American Sentinel University recently announced it has designed the industry's first online Doctor of Nursing Practice in Educational Leadership degree specifically to foster the advanced practice of leadership in the nursing education setting.

The 42-credit program is open to nurse educators who have at least 3 years of nursing education leadership experience and a master's degree of any kind.

The program features two 10-day residencies, a flexible online learning format, 8-week courses with 2-week breaks and a bridge program for nurses with non-nursing master's degrees.

The DNP in Educational Leadership degree program was inspired in large by today's academic environment expanding the role of deans and directors of nursing education to go beyond curriculum development to include managing resource planning, designing new education delivery models and mapping program objectives to outcomes assessments, while navigating new laws, regulations and industry trends.

Many nurse educators, school officials say, lack the tools needed to be effective in transforming nursing education.

"We are excited to introduce such an innovative degree program that prepares a nurse educator to be a different kind of leader - one who has the skills and knowledge to create and deliver new models of teaching and learning for those in the nursing workforce," says Catherine Garner, DrPH, MSN, RN, FAAN, dean, health sciences and nursing at American Sentinel University.

Community college deans who realized they need this kind of terminal degree, but could not get traction from traditional schools were also instrumental in the creation of the degree program, Garner said.

"Because American Sentinel has taken a stance for innovative, non-traditional learning in the area of nursing education and DNP programs online, many deans came to us with the suggestions of a learner-centered curriculum and technology and simulation in learning," she adds. "We then suggested additional areas, such as finance and fund development, strategic planning and higher education policy."

For information or to register for American Sentinel University's Doctor of Nursing Practice Educational Leadership program, visit http://www.americansentinel.edu/health-care/dnp-educational-leadership.