ACUE’s New Nursing Pathway in Effective Teaching Certification Aims to Prepare Career-Ready Nursing Graduates 

Addressing The Challenge Facing Nursing Education

As healthcare demands grow at an unprecedented pace, career readiness among new nurses remains a critical challenge.

While nursing faculty excel at patient care, most lack formal teaching training to prepare career-ready graduates. This gap between clinical expertise and classroom effectiveness impacts pass rates, graduate employment success, and, ultimately, patient outcomes.

“If we don’t teach effectively, then students go into nursing without understanding what they’re doing or why … We’re dealing with real human beings and real people’s lives,” explains Nina Nellhaus Sabghir, MSEd, MSN, Clinical Professor of Nursing at YorkCollege, CUNY, and ACUE–Certified Instructor.

ACUE developed a solution to this critical need, with guidance from nursing program leaders who requested specialized faculty development that addresses the unique challenges of nursing education.

Bridging Clinical Excellence with Teaching Effectiveness

ACUE’s new Nursing Pathway in Effective Teaching Certification addresses this challenge with evidence-based teaching methods designed exclusively for nursing instructors teaching at undergraduate and graduate levels.

This specialized program ensures faculty have the tools to guide students as they develop the critical thinking and professional competencies needed to align with AACN Essentials, drive success, and prepare for thriving nursing careers.

What’s Included: 

  • Real-world application of discipline-specific guidance to make learning content deeply relevant for nursing contexts 
  • ACUE-certified nursing faculty from undergraduate and graduate nursing programs sharing proven evidence-based practices that work from the classroom to clinical settings 
  • Real classroom examples of active learning environments that foster critical thinking, clinical judgment, and other key skills  
  • AACN Essentials alignment mapping teaching practices to nursing competencies  
  • 48 hours of continuing education credits approved by Montana Nurses Association 
  • Flexible delivery options for in-person, online, or mixed cohorts 

Earn Continuing Education Credits 

Faculty who complete the certification course will receive 48 hours of continuing education credits approved by Montana Nurses Association (MNA), an accredited approver with distinction by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. 

Proven Results That Transform Programs 

ACUE’s research demonstrates transformative outcomes at every level of an institution: 

  • Up to 6% improved retention rates from first to second year 
  • 25% increase in faculty confidence and renewed sense of purpose 
  • Significantly improved student grades and reduced withdrawal rates 
  • 2-5X return on investment for participating institutions

“It gave me such pride to see that my efforts in providing an active learning environment for the students is actually helpful and impactful for them,” shares Charity M. Chimwala-Selico, DNP, Assistant Professor, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. 

A Strategic Investment in Nursing Excellence 

For nursing programs, this pathway delivers measurable outcomes that matter: 

  • Achieve AACN Essentials alignment with evidence-based curriculum design 
  • Improve board success rates through proven active learning strategies 
  • Drive consistency across all nursing courses and faculty 
  • Strengthen accreditation readiness with documented teaching excellence 
  • Build reputation for producing truly career-ready nursing graduates 

The Nursing Pathway is more than faculty development—it’s a strategic move to elevate your entire program’s standing in an increasingly competitive healthcare education landscape. 

Ready to Transform Your Nursing Program?

The Nursing Pathway in Effective Teaching Certification offers flexible delivery options for both in-person and online instruction, with mixed or nursing-only cohorts available.

See how evidence-based teaching transforms nursing education and discover why leading institutions trust ACUE to prepare the next generation of exceptional nurses. 

For more information about the Nursing Pathway in Effective Teaching Certification contact us interest@acue.org. 

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