Grayson County College's Associate Degree Nursing Program is pleased to announce that Shelby Garner has earned the designation Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) after successfully completing a rigorous certification examination developed and administered by the National League for Nursing (NLN).

Garner graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas Christian University in 1993, and a Master of Science in Nursing from University of Phoenix in 2003. She has taught in the Associate Degree Nursing Program at GCC for seven years. She currently resides in Gunter, Texas.

The NLN's CNE program has placed new visibility and stature upon the academic nursing community, long overdue, said Dr. Beverly Malone,
CEO of the NLN. "Through the certification program, we have made clear to the ranks of higher education that the role of nurse educator
is an advanced professional practice discipline with a defined practice setting and demonstrable standards of excellence," she commented. In years to come, she added, it is hoped that certified nurse educators will command higher salaries and be first in line for promotions and tenure.            

The newly certified nurse educators reflect the spectrum of their academic colleagues in the United States: currently 33 percent hold
doctoral degrees; the remainder master's degrees; 46 percent teach in baccalaureate or higher degree programs; 40 percent in associate degree programs; 9 percent in diploma programs; and 5 percent in practical nursing programs. Also, 60 percent hold the rank of assistant professor or higher: 17 percent are full professors; 20 percent, associate professors; and 23 percent, assistant professors; 36 percent have more than 15 years experience as academic nurse educators.

With nearly half projected to retire within the next decade and nearly three-quarters within 15 years, replacing them is of grave concern, noted NLN president Dr. Elaine Tagliareni.

"We must encourage more nurse faculty to prepare for certification as nurse educators so that our nursing schools can be staffed by academicians of the highest caliber. Only in this way can excellence in nursing education be ensured for another generation."            

The NLN unveiled the CNE program in 2005, with 174 passing the examination that first year - an 85 percent pass rate - representing 50
states and the District of Columbia. As of March 31, 2008, a total of 954 nurse educators, representing every state, have earned the CNE
credential nationwide with an overall pass rate of 83 percent.