Help Shape Tomorrow’s Nurses
Nurture the Future of Healthcare
as an MSN-Prepared Nurse Educator
5-Semester Program
Gain practical knowledge and evidence-based strategies you can apply immediately in real-world teaching and clinical environments.
Supportive Instructors
Learn from expert nursing faculty who bring a balance of academic excellence and clinical experience, all deeply committed to your success.
Nursing Leader
Gwynedd Mercy University has been a regional leader in nursing education for more than 70 years.
Alumni Savings
Nurses who graduated from GMercyU’s BSN program are eligible for a 10% tuition grant.
Accelerated MSN to Help You Rise as a Nurse Leader
This online MSN – Nurse Educator track is ideal for nurses seeking expanded teaching expertise, looking to advance their careers and achieve professional growth. It is designed for current nurse educators aspiring to leadership roles, as well as healthcare professionals interested in pursuing teaching, academic, policy or research positions in the U.S. or abroad. The program also provides a pathway to GMercyU’s EdD in Teaching & Learning in Higher Education – Nursing Education.
Online Coursework Enhanced with Clinical and Practicum Components
This 31-hour nurse educator MSN degree program combines theory and practice. In addition to online courses accessible 24/7, the program includes a four-credit-hour clinical seminar and a six-credit-hour teaching practicum, enabling you to apply what you’ve learned in real-world educational settings.
Move Beyond the Bedside to Expand Your Impact
Help address the nationwide nursing shortages and improve patient outcomes by educating the next generation of nurses. As a nurse educator, you will have the flexibility to teach, inspire and continue practicing in the profession you love, making a meaningful difference both in and beyond the classroom.
Program Features
Complete GMercyU’s online master’s in nurse education in as few as 24 months, and benefit from:
- Flexible Learning: Asynchronous, online coursework for most of the program, complemented by an in-person component that ensures essential hands-on learning
- Personalized Approach: Small, mission-driven cohorts that foster connection and support
- Expert Faculty: Learn from experienced nursing professionals who bring clinical expertise, academic excellence, and a passion for mentoring future nurse leaders
Here, you’ll learn from the best. GMercyU’s Frances M. Maguire College of Nursing and Health Professions has been a regional leader in nursing education for more than 70 years with a longstanding reputation for helping students with career advancement, improving healthcare delivery and achieving better patient outcomes.
As a graduate of our online MSN nurse educator track, you will be ready to design nursing curriculum, create improvement strategies, effectively evaluate learning and more. You’ll be prepared to:
- Begin or advance your career as a didactic and/or clinical instructor
- Expand your understanding of learning theories and motivation theories
- Bridge the connection between students’ classroom learning and clinical experiences
Hands-On Learning Experiences
In the Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Educator track, you will benefit from two interactive, experiential components: a clinical seminar and a teaching practicum. These two courses provide you with opportunities to apply the theories, strategies, and skills you’ve learned in real-world settings.
As a student in the MSN – Nurse Educator track, you will complete 135 clinical hours in the clinical seminar and 225 practicum hours in the teaching practicum. The clinical seminar includes precepted learning experiences in diverse clinical settings, emphasizing evidence-based approaches to address health-related concerns. The teaching practicum focuses on curriculum design, learning theories and instructional strategies, while integrating the expectations and responsibilities of the faculty role within higher education.
You will be placed for your learning experiences in academic higher education, including opportunities to teach at GMercyU. In addition, you will collaborate with the clinical coordinator and program director in clinical placements for clinical seminars or experiences in staff development. Preceptors at clinical site placements are required to meet the qualifications of the appropriate accrediting body. You are responsible for your own transportation to and from off-campus experiential learning opportunities.
Program Details
In the program, you will complete 31 credits. Courses are online, with in-person components for NUR 570, NUR 650, and NUR 606.
Core Curriculum – 15 credits
- Advanced Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Roles
- Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan
- Advanced Assessment and Decision Making
- Research, Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement
- Leadership and Health Policy
Specialization Courses – 16 credits
- Nurse Education Seminar I
- Nurse Education Seminar II
- Clinical Seminar
- Teaching Practicum
The Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Educator program enrolls new students three times a year, each spring, summer and fall.
Upcoming Start Dates:
- Spring 2026: January 12, 2026
- Summer 2026: May 11, 2026
- Fall 2026: August 24, 2026
Applicants to the Frances M. Maguire College of Nursing and Health Professions Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Educator program must meet the following requirements:
- BSN from a college or university accredited by CCNE, ACEN, NLNAC, or CNEA
- Minimum of a 3.0 GPA
- Official sealed transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- Valid, unencumbered Pennsylvania RN license
- Two satisfactory letters of recommendation that can be from the following sources:
- An academic professional
- A healthcare provider with whom the student has worked or volunteered
- A current supervisor
- Resume or CV
Once you are admitted to the program and before starting the clinical seminar and teaching practicum, you will need to:
- Pass a criminal background and child abuse record check
- Undergo a drug screening and FBI fingerprinting
- Provide a certificate of health from a family physician or nurse practitioner that includes immunization information
- Obtain a yearly flu vaccination, COVID vaccination, and PPD screening
- Provide proof of CPR certification, liability insurance, and personal health insurance
These requirements must be met before beginning your clinical seminar or teaching practicum.
Estimated 2025-2026 costs: $1,010 per credit hour
Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Educator ($31,310 tuition for the complete 31-credit program)
Graduates of GMercyU’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program receive a 10% tuition grant.
Fees: The administrative costs of your education are covered through fees. Fees are not refundable. To learn more about tuition and fees, contact an enrollment representative today.
Financial Aid: To learn how to determine your Financial Aid eligibility, please contact Bailey Steidle-Kildea, Senior Financial Aid Specialist, at FinancialAid@GMercyU.edu.
Phone: 877-499-6333, x21080
Fax: 215-542-5790
The National Nurse Educator Shortage
There is no better time to become a nurse educator.
According to a 2023 survey by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), nearly 2,000 full-time faculty vacancies exist among 922 nursing schools, with additional positions needed to accommodate student demand.
In response, the federal government introduced several initiatives, including the Nurse Faculty Loan Program, the Faculty Loan Repayment Program, and the Nurse Corps Repayment Program, all aimed at incentivizing careers in nursing education. The bipartisan Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act, introduced in 2024, seeks to further support wage increases for nurse educators.
Accreditation and Approval
The Master of Science in Nursing program at Gwynedd Mercy University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Already Earned Your MSN?
Check Out Our Online Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education.
Earn Your
Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing Education
GMercyU’s one-year, 12-credit online Post-Master’s Certificate – Nursing Education prepares you for teaching and leadership roles in nursing education in academic, clinical, or professional settings.
Learn More
Become a Nurse Educator
with GMercyU
Advance your career and help shape the next generation of nurses. Apply for GMercyU’s Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Educator track today.
Call 833-588-5953 or email accelerate@gmercyu.edu to contact an admissions counselor.