Certification of academic nurse educators is a dream come true. I have been committed to this dream for some time now, and I know that it will make a huge difference for faculty.

Of the 206 courageous faculty who took the pilot certification exam at the NLN Education Summit in Baltimore last September, 174 passed. These individuals will now add CNE^CM — certified nurse educator — to their list of credentials, thus raising the visibility and status of the academic nurse educator role as an advanced professional practice discipline.

The newly certified faculty members embody the spectrum of nurse educators in the United States. They represent 45 states and the District of Columbia. Forty-eight percent hold doctoral degrees. Almost 75 percent hold the rank of assistant professor or higher, with 25 percent full professors. And they teach in all types of nursing education programs: 50 percent in baccalaureate or higher degree programs; 35 percent in associate degree programs; and 9 percent in diploma programs.

The demographic details reveal one serious concern. Among these highly skilled educators, 32 percent have more than 20 years of experience, and 47 percent are projected to retire within the next 10 years. Indeed, 72 percent will retire within 15 years! These numbers reflect a problem that the NLN has long emphasized: the number of qualified faculty available to teach our future nurses is continuing to decline, impacting the nursing shortage that threatens the health care of our nation. I hope — and believe — that the recognition that comes from certification will inspire younger nurses to develop the skills needed to become superb educators.

If you are interested in pursuing certification, please visit the NLN website at www.nln.org/FacultyCertification/index.htm. The exam is given year round at locations nationwide.

Another NLN endeavor designed to provide strategies to solve the faculty shortage requires the support of deans, directors, and chairpersons at all nursing education programs. Tomorrow we will issue an online benchmarking survey similar to one issued in 2002. This survey seeks information on areas essential to recruiting and retaining faculty. As in 2002, we expect that the results will be illuminating and very useful. If you are a dean, director, or chairperson, please set aside 20 to 25 minutes of your time to participate — with good information, we can do wonders!

Again, my congratulations to the 174 nurses educators who display the credential CNE. May there soon be many more!

Warm regards,

Ruth D. Corcoran, EdD, RN
Chief Executive Officer