Instructional Designer, Nursing

The Instructional Designer, Nursing role partners with curriculum design, nursing faculty, academic leaders, and healthcare subject matter experts to design, develop, implement, and continuously improve high-quality learning experiences across undergraduate, graduate, and continuing nursing education programs. This role combines expertise in instructional design, adult learning theory, educational technology, and nursing education to create engaging, accessible, and outcomes-driven curriculum aligned with institutional goals and accreditation requirements.

The Instructional Designer serves as a strategic consultant to faculty throughout the course lifecycle, supporting the creation of learner-centered experiences that promote clinical judgment, critical thinking, professional competency, and student success. This position plays a key role in advancing innovative teaching practices, online learning quality, simulation integration, and assessment effectiveness across nursing programs.

This is a full-time, temporary contract role.

Responsibilities:

• Design learning experiences that support clinical judgment, patient safety, evidence-based practice, and professional nursing competencies.
• Partner with nursing faculty to design and revise online, hybrid, and face-to-face nursing courses.
• Apply instructional design methodologies such as ADDIE, Backward Design, and Quality Matters principles.
• Support integration of NCLEX preparation strategies throughout the curriculum.
• Ability to develop authentic assessments that measure clinical reasoning and decision-making.
• Align learning outcomes, assessments, activities, and instructional materials to program competencies.
• Ensure curricular alignment with institutional standards and nursing program outcomes.
• Support implementation of AI-enabled learning tools and innovative instructional practices.
• Support faculty adoption of accessibility, engagement, and assessment best practices.
• Foster continuous improvement in course design and instructional effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with accessibility standards, institutional policies, and online course quality expectations.
• Support accreditation and regulatory requirements including ACEN, CCNE, and state board standards.
• Analyze learner performance and course evaluation data to recommend instructional improvements.
• Participate in curriculum review and continuous quality improvement initiatives.

Requirements: 

• Minimum 3 years of instructional design experience in higher education, healthcare education, or workforce training.
• Experience supporting nursing, healthcare, clinical, or allied health programs.
• Experience designing online and hybrid learning experiences.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with faculty and subject matter experts.

Education Requirements:

• Master's degree in Instructional Design, Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Technology, Nursing Education, Healthcare Education, Adult Learning, or related field.

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing (BSN) or Master's degree in Nursing (MSN).
• Coursework or specialization in instructional design, learning technologies, or curriculum development also considered.

About Us:

American Public University System (the System) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. HLC accredits degree-granting institutions nationwide and is also recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The System is comprised of American Military University, American Public University, Rasmussen University, and Hondros College of Nursing. The System is authorized by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and other appropriate agencies in the states where it has campuses. The System is authorized to operate as a postsecondary educational institution by the Illinois Board of Higher Education. American Public University System, Inc., which operates the System, is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Public Education, Inc. American Public University System, American Public University, and American Military University are not affiliated with American University or the U.S. Military.