Full course description
Research by Kavanagh and Sharpnack (2021) shows that only 9% of graduate nurses are residency-ready at entry-level competency, underscoring the urgent need for skilled faculty and preceptors. This innovative iTEACH microcredential will help train nurse educators and preceptors to develop their competency in best teaching practices to support the next generation of nurses. This course allows participants to earn badges that verify their skills and competencies, aiding in career advancement in academia and at the bedside as a preceptor. The iTEACH microcredential focuses on innovation in Training nurse Educators in Assessment, Competency evaluation, and High-quality simulation. Ideal for novice nurse educators, RN preceptors, prospective faculty, clinical teaching assistants, and adjunct faculty, this course aims to support the growth of the nursing workforce with experienced and qualified faculty and preceptors.
Estimated Hours to Complete: 24
The start date for the new cohort is June 16, 2025.
In addition to the asynchronous online course, learners will have the opportunity for some synchronous online sessions with world-renowned speakers well-versed in academia, practice, and simulation. Additionally, there will be an on-campus optional simulation-based experience with Dr. Suzie Kardong-Edgren and Dr. Elizabeth Wells-Beede. Times of these events will be determined with enrollment and aligned with the fourth module of the program. We are excited to offer these exciting opportunities to learn and collaborate with our partners in academia, practice, and industry.
We’re excited to welcome you to this course and want to ensure you have the best experience possible! This program is designed for those who are ready to commit to seeing it through to the end, as it requires dedication and effort to complete successfully.
The course consists of four modules and will take approximately 24 hours to complete in total. We recommend planning for about three hours of work per week, with each module taking roughly six hours to complete.
Each module includes a combination of reading material, active learning activities, and interactive Padlets to keep you engaged. To deepen your understanding, you’ll complete an assignment for each module, which will serve as your competency assessment for that milestone. At the end of each module, you’ll also write a self-reflection journal to synthesize what you’ve learned and reflect on your growth.
We’ve designed this program to be engaging and impactful, but it will require consistent effort. If you’re ready to dive in and fully commit to this journey, we’re confident you’ll find it both rewarding and transformative!
Learning Objectives
By enrolling in this course, you will:
- Use Active Learning Techniques
- Encourage interaction between learners and faculty/preceptors.
- Develop reciprocity and cooperation among students and colleagues to create a collaborative learning environment.
- Give Prompt and Timely Feedback
Course Structure
Our course follows the esteemed QM Higher Ed rubric (7th Edition), ensuring a thorough understanding of the content through best online learning standards. The program is divided into four focused modules:
- Module 1: Promoting Active and Engaged Learning
- Module 2: Fostering Student-Faculty/Preceptor Engagement for Enhanced Learning
- Module 3: Cultivating Collaborative Learning and Teamwork
- Module 4: Providing Timely and Constructive Feedback
Accreditation and Designation Statements
In support of improving patient care, The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing Education for the healthcare team.
Designation Statement:
Nursing: This activity provides up to 22 contact hours.
Course Faculty:
 |
Darla Gruben, EdD, MSN, RN, CHSE, CNE Darla Gruben, EdD, MSN, RN, CHSE, CNE, serves as the founding faculty, assistant professor, and Prelicensure BSN Track Coordinator for the inaugural College of Nursing (CON) at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth (HSC). She has been a faculty member and course director for eleven years in BSN prelicensure and RN to BSN programs. Gruben is a certified healthcare simulation educator (CHSE) and a certified nurse educator (CNE). She successfully defended her dissertation Experience of Novice Nurse Educators and Registered Nurse Preceptors Participating in a Micro-credential. She will graduate from the University of Alabama with a degree in Instructional Leadership in Nursing Education in August 2025. Over the past five years, she has focused on Competency-Based Education and faculty development. She received the 2022-2023 Texas A&M University Association of Former Students (AFS) College-level Teaching Award for the College of Nursing and the 2020 Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses from the College of Nursing. Gruben serves as an AACN Essentials Champion and is a member of both the CON curriculum committee and the HSC university education curriculum committee. Additionally, she is a member of the HSC Faculty Senate and the University Simulation Advisory Board. She co-leads the HSC high-impact practices community of practice (HIPCOP) group. She collaborated with the Division of Academic Innovation at HSC to develop the Microcredential: iTEACH (innovation in Training nurse Educators in Assessment, Competency Evaluation, and High-quality simulation), working alongside Reagan Laborde, M.S., the lead instructional designer and co-leader of HICOP. |
 |
Elizabeth Wells-Beede, PhD, C-EFM, CHSE-A, CNE, ACUE, FSSH, FAAN, Dr. Elizabeth Wells-Beede serves as Senior Associate Dean and Professor of Nursing at the University of North Texas Health Sciences Center in Fort Worth's College of Nursing. Before joining the UNTHSC College of Nursing, Dr. Wells-Beede served as a Clinical Associate Professor at Texas A&M University School of Nursing on the satellite campus in Round Rock. Dr. Wells-Beede has been a co-recipient of over $20 million in funding to implement innovative virtual reality (VR) simulations in multiple settings to educate nursing students, practitioners, and health professionals. These VR simulations have addressed care in the ambulatory setting, substance misuse and abuse, sexual assault, and care of maternal patients in rural, medically underserved hospitals. Her expertise in simulation has made her one of the international experts in VR, and she has been recognized as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and the Simulation Society for Healthcare, an interdisciplinary organization. Dr. Wells-Beede has received several educational awards, including one supported by her peers in the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. Dr. Wells-Beede has served on the Board of Directors for the International Nursing Association for Clinical Learning in Simulation (INACSL) for four years, from 2020 to 2024. She is a member of the Texas Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, INACSL, and more. Dr. Wells-Beede has supported curricular development that enhances the understanding of social determinants impacting patient care. In addition to receiving federal funding, she has published and presented internationally, spoken on innovative curricular development, and consulted as an internationally recognized simulationist.
|
 |
Dr. Suzan (Suzie) Kardong-Edgren, PhD, RN, ANEF, CHSE, FSSH, FAAN Dr. Suzan (Suzie) Kardong-Edgren is an internationally known speaker and educational researcher with over 140 publications. Dr. Edgren was a consultant on the landmark US National Council of State Boards of Nursing National Simulation Study that determined that up to 50% of traditional clinical could be replaced with high-quality simulation. She was the Editor-in-Chief of Clinical Simulation in Nursing for 10 years. She is a past presenter of the Michael Gordon Lectureship in Simulation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. Dr. Edgren is a past chair of the Research Committee for the Society for Simulation in Healthcare and recent past President of the International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation in Nursing (INACSL). She is a Fellow in the Society of Simulation in Healthcare, the Academy of Nursing Education Fellows, and the American Academy of Nursing. Dr. Edgren is an Associate Professor at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston.
|