How to Become a Chief Nursing Officer

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

In-Depth Guide to Becoming a Chief Nursing Officer

At the front of every team is a leader. This is true in the health care industry as well as in other fields. Chief nursing officers (CNOs) represent a health care facility鈥檚 entire nursing staff and play a vital role in making sure patients receive the best care possible.

If you have a background in nursing and want to pursue a more executive-level role, a career as a chief nursing officer could be for you. Check out the following article for more information.

What Is a Chief Nursing Officer?

A chief nursing officer is the highest position for nursing management in any organization. CNOs are responsible for overseeing and coordinating all activities of the health care facility鈥檚 nursing department. They plan, direct, organize, and oversee all nursing and patient care services.

CNOs can be found in many organizations, including hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, surgery centers, government agencies, doctors鈥� offices, and more.

What Does a Chief Nursing Officer Do?

CNOs have a complex job overseeing all activities in a nursing department. Each day can hold entirely new tasks and responsibilities. Generally, CNOs carry out the following duties:

  • Creating a positive nursing environment
  • Overseeing employee engagement, recruitment, and retention
  • Ensuring that nursing standards are followed
  • Developing and managing department budgets
  • Designing and implementing strategic goals
  • Coordinating daily nursing operations
  • Serving as a spokesperson for the nursing department
  • Planning new patient services
  • Organizing, directing, and administering best practices for patient care
  • Working closely with executives
  • Maintaining quality assessment and improvement
  • Ensuring that the department complies with regulations
  • Establishing and monitoring nursing performance
  • Partnering with physicians to ensure a steady work environment
Take your career further with a MS in Nursing Leadership and Administration of Health Care Systems from Excelsior.

How to Become a Chief Nursing Officer

The first step to becoming a chief nursing officer is earning an associate or bachelor鈥檚 degree in nursing. Then, you must pass the NCLEX-RN exam to become a registered nurse. If you did not earn your bachelor鈥檚 before taking the NCLEX-RN, you鈥檒l want to do that as your next step. Once you have done that, you must earn your master鈥檚 degree in nursing. From there, it鈥檚 all about gaining a lot of nursing experience. You may also consider becoming certified in nursing management, leadership, administration, or a related field.

Chief Nursing Officer Experience Requirements

To become a CNO, you must earn the appropriate amount of education. However, you also need a certain amount of on-the-job experience to stand out with potential employers. You should have at least five years of administrative or management experience before you start applying for CNO positions. Also, it鈥檚 a good idea to showcase your knowledge and experience by earning a certification. While certifications are not required for a CNO position, there are certifications that can help you stand out in leadership roles, including Executive Nursing Practice Certification, Nurse Manager and Leader Certification, Clinical Nurse Leader, and Nurse Executive, Advanced Certification.

Chief Nursing Officer Education Requirements

You will need to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree in nursing and then pursue a master鈥檚 in nursing if you wish to become a CNO. A master鈥檚 degree in nursing administration, health administration, business administration, or other related field is appropriate.

Excelsior鈥檚 Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Administration of Health Care Systems program empowers you with the skills and knowledge you need to play a vital role in health care systems, have a seat at the executive table, and have an influential voice when essential decisions are made about health care. The dynamic and challenging curriculum provides a flexible means for registered nurses to earn a master鈥檚 degree and preparation for advanced professional roles as a nurse leader.

Chief Nursing Officer Career Paths

Registered nurses can follow one or two paths on their way to becoming a chief nursing officer. One, they can work as an RN for several years before pursuing their master鈥檚 degree or, two, they can immediately start pursuing their master鈥檚 degree while working as an RN. Whichever path you choose, note that you must have five to six years of administrative nursing experience before you apply for any CNO positions.

Does becoming a CNO sound like the right career for you? Get started today on your master鈥檚 degree with Excelsior!

15 Qualities of an Excellent Leader

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Do you have your sights set on a leadership role in your industry? Whether you envision yourself in a supervisory role, somewhere in upper management, or even running your own company, you’ll need to have the traits and characteristics to lead teams of all sizes.

But what exactly makes a strong leader? Is it the ability to inspire and motivate others? Is it a dominant, confident presence? There’s a lot that goes into effective leadership, but there are some聽characteristics of a good leader you should strive for in your own career.

