Curricular Initiatives: College of Nursing
During the 2012-2013 school year, a team of faculty and instructors of the College of Nursing participated in the implementation and collection of various outcome assessments in a number of academic programs in the College. The following is a summary of some of the assessments that were conducted.
Ph.D. in Nursing Program
One program learning goal for students in the Ph.D. in Nursing is their ability to
communicate in a scholarly manner. The College of Nursing uses courses that require
both written papers that demonstrate analysis and synthesis of theory, research and
scholarship in multiple forms, as well as verbal articulation in the form of class
presentations and in class seminar style critical repartee and expression to assess
this goal. Major milestones including the candidacy exam, dissertation proposal defense,
and dissertation defense provide evidence to support the ability to communicate in
a scholarly manner. Going forward, the faculty plan to include an increased emphasis
and increased detail on the process of concept analysis in several courses.
Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Program
One program learning goal for students in the ANP/GMP program is to demonstrate the
ability to communicate in a scholarly manner by the time the student completes Practicum
IV. Assessment of this goal relies on a summary of each student's Evidence Based Practice
project in the Practicum IV course. Students were required to assess the clinical
question of a case, select appropriate resources and conduct a search, determine validity
and applicability of evidence, integrate evidence with clinical expertise and patient
preferences, and apply it to practice.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program
One program goal in the pediatric nurse practitioner program is that students demonstrate professional communication
skills. During the spring semester each year, faculty members assess a written paper evaluating
evidence for use of a therapeutic modality which is in frequent use for acute illness
in children. Faculty members evaluate student performance on this project and use
data to assess the effectiveness of teaching and learning strategies.
Health System Administration (HSA)
The HSA Program expects that students should have mastered the ability to communicate
in a scholarly manner at an executive organization level by time student complete
NURS 7600, Executive Internship in Health Systems Administration, the HSA Program's Capstone
courses. Students were assessed on their presentation of a Strategic Business Plan
Initiative (SPBI) that addresses an organizational need. The SPBI was developed by
each student in collaboration with the Chief Nursing Officer Preceptor, and the faculty.
Students should be able to apply Strategic Management and Planning strategies to effect
the Evidence Based Practice SBPI at the culmination of their didactic and experiential
learning activities and the successful completion of all the required courses. Students
are required to present their final SBPI project at the Final Residency.
Masters in School Nursing Program
One program learning goal of the MSN Program is that students demonstrate the ability
to communicate in a scholarly manner. This goal is assessed through various courses
in the program that require written papers that demonstrate analysis and synthesis of theory, research and scholarship
in multiple forms, as well as verbal articulation in the form of class presentations.
Faculty members expect beginning competencies to develop by the end of the spring
semester in NURS 6011 School Nursing and be mastered by the completion of the fall semester NURS 6010 School Nursing/Health Education Practicum. Fall 2012:
NURS 6010: School Nursing/Health Education Practicum - During School Nursing/Health
Education Practicum the ability to communicate in a scholarly manner is assessed through
a collection of student work. Students were also observed in a school nurse's office
with all of the students (100%) acting in a professional manner. During the fall 2012
semester, all students successfully met the competencies for the practicum. Spring
2013: During NURS 6011 School Nursing, the main goal of communicating in a scholarly
manner is assessed through student assignments. Students are required to complete
a project and give a presentation of the management of a common school health problem.
For the spring 2013 87% of competencies were met for the presentation.
School Nursing
The School Nursing program assesses the students' ability to communicate in a scholarly
manner through Canvas assignments, written analysis of current research relating to
child/adolescent school health, projects and presentations of management of a common
school health program, and health assessment and individualized health care plans
of a school aged child.
Clinical Nurse Leader Program
One program learning goal for students in the Clinical Nurse Leader Program is that
they demonstrate the ability to communicate in a scholarly manner. The faculty expects
that students demonstrate beginning competencies of this goal at the end of the second
semester of their first year in NULD 6212 Research and Evidence Based Practice. Competency
is measured by production of a scholarly paper and presentation on a single clinical
practice problem. Mastery of the goal is expected by completion of NULD 6605 Clinical
Nurse Leader Capstone Practicum Role Practicum. During NULD 6605 students are assessed
through a range of assignments including delivering and evaluating the provision of
nursing care, advocating for clients utilizing communication, collaboration, and self-reflection,
reflecting upon the multi-faceted ethical issues surrounding care and treatment, integrating
knowledge of CNL role competencies with the application of the nursing process, synthesizing
data collected from information systems and other resources to assess client need,
develop interventions, and evaluate client health care outcomes, participate in systems
review and evaluate changes that can improve the quality of client care access and
delivery, educate clients, and participate with interdisciplinary health care team
and assist in the delegation and management of the nursing team resources.