Clinical Nurse Educator Competencies: Creating an Evidence-Based Practice for Academic Clinical Nurse Educators (NLN)

Clinical Nurse Educator Competencies
Teresa Shellenbarger, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF, Editor

Excellence in clinical nursing education is essential in training today’s nursing students.

The first resource of its kind to address this specialized area of expertise, Clinical Nurse Educator Competencies equips educators with a mastery of the evidence-based competencies and tasks needed to confidently guide students through learning experiences in clinical settings and to produce competent nurses ready for practice.

Detailed analysis of each competency synthesizes relevant literature and reflects the insight of the NLN Task Group on Clinical Nurse Educators, providing an authoritative framework to help educators prepare students for the rigors of clinical nursing practice in today’s changing healthcare environment.

“This synthesis and validation of academic clinical nurse educator competencies defines a scope of practice for the role of the academic clinical nurse educator. The results provide a standard of excellence central to the performance expectations associated with this specialized role.”
Kathleen A. Poindexter PhD, RN, CNE
Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Programs
Michigan State University College of Nursing
East Lansing, Michigan
Chair, NLN Academic Nurse Educator Certification Program Commission

Teresa Shellenbarger, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF is Distinguished University Professor and doctoral program coordinator in the Department of Nursing and Allied Health Professions at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the Pennsylvania State University, master of science in nursing from Southern Connecticut State University, and her PhD in nursing from Widener University.  
As an experienced nurse educator for more than 25 years, Dr. Shellenbarger has taught a variety of theory and clinical courses at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels. Dr. Shellenbarger has published and presented extensively on topics related to innovative teaching strategies, faculty role development, technology use in nursing education, and clinical nursing education. Co-author of the popular book Clinical Teaching Strategies in Nursing, she is a member of the editorial boards for Nursing Education Perspectives and Nurse Educator and serves as a reviewer for various other nursing publications.  
Dr. Shellenbarger has been active at the National League for Nursing, having served as a member of the Board of Governors for six years. She is currently NLN secretary and participates as a member of various NLN task groups and committees. Additionally, Dr. Shellenbarger is an NLN certified nurse educator and was inducted as an inaugural fellow in the NLN Academy of Nursing Education.