The Importance of Leadership聽in Business

Let’s begin with a better understanding of why leadership matters so much in the business world. The reality is that without strong leaders, teams have little to no sense of guidance or motivation. On the other hand, studies have found that companies with respectable leadership are up to聽聽to outperform their competition. In this sense, leadership can make or break a business. This is true not just at an organization’s highest levels of leadership (such as president and CEO) but also throughout middle management and beyond.

Characteristics of a Good Leader

While everyone has their own unique聽leadership style聽and set of聽leadership skills聽to bring to the table, there are some聽qualities of a good leader聽that anybody in this position should aim for.

High Integrity

Integrity is a must-have trait for聽true leaders. Specifically, integrity refers to being both honest and reliable as a leader. This means having clear principles and beliefs that you follow closely as well as a sense of accountability. Leaders with integrity are also the type to lead by example, practicing what they preach for the betterment of the entire group.

Effective Communicator

Great leaders are excellent communicators, too, so they can connect well with others while sharing information in a meaningful way. Of course, communication isn’t just about speaking. For a leader, it also boils down to active listening. Taking the time to talk with members of a team (and truly listen to what they have to say) could reveal valuable insights that leaders can then use in their own work.

Not Afraid to Delegate

A smart and realistic leader will understand they can’t clone themselves or be in multiple places at once. They’ll also understand that to do the most important aspects of their job well, they must occasionally pass off some of their own work to others. The ability to delegate tasks as needed is a trait many fledgling leaders would benefit from striving toward. Effective delegation increases a leader’s own productivity while keeping them focused on what matters most.

Culturally Aware

Cultural awareness has become increasingly important in the workplace over the past several years鈥攁nd it’s especially critical for anyone in a leadership role. Consider, for example, that surveys have found that diversity is a primary deciding factor for聽.

More than ever, people want to work in places where diversity is not only accepted but also celebrated. Having strong leaders who are culturally competent can help ensure everybody feels welcome and empowered in the workplace, which cuts down on conflict, promotes a sense of聽positivity, and keeps everyone focused on their work rather than dwelling on their differences.

Earns Trust Easily

In addition, an excellent leader should be able to gain people’s trust relatively quickly and easily. This can be easier said than done, particularly in a leadership position where people are quick to make assumptions or otherwise skeptical of those in power. There are plenty of ways to go about earning trust as a leader, starting with open and candid communication. Likewise, being authentic and transparent in dealings with your team can go a long way here.

Shows Empathy

Empathetic leadership is crucial if you want employees to trust you. When employees feel that leaders genuinely understand their needs and struggles, they are better able to build strong and meaningful relationships. Also, when leaders listen and act with a sincerely empathetic ear, they can create a more positive work environment. All this is a win-win for everybody involved.

Able to Adapt

No matter what level of leadership you find yourself in, there’s a good chance you will have a wrench or two thrown into your plans at some point. This is where your聽leadership skills聽will really be put to the test鈥攁s the most effective leaders are those who can think quickly on their feet and adapt to changing circumstances. Being flexible and resilient helps you bounce back when things backfire, which motivates your team to do the same.

Strong Decision Maker

Solid聽decision-making聽skills are also an absolute must when functioning in any kind of leadership role. Sometimes, you’ll have plenty of time to weigh your options and make a decision. In other cases, you may need to make choices on the fly with minimal time to ruminate over different options. Regardless, a聽great leader聽can take the necessary information into account to make wise and impartial decisions for the good of the company.

Transparent When Needed

Think back to your experiences as an employee. Who were some of your best leaders? Your worst? More than likely, the strongest leaders you had were transparent and open with you and your team. Meanwhile, some of your worst experiences with leaders may have involved people who seemed cold and distant.

Respectable leaders understand when they need to be transparent with their teams to build trust and maintain relationships. Knowing when and how to share pertinent information can help build rapport with your own teams and become one of their favorite leaders in the process.

Respectful

At the end of the day, being an excellent leader boils down to having respect and understanding for everyone. All too often, people believe they deserve respect simply because they have been hired into a leadership position. In reality, respect is聽always聽earned and never something to which you are entitled (regardless of your job title).

Of course, respect is a two-way street. In order to gain respect, you need to give it first. This applies to both those above you on the corporate ladder as well as within the teams you manage or supervise.

