General Program Structure

General Program Structure

Each program at the Academy includes both asynchronous and synchronous elements. Participation in both of these elements is integral to successful completion of the program.

Asynchronous Activities occur weekly, and may include required readings, videos, discussion board postings, assignments, and reflections.

Synchronous Activities consist of one-hour Learning Community Zoom sessions with course participants and the nursing faculty facilitator hosted approximately twice per month.

Requirements for program completion:

  • Submit 100% of written assignments through Blackboard-Ace (CUNY Learning Management System).
  • Attend at least 80% of the live Zoom Learning Community sessions (5 out of 6 live sessions).

Click on the sections below for more details about each of the clinical preceptor and nurse educator programs.

Clinical Preceptor Program

The Clinical Preceptor is split into two levels: Level I and Level II.

Clinical Preceptor Level I certificate program is a 12-week program designed for nurses with limited or no preceptor experience (<250 hours) to equip them with the essential skills and knowledge to become effective preceptors.

Clinical Preceptor Level II certificate program is a 12-week program designed for nurses with some preceptor experience (>251 hours) to enrich their skills as a clinical preceptor.

  • Level I comprises 6 learning modules:
    1. International C.A.R.E.S Behavioral Assessment 
    2. The Nurse Preceptor: Roles, Responsibilities, and Realities 
    3. Strategic Precepting 
    4. Coaching for Competency & Performance 
    5. Preceptee Strategies for Success 
    6. Managing Precepting Challenges 
  • Evidence-based HealthStream Preceptor Development modules serve as the foundation for course assignments, weekly discussions, and competency development.
  • Level II comprises 4 learning modules:
    1. Preceptor Role Development 
    2. Preceptor Teaching and Learning  
    3. Strategies for Assessment and Evaluation of Preceptees 
    4. Curriculum Development to promote competency 
  • The Ulrich Precepting Model (teacher/coach, role model, leader/influencer, facilitator, socialization agent, evaluator, and protector) will serve as the foundation for course assignments, weekly discussions, and competency development.

Click below for more information about each level.

Clinical Preceptor: Level I

The Clinical Preceptor Level 1 certificate course supports the learner’s current or future role responsibilities as a new and emerging preceptor in the clinical setting. The online course will be administered by Blackboard-ACE Learning Management System. The online course includes synchronous and asynchronous learning activities. The asynchronous weekly learning activities include a combination of required readings, videos, discussion board postings, assignments, and/or reflections.  The synchronous component is scheduled biweekly one hour learning community Zoom sessions with the course participants and the nursing faculty facilitator. Anticipated workload 2-3 hours per week (including live community session).

In order to be successful, the participants are required to submit 100% of the written assignments through the Learning Management system and attend 80% or greater of the live Zoom learning community sessions. The six learning modules are C.A.R.E.S Behavioral Assessment, The Nurse Preceptor: Roles, Responsibilities, and Realities, Strategic Precepting, Coaching for Competency & Performance, Preceptee Strategies for Success, Managing Precepting Challenges 

The HealthStream Preceptor Development platform will be the foundation for the course assignments, weekly discussions, and competency development. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a Clinical Preceptor Level 1 certificate. 

Clinical Preceptor: Level 2

The Clinical Preceptor Level 2 certificate course supports the learner’s current or future role responsibilities as a preceptor in the clinical setting. The online course will be administered by Blackboard-Ace Learning Management System. The online course includes synchronous and asynchronous learning activities. The asynchronous weekly learning activities include a combination of required readings, videos, discussion board postings, assignments, and/or reflections.  The synchronous component is scheduled biweekly one hour learning community Zoom sessions with the course participants and the nursing faculty facilitator. Anticipated workload 2-3 hours per week (including live community session).

In order to be successful, the participants are required to submit 100% of the written assignments through Blackboard Ace (our Learning Management system) and attend 80% or greater of the live Zoom learning community sessions. The four learning modules are preceptor role development, teaching and learning, assessment and evaluation, and curriculum development.

The Ulrich Precepting Model will be the foundation for the course assignments, weekly discussions, and competency development. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a Clinical Preceptor Level II certificate.

Nurse Educator Program

The Nurse Educator Program is split into two levels: Proficient and Advanced.

The Proficient Nurse Educator certificate program is a 12-week program designed for nurses with limited or no experience as a Nurse Educator (0-1,000 hours) focusing on your crucial role in developing the next generation of nurses.

The Advanced Nurse Educator certificate program is a 12-week program designed for nurses with some prior experience as a Nurse Educator (≥1,000 hours) focusing on your crucial role in developing the next generation of nurses.

