Patricia Graham, RN MSN, Nurse Aide Program Director at Front Range Community College Named Certified Nurse Educator NLN Program Highlights Standout Nurse Faculty

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

12/22/09

Boulder County, CO, Front Range Community College is pleased to announce that Patricia Graham has earned the designation Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) after meeting strict eligibility criteria and successfully completing a rigorous certification examination developed and administered by the National League for Nursing.

Patricia started her nursing education over 16 years ago while working as a housekeeper in a nursing home. She enrolled for a nurse aide course and the rest is history. "Once I was a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) I knew I wanted to eventually teach it. I loved my job and valued the role I had as a CNA." Patricia went on to get her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Registered Nurse (RN), Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master's in Nursing Education (MSN) and now her CNE. "I received my LPN and RN at the same college I have now been teaching at for 8 years. It's an amazing experience to learn so much from an institution and then be a part of sharing that same knowledge with others." When asked about how she feels about her job Patricia had this to say, "This is my dream job! In the past, I could only affect the people I was caring for directly as a nurse. Now I can positively affect so many more by teaching others how to provide quality care."

The NLN's Academic Nurse Educator Certification (ANEC) Program has conferred new visibility and stature upon the academic nursing community, long overdue, said Dr. Beverly Malone, CEO of the NLN. "Through the certification program, we have made clear to the ranks of higher education that the role of nurse educator is an advanced professional practice discipline with a defined practice setting and demonstrable standards of excellence," she commented. In years to come, she added, it is hoped that certified nurse educators will command higher salaries and be first in line for promotions and tenure.

The newly certified nurse educators reflect the spectrum of their academic colleagues in the United States*:

  • 29.8 percent hold doctoral degrees; the remainder master's degrees
  • 44.14 percent teach in baccalaureate or higher degree programs; 40.2 percent in associate degree programs; 9.4 percent in diploma programs; and 5.6 percent in practical nursing programs
  • 56.2 percent hold the rank of assistant professor or higher: 13.3 percent are full professors; 17.6 percent, associate professors; and 25.3 percent, assistant professors
  • 32.5 percent have more than 15 years of full time employment experience as academic nurse educators.
With nearly half (42.4 percent) of nurse faculty projected to retire within the next decade and nearly three-quarters (69.8 percent) within 15 years, replacing them is of grave concern, noted NLN president Dr. Elaine Tagliareni. "We must encourage more nurse faculty to prepare for certification as nurse educators so that our nursing schools can be staffed by academicians of the highest caliber. Only in this way can excellence in nursing education be ensured for another generation."

In 2008, 663 nurse educators were awarded the CNE credential. Since the unveiling of the program in fall 2005 through September 30, 2009, 1,888 nurse educators representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have become CNEs.

*Demographic data reflects those who took the examination 9/28/05 through 9/30/09.

Editors and reporters: For interview opportunities, please contact NLN chief communications officer, Karen R. Klestzick, at 212-812-0376, kklestzick@nln.org.

Dedicated to excellence in nursing education, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education offering faculty development, networking opportunities, testing and assessment, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its 28,000 individual and 1200 institutional members.