Self Assessment: Are you a good candidate for Online Masters in Nursing Degree Programs?

Vicki Williams of Penn State University created an excellent tool for prospective online nursing students. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was kind enough to create a site, accessible to the public, where nurses investigating Masters in Nursing Online programs can take a readiness for online learning survey. Check out the link below to see if you are ready!

http://www.unc.edu/tlim/ser/

If by chance your results do not show up, take  note of your numeric score and the site below has interpretations of your score, just scroll down about ¼ of the page to see where the results begin.

http://ets.tlt.psu.edu/learningdesign/assessment/onlinecontent/online_readiness

Don’t be fooled, there are many self assessment tools on the internet, but only this tool has been validated and deemed reliable.  Online learning at the graduate level takes about 10-12 hours a week, so calculate how much “spare” time you have and figure that 10-12 hours a week would be devoted to an online masters in nursing program…………make sure you still have time to sleep and/or eat –smile-.

Dr. Maggie

Welcome Back From Summer Break - BLOG Directory

For those of you just joining us, check out these topics  by just  clicking on the blog title to find the blog post(s) of most interest to you.  OR you can simply scroll to down to view the desired topic blog entry.

• Teaching with a Masters Degree in Nursing  8/14/13
•  Leadership with a Masters in Nursing 8/5/13
•  Updating Your Nursing Resume 7/29/13
•  Online Masters in Nursing Portfolio Development 7/19/13
•  Online Masters in Nursing Degree Career Options  6/28/13
•  Dealing With Family, School, and Work Life Balance...6/22/13
•  How to Get the Most Out of Online Masters in Nursi...6/18/13
•  One Day at a Time for Masters in Nursing Online St..6/14/13.
•  Writing Academically in an Online MSN Program  6/12/13
•  Dealing with Online MSN Program Course Work  6/7/13
• Taking Care of Yourself in an Online MSN Program  6/3/13
• What to Expect from an Online MSN Program  5/31/13
• Selecting an MSN Program         5/28/13

Dr. Maggie

Teaching with a Masters Degree in Nursing

   

One of the most common questions I receive is “How do I get to do what you do, teach online?” 

There was a time when online nursing programs were begging for online nurse educators, and as recent as 2013, there has been a flood of online Masters Degree in Nursing graduates interested in teaching online.  This has made it difficult finding an online nursing educator position right out of your online MSN program.  Where the nursing education need is greatest, is in the clinical education area.  I strongly urge new MSN students, who wish to teach, to proactively approach a local nursing program and offer to work as an adjunct clinical instructor.  By working for a couple years as an adjunct clinical instructor, online MSN graduates can give back to their profession in a profound way.

Adjunct clinical faculty positions abound around the country and provide the masters in nursing online graduate the opportunity to gain much desired teaching experience.  Once you have that teaching experience, a background of an online masters in nursing degree makes for a good candidate for online teaching.  WARNING:  Online teaching while flexible is not easy.  Just as online classes are not “easy’.

Dr. Maggie

Leadership with a Masters in Nursing

Nurses with  their Masters in Nursing degree have a responsibility to provide leadership in their workplace.  This leadership may be formal or informal.  Your Masters may be in Clinical Nurse Leadership or Nursing Administration (Executive Nurse Leadership).  Nursing leaders offer a unique perspective of patient care AND cost effectiveness of that care.  Whether your facility is a magnet designated facility, aspiring to become one, or not, as a nursing leader you are in a position to advocate for quality patient care.  You have the patient care expertise, and a new cadre of leadership skills to positively affect health care and its associated outcomes. Key skills to put to use are: change management, conflict management, collaboration, and communication.  The "MSN" behind your name wields power with the information you carry.  Use these leadership skills, and nurses can make a difference!

"The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change.  The leader adjusts the sails."     - John Maxwell.

Dr. Maggie