  • The course comprises four learning modules:
    1. Nurse Educator Role Development
    2. Teaching and Learning
    3. Assessment and Evaluation
    4. Curriculum Development
  • The ADDIE (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate) Model serves as the foundation for course assignments, weekly discussions, and competency development.

Click below for more information about each level.

Nurse Educator: Proficient

The Nurse Educator (NE) -Proficient certificate course supports the learner’s current or future role responsibilities as a nurse educator in the clinical setting. The online course will be administered by Blackboard-Ace Learning Management System. The online course includes synchronous and asynchronous learning activities. The asynchronous weekly learning activities include a combination of required readings, videos, discussion board postings, assignments, and/or reflections.  The synchronous component is scheduled biweekly one hour learning community Zoom sessions with the course participants and the nursing faculty facilitator. 

In order to be successful, the participants are required to submit 100% of the written assignments through Blackboard Ace (our Learning Management system  and attend 80% or greater of the live Zoom learning community sessions. The four learning modules are nurse educator role development, teaching and learning, assessment and evaluation, and curriculum development.

The ADDIE (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate) Model will be the foundation for the course assignments, weekly discussions, and competency development. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a Proficient Nurse Educator certificate.

Nurse Educator: Advanced

The Nurse Educator (NE) – Advanced Certificate course builds on a learner’s role responsibilities for current nurse educators in the clinical setting. The online course will be administered by Blackboard-Ace Learning Management System. The online course includes synchronous and asynchronous learning activities. The asynchronous weekly learning activities include a combination of required readings, videos, discussion board postings, assignments, and/or reflections. The synchronous component is a scheduled, biweekly one-hour learning community Zoom session with the course participants and the nursing faculty facilitator.

To be successful, the participants are required to submit 100% of the written assignments through Blackboard Ace (our Learning Management system and attend 80% or greater of the live Zoom learning community sessions. The four learning modules are nurse educator role development, teaching and learning, assessment and evaluation, and curriculum development.

The ADDIE (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate) Model will be the foundation for the course assignments, weekly discussions, and competency development. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive an Advanced Nurse Educator certificate.

Nurse Leader Program

The Nurse Leader Program is split into two levels: Rising and Advancing.

The Rising Nurse Leader certificate program is a 10-week program designed for nurses who are aspiring to be nurse leaders with less than 5 years clinical experience as an RN and less than 1 year experience in a manager/leadership role.

The Advancing Nurse Leader certificate program is a 10-week program designed for charge nurses with more than 5 years clinical experience as an RN and more than 1 year experience in a manager/leadership role who wish to develop and strengthen their leadership skills.

The course comprises five two-week learning modules, that are aligned with the ANCC, AACN and AONL principal leadership competencies of: 

  • Human Resource Management 
  • Quality & Patient Safety 
  • Business Management 
  • Health Care Environment 
  • Professional Role Development 

Click below for more information about each level.

Rising Nurse Leader

The Rising Nurse Leader certificate course supports the learner’s aspirations to be a nurse leader. The online course will be administered by Blackboard-ACE Learning Management System. The online course includes synchronous and asynchronous learning activities. The asynchronous weekly learning activities include a combination of required readings, videos, discussion board postings, assignments, and/or reflections.  The synchronous component is scheduled biweekly one hour learning community Zoom sessions with the course participants and the nursing faculty facilitator. Anticipated workload 2-3 hours per week (including live community session).

In order to be successful, the participants are required to submit 100% of the written assignments through the Learning Management system and attend 80% or greater of the live Zoom learning community sessions. The five learning modules are Human Resource Management, Quality & Patient Safety , Business Management, Health Care Environment, and Professional Role Development.

The ANCC, AACN and AONL principal leadership competencies will be the foundation for the course assignments, weekly discussions, and competency development. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a Rising Nurse Leader certificate.

Advancing Nurse Leader

The Advancing Nurse Leader certificate course supports the learner’s current and future responsibilities as a charge nurse or other nurse leader. The online course will be administered by Blackboard-ACE Learning Management System. The online course includes synchronous and asynchronous learning activities. The asynchronous weekly learning activities include a combination of required readings, videos, discussion board postings, assignments, and/or reflections.  The synchronous component is scheduled biweekly one hour learning community Zoom sessions with the course participants and the nursing faculty facilitator. Anticipated workload 2-3 hours per week (including live community session).

In order to be successful, the participants are required to submit 100% of the written assignments through the Learning Management system and attend 80% or greater of the live Zoom learning community sessions. The five learning modules are Human Resource Management, Quality & Patient Safety , Business Management, Health Care Environment, and Professional Role Development.

The ANCC, AACN and AONL principal leadership competencies will be the foundation for the course assignments, weekly discussions, and competency development. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive an Advancing Nurse Leader certificate.