Stockton University Partners with ACUE to Drive Student Success Read More

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

July 31, 2025
ACUE Editorial
ACUE logo on female nurse image

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. 

ACUE Editorial
With contributions from researchers, thought leaders, and subject matter experts, our editorial team is dedicated to providing relevant and thoughtful insights on effective teaching practices and student success.

More from ACUE

ACUE Constructive Conversations between faculty and students

Constructive Conversations: 5 Guidelines for Fostering Them in Your Course

I am sitting in a large meeting space at a university in Texas with tables spread across the room. Each ...

Read more
Faculty engaged in discussion in front of informational board at event

Get Connected: 5 Reasons to Support Your Faculty With Community

Faculty members serve as the pillars supporting higher ed institutions. Their contributions extend far beyond the classroom—shaping minds, fostering critical ...

Read more
Female instructor in front of students with computer monitors

Unlocking Human-AI Potential​: 10 Best Practices for AI Assignments in Higher Ed

In the early days of December 2022, late one night, under the cover of darkness, I eagerly typed “ChatGPT” into ...

Read more
NHETC graduates with caps on

Improving the Quality of Teaching and Learning: Why Community Colleges Invest in Faculty Professional Development with ACUE

Community colleges remain a critical component of the higher education system—providing pathways to education and the workforce for millions of ...

Read more
Image of circles connected by lines

Preparing for the Future: The Impact of AI on Higher Education

Since the emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI)—most notably ChatGPT—the general discourse in higher education has been a tale of ...

Read more

4 Ways Faculty Can Be Allies for College Student Mental Health

Mental health disorders are common, consequential, and largely untreated on college campuses. These findings are evident through data from the Healthy ...

Read more

Beyond the Icebreaker: Building Community in the Classroom

I’ve been fortunate to have that seemingly ‘magical’ class. You know the one—small, seminar-style setup with students actively engaged in ...

Read more
Instructor with smiling students on laptops

Navigating the Need for Rigor and Engagement: How to Make Fruitful Class Discussions Happen

Derek Bok’s great book Our Underachieving Colleges contains a passage that, ultimately, transformed my teaching. Teaching by discussion can also seem forbidding ...

Read more

Why We’re “Speaking Up” About Inclusive Teaching Strategies

Kelly Hogan and Viji Sathy on “speaking up” about inclusive teaching strategies.

Read more

Let’s Connect!