Self-Aware

Self-awareness is a characteristic many leaders struggle with. If you don’t have a realistic understanding of how you are perceived by the people you are supposed to lead, you’ll have a hard time improving. Great leaders, then, should work toward self-awareness by maintaining a growth mindset and holding themselves to a high standard of accountability. Likewise, leaders should understand that they are always a work in progress, showing humility in their own work and their dealings with others.

Encourages Innovation

One of the worst mistakes you can make as a leader is sticking with the same way of doing things simply because “that’s the way it’s always been done.” In reality, the best leaders are those who constantly encourage innovation. When an employee comes to you with a聽new idea, don’t brush it off right away; take some time to really listen to the ideas and suggestions your team members have. You might be surprised at what you could learn.

Takes Accountability

Nobody’s perfect. A strong leader will accept this as fact, understanding that leaders can make mistakes just as easily as anyone else. With this in mind, leaders聽should be quick to take accountability when they do make an error in their work. Doing so demonstrates to team members that they not only are just human but also are able to own up to a mistake when they do something wrong. This, in turn, can build trust and a sense of authenticity that boosts your leadership authority.

Well Organized

Staying organized as a leader can be difficult, especially when you have so much on your plate at any given time. Developing strong organization and time management skills can require considerable effort. However, organization is key to avoiding mistakes while keeping projects on track, so this isn’t a trait you’ll want to overlook.

Lifelong Learner

True leaders understand that they don’t know it all. They turn to their own employees when they need answers to or assistance with something鈥攁nd they’re not ashamed to admit when they聽don’t聽have the answers. Strong leaders are motivated to constantly learn new things, whether that means attending a professional development workshop or picking up a new skill that will serve them in the workplace.

Tips for Improving Your聽Leadership Skills

Becoming a聽great leader聽is certainly not something that simply happens overnight. It takes a good deal of proactive effort to start honing these skills, but the work you put in will be worth it when you’re able to lead your team with confidence.

Looking to take your聽leadership skills聽to the next level? 杏吧原创 can help. Explore our聽Master of Science in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Technology and Data Analytics. This degree program prepares you to lead organizations through transformational changes鈥攚ith course topics ranging from project management and organizational behavior to data-driven decision-making and ethical leadership.

Learn more about this graduate program by聽requesting information听辞谤听get started聽with your application today!

The Importance of Strong Organizational Leadership in Any Business

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

The quality of a company鈥檚 leadership can directly impact its bottom line and overall success. Poor leadership can result in a lack of support and motivation among employees, which can lead to inefficiencies and low聽morale.

Of course, not all leadership styles are the same. More than ever, businesses are beginning to understand the benefits of strong organizational leadership鈥攅specially as it pertains to improving engagement, productivity, and retention.

So, what聽is聽organizational leadership, what does it look like, and why is it so vital? We鈥檙e diving into these important topics as well as the role of strong organizational leadership in growing a business.

What Is Organizational Leadership?

According to Harvard Business School Online, organizational leadership聽refers to leadership on a large scale. Compared to traditional leadership, where a single individual works to motivate and lead a team, organizational leadership involves many players who aim to lead an entire department or division of a company toward a聽common goal.

In this sense, organizational leadership is more about looking at the 鈥渂ig picture鈥� within a business, deciding what needs to be done, and then motivating employees within different departments or divisions of the company to do their part to achieve those goals.

Why Is Leadership Important?

In today鈥檚 workplace, there鈥檚 no overstating the importance of聽effective leadership聽at the organizational level. There are many reasons organizational聽leadership in the workplace聽matters so much, ranging from employee motivation and聽morale聽to retention, job satisfaction, and productivity.

Unfortunately, for many companies, hiring people with strong聽leadership skills聽is easier said than done. In fact, 聽find it crucial to develop leaders at every level鈥攜et only about 5 percent succeed.

The Role of Organizational Leadership

What do strong organizational leaders do within a company? The precise duties and responsibilities of these leaders can vary from one role to the next, but there are some basic functions that all effective organizational leaders should be able to carry out.

Setting the Vision and Mission

One of the key principles of organizational leadership is that everyone is collectively working toward a common goal鈥攅ven if they鈥檙e fulfilling different tasks to achieve it. A great organizational leader, then, should be able to see the long-term goals and vision for the company. From there, they should be able to communicate this vision to employees and ensure that every worker has a role in working toward that shared vision.

