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.