Nurse Educators typically have extensive clinical experience in a particular specialty area. Some continue practicing as a Registered Nurse even after becoming teachers. Regardless of whether they continue to practice or now, they must remain current as the field of nursing continues to evolve.
As they gain experience, Nurse Educators often move into roles other than teaching. They are often promoted to administrative roles, move into writing or reviewing text books, or develop continuing education programs for nurses.
CNE stands for Certified Nurse Educator, which is the formal designation for a Registered Nurse (RN) who has met the requirements for and received a passing score on an examination administered by the National League for Nursing (NLN). CNE is a voluntary professional certification that indicates the holder has demonstrated certain proficiencies in the field of nursing education according to guidelines established by the NLN.
What Is a Nurse Educator?
Nurse educators are clinically trained, state licensed RNs who provide training and instruction to nursing students and continuing education to professional nurses in a variety of settings, including universities, community colleges, trade schools, and hospitals. While nurse educator is not a formal title, it is the informal designation for RNs in clinical and administrative positions who oversee nurse training programs, provide clinical and classroom instruction in nursing, and are tasked with teaching and advising students at various levels of the nursing profession. In contrast to nursing professors, who typically must hold a doctoral degree in nursing, nurse educators generally hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and have several years of clinical experience in addition to specialized training in educational protocols and pedagogy.
There is no formal path to becoming a nurse educator. However, many nurse educators receive general advanced training in specialized MSN programs with a nurse educator concentration. It is also common for nurse educators in some fields to have additional training in a Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) specialization, which could include nurse-midwife, nurse-anesthetist, adult care, emergency care, psychiatric care, neonatal care, family care, and a number of other specialties. Passing the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) exam administered by the National League for Nursing (NLN) is one of the accepted ways for RNs to demonstrate their qualifications and expertise as a nurse educator.
CNE Certification for Nurse Educators
The CNE is a professional certification offered by the NLN, a national organization of nurse faculty and nurse educators that provides voluntary accreditation to nursing education programs through its Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation. CNE certification is open to RNs who hold an active and unencumbered license to practice, and who have completed a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing. There are additional requirements, depending on an individual’s level of professional experience and educational attainment. The following combinations of degree level and years of professional experience qualify RNs to take the CNE certification exam:
A master’s or doctoral degree in nursing with an emphasis in nursing education.
A master’s or doctoral degree in nursing plus a post-master’s certificate in nursing education.
A master’s or doctoral degree in nursing and nine or more credit hours of graduate-level nursing education courses.
A master’s or doctoral degree in nursing with an emphasis in a field other than education combined with at least two years of employment at an academic institution within the past five years.