Creating a Positive Organizational Culture

An unsupportive or even toxic work environment is one of the biggest enemies of organizational growth and progress. When employees don鈥檛 feel like they鈥檙e being properly supported or encouraged to do their best work, they often lack the motivation to try. In some cases, conflict may even arise between employees or between workers and leaders鈥攁ll detracting from progress toward the聽common goal.

A strong organizational leader should focus on fostering and always maintaining a positive workplace culture. This means actively listening to employees when they have feedback or concerns, as well as leading authentically and practicing cultural competence. All of this translates into stronger leadership that motivates and inspires while maintaining harmony in the workplace.

Formulating Effective Strategies

It鈥檚 one thing to be able to set long-term goals and visions for a growing business. It鈥檚 another thing entirely to formulate specific steps and strategies for achieving those goals. The best organizational leaders should be able to translate goals into realistic, achievable plans that involve every employee of the company. These strategies should be clearly written out so that everyone understands what is expected of them. Likewise, methods for achieving goals should have measurable outcomes so that leaders and workers alike can see the impact of their efforts and make changes as needed.

How Strong Leadership Impacts Employee Performance

There are many ways in which strong organizational leadership can have a direct impact on employee performance, ranging from affecting motivation and retention to satisfaction, innovation, and more.

Motivation and Engagement

With the right leadership in place, employees have someone they can look to for inspiration and motivation. A strong organizational leader will motivate and engage employees on a regular basis, giving them a reason to go above and beyond in their own work and play their part in the company鈥檚 overall growth.

Talent Retention

Retention and聽turnover聽are common concerns for businesses across virtually all industries. Companies with weak leadership have a hard time retaining good employees because these workers aren鈥檛 receiving the guidance and recognition they need to stay. With effective organizational leadership in place, it鈥檚 possible to improve talent retention and keep quality workers striving for the same goal.

Employee Development

Generally, workers enjoy feeling like their employers care about their development and growth in the field. These employees聽want聽to be given opportunities to gain experience and learn professionally. A great leader will recognize and present relevant opportunities to employees so that they can acquire new knowledge and skills. This is a win-win, as these new skills can then transfer to the employee鈥檚 own work and benefit the company in turn.

Employee Satisfaction

When you think back to the worst job you ever had, what comes to mind? There鈥檚 a good chance that the job wasn鈥檛 the problem so much as the leadership. This is a common thread throughout many companies, and it can seriously affect employee satisfaction. A lack of strong leadership leaves employees feeling dissatisfied with their jobs. This leads to higher turnover聽rates and difficulty retaining quality employees.

With strong leadership, you can keep employees feeling satisfied and content in their jobs, keeping them on board while also boosting their output and productivity.

Innovation and Creativity

Does it ever feel like your organization is stuck in the same old ways of thinking and doing things? If so, then it may be time for some new ideas. An effective leader should celebrate and invite innovation and creative thinking in the workplace, taking ideas seriously regardless of whether they come from upper management or an entry-level worker.

Consequences of Weak Leadership

Now that you have a better understanding of what strong organizational leadership can do for a company, it鈥檚 time to consider some of the grave consequences of weak leadership that many businesses suffer from.

When organizational leadership is lacking, employees and teams have nobody to turn to for the motivation and inspiration they need. As a result, productivity lags and projects may fall behind schedule. Likewise, the quality of work output may decrease as employees lack the innovation and creativity they need to thrive.

Meanwhile, without a strong leader to look up to, employees may also feel unfulfilled and unrecognized in their work. Their sense of job satisfaction and purpose may plummet, and, in turn, higher rates of聽turnover聽may occur.聽Turnover聽can be costly to a business of any size, which can negatively impact the company鈥檚 bottom line. This is a vicious cycle that, unfortunately, can be difficult to break. And it all starts with a lack of聽effective leadership.

The Bottom Line on Organizational Leadership

As you can see, there鈥檚 a lot that goes into building a strong organizational leadership framework. This remains true regardless of the size, scope, or stage of the company. This critical management approach can have far-reaching impacts on the growth and success of the business and its invested employees.

