRSG 634, FNP: NRSG 665, & TL: NRSG 648).**
• Students may not be admitted to the Olivet MSN program who have been dismissed from another MSN program.

*Students who do not meet these criteria, please speak with an Admissions Counselor about a possible conditional admission.

** Students who do not meet these criteria, please speak with an Admissions Counselor about a possible conditional enrollment.

An MSN in Nursing Education and Leadership prepares you for a wide range of roles in both academic and healthcare settings. You can become a nurse educator (e.g., clinical instructor, faculty member) or take on leadership positions (e.g., nurse manager, director, CNO). Many graduates do both—leading in practice while teaching part-time. This degree offers flexibility and long-term career security in a changing healthcare landscape.

Discounts are available for our practice partners, alumni and faculty. Upon completion, students should check out government loan repayment programs such as the Nurse Faculty Loan Repayment Program or the Nurse Corps. For a compiled list of available scholarships click here!

Upon completion of this track, students are educationally prepared to sit for the:

• Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) examination from the National League for Nursing.
  • For more information, please refer to the CNE Handbook.
• Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML)
  • This certification is for nurse leaders in the nurse manager role. To be eligible, a certification, the candidate must satisfy the licensure, educational and work experience requirements.
• Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP)
  • To be eligible for the Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) examination, a candidate must satisfy the licensure, educational and work experience requirements.

Our school is dedicated to supporting students throughout their practicum placement process. Initially, students are encouraged to leverage their personal and professional networks to find a preceptor and practicum site, allowing them the opportunity to choose a location and preceptors with whom they might already be familiar or prefer. This autonomy in selection is highly beneficial, as it allows students to align their practicum experience with their specific interests and geographical preferences.

However, we also recognize that finding a preceptor can be challenging. Our MSN/FNP Practicum Director provides substantial assistance in finding a preceptor(s). At this stage, the MSN/FNP Practicum Director works closely with the student, employing the school’s resources and networks to ensure a placement is found. While this collaborative effort prioritizes securing a quality educational experience for the student, it may not always align with the student’s preferred location. The emphasis shifts towards the importance of completing the practicum at a site that offers a comprehensive learning opportunity, even if it means considering locations beyond the student’s initial preferences.