An Online Dual-Certification Program in Advanced Practice Nursing and Nursing Education One University's Response to Faculty Shortages

Educating nurses for the healthcare delivery workforce is stymied as qualified applicants to nursing programs are being turned away. Although applications to baccalaureate programs have increased, between 41 683 and 147 000 undergraduate and graduate applicants were turned away from nursing education programs in 2005 due largely to shortages of nursing faculty. In this article, the evidence-based rationale for the development of a dual-certification program for the preparation of clinical nurse specialists and nurse educators is described. Because faculty shortages are nationwide, we developed the program to be delivered, in its entirety, online. Standardized data collection methods for evaluating student progress and their achievement of competencies expected of clinical nurse specialists and nurse educators are provided. The program may be a model for preparing clinically competent nurse educators who prefer practice settings to full-time faculty positions.