If you鈥檙e interested in becoming a stronger organizational leader and making a聽positive impact, 杏吧原创鈥檚聽Master of Science in Organizational Leadership聽with an Emphasis in Technology and Data Analytics may be right for you. In this 30-credit program, you鈥檒l gain the practical skills and insights needed to lead organizations toward bigger and better things. Plus, this program is available entirely online, so you don鈥檛 need to put your life on hold to pursue your advanced degree.

Interested in learning more? Reach out to our team to聽request more information聽or get started with your聽online application听迟辞诲补测.

7 Benefits of Earning a Master鈥檚 in Human Resources

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

A聽master’s degree聽in human resources can help elevate your career, opening the door to management positions and advanced opportunities in the field. However, a graduate degree requires a significant time and financial commitment, which may leave you wondering: Is a master鈥檚 in human resources worth it?

Relevance of HR Degrees in Today鈥檚 Job Market

Across聽different industries, there is an increased demand for professionals with both聽bachelor鈥檚聽and master鈥檚 degrees in human resources. According to the聽, labor demand continues to outpace the supply of workers; as a result, human resource specialists and managers are required to improve聽recruitment聽efforts and retain top talent within their sector.

罢丑别听聽notes that between 2022 and 2032, the human resources field is expected to grow by about 5 percent, which is faster than average for all other occupations. There may be as many as 10,000 new jobs created in the HR industry, placing graduates with a human resources degree in a positive position.

What You Can Learn in a Master鈥檚 in HR Degree Program

A聽master鈥檚 degree聽in human resources can provide you with expert-level knowledge of the best HR policies and strategies while giving you additional insight into trends that will shape the industry in the coming years. When you enroll in a human resources聽master鈥檚 degree聽program that also takes a specialized approach, you can gain high-level skills related to HR technology, such as:

  • Recruitment聽strategy development
  • Workforce communications
  • Legal management
  • Diversity training
  • Performance appraisals
  • Data-based management

Why聽Is a Master鈥檚 in Human Resources Worth It?

Combined with聽work experience聽in the field, a master鈥檚 in human resources can take your career to new heights. Below are the top seven reasons to consider pursuing a graduate degree in human resource management.

Gain a Stronger Understanding of HR

Even if you already have a聽bachelor鈥檚聽degree in human resources and have been working in the HR field for several years, you may find that a graduate degree in human resource management gives you an advanced understanding of the industry. Although HR primarily focuses on the employee life cycle, it鈥檚 also a nuanced field that is constantly changing to adapt to the needs of modern times. A graduate degree allows you to better understand the current state of the human resources field and offers insight into what the industry may morph into in the future.

According to聽, specialized topics sometimes incorporated into a human resources聽master鈥檚 degree聽curriculum include:

  • Labor relations
  • Conflict management
  • Organizational culture
  • Information technology
  • Ethics in the workplace
  • Managerial coaching

Become More Marketable

While there is significant demand for HR professionals across聽different industries, the largest and most influential organizations are searching for talented professionals who stand out from others in the job market. A graduate degree is one of the best ways to increase your marketability in HR, as it showcases that you have advanced industry knowledge and are passionate about your chosen career field. In addition, those who hold a graduate degree in human resources are more likely to be specialized, which is what organizations are seeking in human resource managers.

Enhance Soft Skills

Of course, businesses and organizations of all sizes and across聽different industries聽are looking for qualified HR professionals with the professional skill set needed for their niche field. However, human resource managers with effective soft skills are in high demand as well, and a聽master鈥檚 degree聽program presents the perfect opportunity to develop and hone those critical skills.

Defined as nontechnical skills that can be applied across a variety of industries or sectors, soft skills can improve your effectiveness as an HR manager so you can achieve better results within your department. The most important soft skills in human resources include communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and leadership, all of which you may naturally develop throughout the course of your graduate degree program.

Career Advancement

A聽master鈥檚 degree聽in human resources can open the door to a plethora of career advancement opportunities. Once you have earned your degree, you may be eligible for higher-level positions within HR. Some positions that require candidates to have a聽master鈥檚 degree聽include:

  • Director of human resources
  • 罢补濒别苍迟听谤别肠谤耻颈迟尘别苍迟听尘补苍补驳别谤
  • Senior leader of talent management
  • Vice president of human resources

These positions allow you to explore niche sectors of the HR field and give you an opportunity to put your advanced skills to work in an actionable, exciting way.

