Nurse educators play a crucial role in helping nurses gain the expertise needed to meet the challenges of the evolving healthcare system. Their presence also ensures that our nation's nursing schools are always at maximum student capacity. According to AACN’s Special Survey on Vacant Faculty Positions for Academic Year 2023-2024, nearly two-thirds of schools reported a shortage of full-time faculty members. Additionally, hospital and medical centers have identified a need for more nurse educators to enhance the level of instruction to nursing students, new nurses, and ongoing needs for professional staff development.

The RN to BS-MS in Nursing Education online degree helps address these challenges by increasing the number of nurse educators and ultimately paving the way for an adequate supply of nurses to ensure that patients have access to affordable, high quality healthcare.

The program prepares nurses to develop curricula focused on our changing healthcare systems, adapt and teach education strategies for diverse learners, develop clinical and classroom evaluation strategies, and adopt effective evidence-based practices in academic as well as clinical healthcare settings.

Dual Degree

The RN to BS-MS in Nursing Education is a dual degree program that provides a seamless progression (and “fast track”) from the BS to MS programs. The program’s overlapping coursework allows students to complete both degrees within an integrated framework and in less time than each degree completed on its own.

Career Scope and Academic Prospects

Graduates of the RN to BS-MS in Nursing Education degree are qualified to serve as educators in numerous institutions ranging from community colleges to major universities, as well as in academic health centers and community-based health facilities. Graduates of the program can also pursue doctoral education in Nursing Education, Nursing Science, and Nursing Research.

Completion Rates

CUNY SPS RN-BS benchmark for program completion rates:

75% of students will complete the RN- BS program within five years. Using CCNE guidelines for calculating these rates, the five-year completion rates are:

• 2019-2024 = 94%
• 2018-2023 = 96%
• 2017-2022 = 96%

Job Placement Statistics

Undergraduate program outcome: 80% of RN-BS alumni will report employment as a RN within twelve months.

• 2023 = 89%
• 2022 = 92%
• 2021 = 78%

Accreditation

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This program is registered with the New York State Education Department.

Prior Learning Assessment

Credit for non-collegiate learning is a credit recommendation for college-level learning acquired outside of a college or university.

View Pre-approved Nursing Certifications

The American Council on Education (ACE) and the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCR) have evaluated college-level training programs, credentials, and licenses from the military, government, and the public sector that may be eligible for college credit at the CUNY School of Professional Studies.

CUNY SPS also awards credit for currently reviewed licenses and certifications in the fields of Health Information Management, IT, Project Management, Real Estate, Business, and Emergency Medical Technician.

For more information about credit for non-collegiate prior learning please contact us pla@sps.cuny.edu.

Prospective students and applicants may schedule a meeting with an academic advisor to obtain an unofficial credit evaluation for an undergraduate degree program.