Capella University Launches Online PhD Specialization in Nursing Education

New specialization from online university aligns with National League of Nursing competencies; helps address nationwide shortage of nursing faculty

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Capella University (www.capella.edu), an accredited(a), online university based in Minneapolis, has announced a new PhD in Education specialization in Nursing Education that aligns with National League of Nursing (NLN) competencies.

“The National League for Nursing applauds Capella University for developing this PhD specialization in Nursing Education that aligns with the NLN’s Core Competencies for Nurse Educators©”

“The National League for Nursing applauds Capella University for developing this PhD specialization in Nursing Education that aligns with the NLN’s Core Competencies for Nurse Educators©,” said Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN, chief executive officer of the National League for Nursing. “Using the core competencies as a basis for this program exposes PhD students to concepts that are integral to the Certified Nurse Educator® (CNE) exam and relevant to the full scope of the nursing faculty role.”

Capella’s new specialization was developed to help address the growing shortage of nursing faculty. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), U.S. nursing schools turned away more than 40,000 qualified applicants in 2007. Nearly three-fourths of the nursing schools surveyed cited faculty shortages as one of the reasons they could not accept all qualified applicants.

“Capella has launched this new Nursing Education specialization to help meet this important need,” said Kimberly Spoor, PhD, who is faculty chair of Postsecondary and Adult Education for Capella’s School of Education and will lead the university’s Nursing Education faculty. “The lack of nursing faculty is an issue that is affecting our country’s ability to educate enough registered nurses to meet the needs of our health care system. The AACN projects a shortfall of 340,000 nurse by the year 2020. The U.S. Department of Education has also identified nursing as an ‘area of national need.’”

Among the nursing education professionals joining Capella’s Nursing Education faculty is Gwen Morse, PhD, RN, who has been a nurse educator for more than 20 years, including serving as dean of a graduate school of nursing.

Capella is now accepting enrollment applications for its Doctor of Philosophy in Education, Nursing Education specialization. Applicants to the School of Education’s PhD Nursing Education specialization must have a current license as a registered nurse and a master’s degree in nursing. For more information, please call 1.888.CAPELLA (227.3552), option 3, or e-mail [e-mail]. Review of this specialization is pending in KY, SC, and WA.

About Capella University

Founded in 1993, Capella University is an accredited(a), fully online university that offers graduate degree programs in business, information technology, education, human services, psychology, public health, and public safety, and bachelor's degree programs in business, information technology, and public safety. Within those areas, Capella currently offers 109 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 15 certificate programs. The online university currently serves more than 23,400 students from all 50 states and 45 countries. It is committed to providing high-caliber academic excellence and pursuing balanced business growth. Capella University is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capella Education Company headquartered in Minneapolis. For more information, please visit www.capella.edu or call 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552).

(a)Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), www.ncahlc.org.

Capella University, 225 South Sixth Street, Ninth Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55402, 1.888.CAPELLA (227.3552), www.capella.edu.