Higher Salary Potential

One of the primary concerns students have when they pursue a聽master鈥檚 degree聽is the聽tuition聽cost and the return on their investment. The human resource management graduate degree is a worthwhile investment because most positions available to those with a聽master鈥檚 degree聽offer higher salaries than entry-level positions requiring only a聽bachelor鈥檚聽degree.

According to the聽Bureau of Labor Statistics, the in 2022 was $130,000. Along with the higher earning potential, these senior- and executive-level positions often include compensation packages with premier benefits, bonuses, and more.

In-Demand Field

In an age when talent聽recruitment聽is increasingly complex and the professional landscape is rapidly evolving, there has never been more demand for skilled HR professionals who prioritize ethics, value diversity, and know how to use a data-based approach to enact dynamic employee strategies.

No matter if you want to work for a small startup, a local nonprofit, or a global corporation, there are plenty of job opportunities in the human resources sector. The that the field is expected to grow faster than average over the next decade, highlighting the increased demand for competent and experienced HR professionals.

Expand Your Professional Network

According to聽, earning a聽master鈥檚 degree聽in human resources can help expand your professional network. Throughout your degree program, you may interact with professors and instructors skilled in the industry. Through these connections, you may be able to learn more about different organizations in need of up-and-coming thought leaders, or you may discover niche opportunities within the HR field.

Additionally, your classmates may likely be professionals who currently work in HR, giving you endless opportunities to network and discover new possibilities in the local area. Whether you are looking to elevate your position within your current organization or searching for new opportunities in a different location, you could leverage the network that exists within your degree program.

How to Get a Degree in Human Resources

Earning a聽master鈥檚 degree聽in human resources聽doesn鈥檛 have to be difficult. At 杏吧原创, we offer an engaging graduate degree program in human resources that is flexible and versatile, allowing you to specialize and set yourself apart in a crowded job market.

Request more information聽about our Master of Science in Human Resource Management with an Emphasis in Diversity and Technology today.

Supporting the Adult Learner Through the Portability and Durability of Skills-Based Credentials

Posted on by Scott Dolan

Dr. Scott Dolan, executive dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Dr. Leah Sciabarrasi, associate dean, School of Business, presented “Supporting the Adult Learner Through the Portability and Durability of Skills-Based Credentials” at the 2023 UPCEA Convergence Conference: Credential Innovation in Higher Education in October.

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Physical Activity Surveillance in the United States for Work and Commuting: Understanding the Impact on Population Health and Well-being

Posted on by Anna Zendell

Whitsel, L. P., Huneycutt, F., Anderson, D. R., Beck, A. M., Bryant, C., Bucklin, R. S., Carson, R. L., Escaron, A. L., Hopkins, J. M., Imboden, M. T., McDonough, C., Pronk, N. P., Wojcik, J. R., Zendell, A., & Ablah, E. (2021). Physical Activity Surveillance in the United States for Work and Commuting: Understanding the Impact on Population Health and Well-being. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 63(12), 1037鈥�1051.

The article summarizes and describes the current US surveillance systems that assess physical activity for work and commuting. This article represents the initial work in developing best practices and resources for work settings of all sizes.

Teaching Matters: Simulations and Games

Posted on by Mary Berkery, PhD

Dr. Mary Berkery, department chair, Liberal Arts and Degree Completion, was featured on this episode of the NPR Teaching Matters podcast hosted by Dr. Scott Titsworth, Dean of the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University. Berkery discussed the use of games and simulations in teaching historical thinking skills in HIS350: World War I. The description of the episode also includes links to play demos of all 3 games. Excelsior’s Dr. Anna Zendell was interviewed for part two of the series.

(February 2, 2022)

Teaching Matters: Food Games

Posted on by Anna Zendell

In the second part of this two-part podcast interview on NPR’s Teaching Matters, Dr. Anna Zendell, teaching faculty for 杏吧原创’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences, discussed a game-based learning initiative integrating games into two courses – one in history and one in a nutrition course. Excelsior faculty created these games to address specific challenges in the courses and to promote empathy. Zendell and Excelsior Liberal Arts and Degree Completion department chair Dr. Mary Berkery each covered different facets of the evidence-base around game-based learning and simulations and talked about best practices for adult learners. Berkery was interviewed for part one of the series.

(February 14, 2022)