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From top accredited nurse practitioner online degree programs to a wealth of knowledge about the profession, Nurse Practitioner Degree.org serves as a database of information about how to become a nurse practitioner. Read More
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If you’re interested in a nurse practitioner degree program or are curious about advancing your current nursing career, read this interview with Cristina Yasuko Matsumoto, WHNP-BC to get an insider’s look into becoming a nurse practitioner. Read more...
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Nurse Educators

What is a Nurse Educator?

Nurse educators are not necessarily nurse practitioners, but an NP can become an educator in a few different ways. There are always teaching and learning opportunities in the nursing world. In hospitals, there are mentors and preceptorship roles, and potential opportunities to attend nursing conferences, as a speaker or a participant. For nurses who want education to be their main focus, though, finding a job at a college or university might be the best path. To become a full professor, you probably need a PhD, but nursing schools are in such desperate need for educators now that a lower credential along with some work experience may get you in the door. Regular duties of a nurse educator might include:

Writing and researching curriculum for a variety of basic and advanced nursing classes.
Assessing student performance on projects, including grading papers and evaluating lab work.
Attending nursing conferences and keeping up to date with innovations and best practices in the industry.
Lecturing for classrooms of students, and possibly preparing content, such as video-recorded lectures, for online distribution, if you work for a school that offers online education.

How Much do Nurse Educators Earn?

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean wage of postsecondary nurse instructors is $67,810, which is a little under the mean wage for RNs ($69,110). Nurse educators can work in a variety of settings that will offer different levels of payment. A professorship at a prestigious university could pay well above the average, whereas teaching at a local state or community college wouldn’t yield as much of a salary. There are benefits to either plan, but those who get into nurse education usually have more on their mind than just money. The personal rewards of knowing you’re your career is helping people be healthier and improving the nursing workforce can be powerful motivators.

An assortment of factors can influence a nurse educator’s earning power. Level of education is a big deal in this career, and someone with a PhD will doubtlessly earn more than someone with only a bachelor’s degree, or even a master’s degree. Geographic location, and the size of the community (urban versus rural) can also affect a nurse educator’s salary.

The Best Online Nurse Practitioners Degrees

A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice nurse who provides primary and specialty care to patients. A nurse practitioner is responsible for administering both nursing and wider healthcare services; and, they are licensed to prescribe medications. Becoming a nurse practitioner requires the completion of a master's degree program. Below are the most popular colleges offering online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees.

MSN: Nurse Practitioners RN to MSN MSN: Nurse Administration MSN: Nurse Education MSN: Nurse Informatics	Kaplan University - The Kaplan University MSN for Nurse Practitioners and RN to MSN programs offers students the opportunity to explore nursing methods in a dynamic healthcare environment. Courses include Advanced Nursing Roles, Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing, and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in a Diverse Community. MSN specializations are offered in nurse administration, nurse education, and nurse informatics.
MSN: Family Nursing MSN: Women's Nursing	Georgetown University - Graduates of the Georgetown University online MS in nursing programs in family nursing or midwifery and women's health nursing will have more than just a degree to their name upon completion. Students will have the skill and knowledge to help advance their profession, and medicine as a whole, while serving as sponsors of the well-being and overall health of each of their patients.
MSN MSN: Case Management MSN: Health Informatics MSN: Infection Prevention MSN: Nurse Leadership	American Sentinel University - The American Sentinel University school of healthcare offers a Master of Science in nursing (MSN) degree with specializations in case management, health informatics, infection control and prevention, and nursing leadership. All of these programs are CCNE-accredited, so students can be assured that graduation from American Sentinel should lead to expanded career opportunities.
MSN: Nurse Educator MSN: Educator Bridge	Capella University - The Capella University Master of Science in Nursing Educator specialization teaches nurses the art of nurse education. The curriculum features courses that provide advanced nursing methodologies along with the development, delivery, assessment, and review of nurse education programs. This program is also available as an RN to MSN bridge.
MSN MSN: Health Education MSN: Health Informatics MSN/MHA Dual Degree	University of Phoenix - The University of Phoenix MSN programs give students the tools and knowledge necessary to succeed in the healthcare industry. Programs include Nurse Practitioner, MBA/Healthcare Management, Master of Health Administration, Healthcare Education, and Health Informatics. The University of Phoenix is known for graduating the leaders of the nursing industry.
MSN: Nurse Practitioners RN to MSN RN to MSN: Adult Health Practice RN to MSN: Nurse Education	South University - The South University Master of Science in Nursing program features a Nurse Practitioner specialization designed for Registered Nurses that wish to advance their skills, manage their patients care, and make critical decisions using evidence-based information. The program is conveniently offered online. For RNs looking to make a career jump, South University also offers an accelerated RN to MSN program with specialized tracks in adult health and nurse education.
MSN: Adult Nursing MSN: Clinical Nursing MSN: Family Nursing	University of Cincinnati - The University of Cincinnati College of Nursing provides students 3 options to obtain their Master of Science in Nursing degree: traditional, accelerated, and RN to MSN LINK program. Cincinnati offers both onsite and distance learning specialty tracks, including Adult Acute Care, Neonatal, and Women's Health.
MSN: Adult Acute Care MSN: Adult Psych Care MSN: Clinical Trials MSN: Nurse Leadership	Drexel University - Drexel University's College of Nursing and Health Professions offers several Master of Science in Nursing programs. Programs include Adult Acute Care, Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health Care, Clinical Trials Research, and Leadership. The program's innovative curriculum is designed to meet local, national, and global health care needs.
MSN: Health Systems Mgmt	Vanderbilt University - At Vanderbilt University, students in the MSN - health systems management program will participate in an online format that confers an advanced degree in the management of healthcare. Graduates leave Vanderbilt with the education and confidence to tackle the most pressing medical management challenges.
MSN: Nurse Education MSN: Nurse Leadership MSN/MBA: Nurse Leadership	Grand Canyon University - The Grand Canyon University College of Nursing and Health Sciences provides students with a variety of master's programs tailored to meet the students specific interests. Specializations include Education, Leadership in Health Care Systems (also available as an MBA).