NLN – NLN/Elsevier HBCU Innovation in Technology Excellence program
A diverse and well-prepared nursing workforce is essential to delivering equitable healthcare and meeting the needs of increasingly complex health systems. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have long played a critical role in educating nurses from underrepresented communities. However, many HBCU schools of nursing face significant constraints in faculty development resources, even as demand grows for educators capable of preparing the next generation of nurses.
The Elsevier Foundation partnered with the National League for Nursing (NLN) to support faculty development across several HBCU schools of nursing. The initiative aimed to strengthen teaching capacity among nurse educators so they could better equip students—many from underrepresented backgrounds—with the skills required to succeed in modern healthcare environments.
Through this collaboration, the program focused on building educator expertise in innovative teaching approaches that foster critical thinking, clinical reasoning and reflective learning among nursing students.
What we do
The partnership brought together faculty from five HBCU schools of nursing that had previously participated in the NLN Coaching for Excellence program: Hampton University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Tuskegee University, Winston-Salem State University and North Carolina Central University.
Participating faculty members engaged in a structured development program that combined coaching, mentoring and faculty development workshops. The sessions focused on strengthening educators’ ability to apply neuroscience-informed teaching strategies and active learning approaches that support higher-level reasoning skills among nursing students.
Through the program, faculty explored ways to better support students’ transition from academic training to professional nursing practice. Educators also developed strategies for providing effective feedback to novice nurses in both classroom and clinical learning environments, including through online teaching settings.
How we deliver
The initiative was implemented through a three-month intensive faculty development program that brought participating educators together as a community of practice. Through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning activities, faculty engaged in collaborative discussions, workshops and mentoring sessions led by experienced nurse educator coaches from the National League for Nursing.
The program emphasized practical strategies for strengthening the nurse educator role, integrating contemporary teaching approaches and preparing students for evolving professional standards in nursing education. Faculty also explored leadership and mentorship strategies that could help strengthen teaching practices across their institutions.
To support longer-term collaboration and knowledge exchange, participants continued engaging through NLN’s digital platform, which enables educators to share resources, sustain professional dialogue and build ongoing peer support networks.
