CNU offering masters for Nursing teachers

CEBU, Philippines — To produce highly-skilled nurse educators to teach Nursing students in the region, Cebu Normal University (CNU) formally launched its first-ever Master in Nursing Education (MNE) program in Central Visayas yesterday.

CNU is among the 17 schools in the country piloting the said program which commits to providing quality education and producing globally-competitive professionals.

“One of the 17 is CNU and we are among the first to implement it this semester. Qualifications to be allowed to implement the program is that you are a center of excellence,” said Dr. Laurence Garcia, dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences.

Garcia said the MNE program, a special non-thesis master’s degree program through blended learning, is a manifestation of the long-time commitment of CNU in educating professional to become future teachers.

Meanwhile, CNU President Dr. Daniel Ariaso Sr. said that through this program, the lack of highly-skilled nurse educators in the region will be addressed.

“We are in shortage now of nursing professionals and educators. So, we may be producing more registered nurses, but if we cannot also produce Nursing educators who will teach and mentor our future students? This might contribute to further shortage of Nursing professionals,” he said.

Starting next academic year 2025, a scholarship will be offered by the Commission on Higher Education, and Ariaso hopes MNE will be included on the budget.

To avail the pilot program, CNU offers a complete master's degree pegged at just ?28,180, which already includes matriculation, and other miscellaneous fees. The program will be completed over two semesters and one summer term.

Dr. Cristina Corcino said the program offers job-order nurses a fast-track path to a master’s degree, helping them enhance their qualifications and improve their chances of securing permanent positions.

“Dili dugay, makuha dayon nila ang degree and this will give them more opportunities rather than staying as a JO in a local hospital,” said Corcino.

For this on-year program, CNU has started to accept online admissions since September 4 which will end on September 18. Garcia said that the university will accommodate 100 students for the pilot program in this semester of academic year 2024-2025.

Registered nurses with at least one year of clinical experience are qualified to take the MNE. Students who are interested to enroll this 30-unit program are also required to pass the comprehensive examination and the teacher portfolio assessment.

Upon the application, they will also be submitting online their updated PRC Card, honorable dismissal (from last school attended), Transcripts of Records, Certificate of Employment (proof of at least one-year clinical experience), and photocopy of PSA/NSO birth certificate.

Despite some challenges in internet access and teaching modalities, CNU is committed to launching the program and ensuring its long-term success. Although CNU may encounter budget cuts in 2025, Ariaso assured the MNE program will remain unaffected, as it isn’t included in the 2025 budget.

However, if there are any discrepancies in fully implementing the program, that’s when collaborating with other universities takes place.

The first academic collaboration of University of the Philippines and CNU will be done and on September 11 Ariaso and UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee will meet to finalize the details of the memorandum of agreement.

The collaboration will allow UP to contribute to other key subjects, potentially expanding the program’s capacity to more than 100 students.

Garcia said the lecture or theory classes will be done through online while the Related Learning Experience will be conducted face-to-face, both in classroom and hospital. This program also features practicing nurses to get credit for their relevant clinical and teaching experience in line with the recognition of prior learning. — (FREEMAN)