STUDENT GUIDE TO MS COMPREHENSIVE EXAMS

Transcription

1 Student Guidelines MS Cmp Exam UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO Cllege f Nursing Anschutz Medical Campus 1 STUDENT GUIDE TO MS COMPREHENSIVE EXAMS The Cmprehensive Exam The Cmprehensive (Cmp) Exam (r thesis defense) is the final requirement fr graduatin frm the Graduate Schl f the University f Clrad (UC) Cllege f Nursing (CON). The purpse f the exam is fr the student t demnstrate his/her accmplishment f the terminal utcme cmpetencies f the CON Master s Prgram (see last page). A satisfactry Cmp Exam is the demnstratin f the student s ability t discuss the integratin and applicatin f thery, research methdlgy, evidence-based practice, and advanced clinical r systems decisin-making specific t the student s specialty ptin, as well as t engage in a schlarly dialgue with CON faculty regarding issues imprtant t advanced practice nursing. The primary resurces fr the plicy statements in this dcument are the CON Student Handbk and the Graduate Schl Student Handbk. Please see the end f the dcument r the UC-CON website fr links t the cmplete dcuments. UC Cllege f Nursing Website I. Student s Respnsibilities Eligibility fr Cmps: Students are eligible t take the master s cmprehensive exam in their last semester f didactic cursewrk fr the MS degree, if their prgress in thse curses is satisfactry. Students must be registered fr a minimum f ne credit hur in ne f the fllwing: cursewrk at the UC Cllege f Nursing; thesis wrk; r as a Candidate fr Degree (NURS6940) in the semester in which the cmprehensive examinatin is scheduled. Obtain the current GRADUATION PACKET frm the Graduate Schl Office at the beginning f the semester fr which the cmprehensive exam is planned. The student is respnsible fr chsing a chairpersn and 2 ther members fr their cmprehensive exam cmmittee (cmp cmmittee) accrding t the Graduate Schl Rules (see Resurces belw). This respnsibility includes: The chairpersn must be frm the student s prgram ptin and must have a Regular Graduate Faculty appintment. The chair can assist the student in chsing the ther members f the cmmittee. The chair des nt need t be the student s advisr. Tw f the cmmittee members, including the chair, must be frm the cre faculty f the student s prgram ptin and may hld either a Regular r Special Graduate Faculty appintment. It is recmmended that the third member f the cmmittee be frm utside the prgram ptin s cre faculty. Scheduling the initial and any subsequent meetings with the chair prir t the date f the cmprehensive exam Meeting all Graduate Schl deadlines fr graduatin and cmp exam paperwrk. It is strngly suggested that the student schedule their cmp date n later than 2 weeks befre the deadline r Last day t submit thesis. See CON Academic Calendar Graduate schl rules state fr bth MS and PhD students that the student must be present; ne cmmittee member, excluding the chair, can be n ITV (distance) fr the cmprehensive exam. This rule des nt apply t students matriculated in nline-nly ptins. II. Preparing fr the Exam An initial meeting between the student and the chair f the cmp exam cmmittee is encuraged as early as pssible preferably in the semester prir t the cmp exam r early in the semester in which the exam is scheduled. Revised and apprved: 4/26/11 Kass-Wlff & Gilbert; Original created by Hagedrn & Thmpsn 1/07

2 2 Student Guidelines MS Cmp Exam The initial meeting is t prvide guidance in the preparatin f the cmprehensive exam as a demnstratin f the MS cre utcme cmpetencies. The student will be prepared with a tpic r issue fr their cmp presentatin and discuss the relevance and apprpriateness f this tpic with the chair. The cmp chair and student will schedule additinal meetings as necessary t adequately prepare fr the cmp exam Students will be cnversant and knwledgeable in nursing thery and/r brrwed thery (i.e., thery, cnceptual framewrks/mdels) frm ther disciplines. The thery r cnceptual mdel des nt need t cme frm nursing. At least ne primary surce written by the therist shuld be read in preparatin fr cmps and referenced; this culd be a bk, chapter, r article. Cmpnents and relatinships f the thery r theries, including sme f the inherent strengths and weaknesses Applicatin t advanced nursing practice. Students will be cnversant and knwledgeable f the prcess f research generatin, research utilizatin, and evidence-based practice (EBP). Specific cntent pertinent t this area may include: Articulating knwledge f the necessary skill sets, such as hw t identify questins fr knwledge develpment; frming a PICO questin (i.e., patient ppulatin, interventin, cmparisn, utcmes); search apprpriate databases fr relevant evidence; and hw t synthesize the literature. Critically appraise the evidence Knwledge f research methdlgies and statistical methds Knwledge f the steps f the research prcess Interpretatin f narrative and quantitative results (e.g., articulatin f themes; interpretatin f relative risk, dds rati, cnfidence intervals, effect sizes, etc.) Applicatin f research findings and relevant evidence in advanced practice Strategies fr implementatin f research- and evidence-based practice (incl. knwledge f change and rganizatinal theries, barriers and facilitatrs f EBP) Students in clinical ptins will be able t demnstrate advanced clinical decisinmaking as demnstrated by ne f the fllwing: 1. Clinical case study including: Pharmaclgy Pathphysilgy Differential diagnses Cmprehensive, evidence-based plan fr care AND/OR schlarly discussin f an 2. Issue f clinical relevance t specialty (i.e., teen pregnancy, health literacy, preventin f injury, quality issues, patient safety, system issues, etc.) AND be able t articulate: 3. Rle knwledge (i.e., cmpnents f the Advanced Practice Nurse [APN] rle) 4. Knwledge f APN and specialty scpe f practice, skills, and prfessinal perfrmance cmpetencies. Students in systems ptins will be able t demnstrate advanced systems decisin-making as demnstrated by ne f the fllwing: 1. Systems case study 2. Issue f relevance t specialty (quality issues, infrmatics, patient safety, leadership/administratin) AND be able t articulate: 3. Rle knwledge 4. Knwledge f APN and specialty scpe f practice, skills, and prfessinal perfrmance cmpetencies. Students shuld be prepared t respnd t any questin relevant t their presentatin, their specialty knwledge, and the terminal MS prgram utcme cmpetencies. A secnd meeting with the cmp chair is recmmended apprximately 2 weeks befre the scheduled cmp date. The presentatin will be reviewed by the chair at this time. This secnd meeting is strngly encuraged t evaluate the student s readiness fr the exam. Revised and apprved: 4/26/11 Kass-Wlff & Gilbert; Original created by Hagedrn & Thmpsn 1/07

3 3 Student Guidelines MS Cmp Exam If the student des nt appear t be adequately prepared, it is the respnsibility f the chair t delay the exam until the student is mre likely t achieve success. III. Cmp Frmat All Master s students will demnstrate their mastery f graduate nursing educatin thrugh a cmprehensive exam. The cmp exam r thesis defense is limited t tw hurs. The student will be expected t be able t engage in a schlarly dialgue with the cmmittee members. Ptential questins frm the cmmittee will be related t the integratin and applicatin f thery, research methdlgies, evidence-based practice, and advanced clinical/systems decisin-making, knwledge frm all graduate curses cmpleted, and the MS Prgram Outcme Cmpetencies. The cmp chair may mdify any f the frmat guidelines, at his/her discretin; the student shuld be infrmed f any changes during the preparatry meetings with the cmp chair. Cmp Exam Frmat: Students can demnstrate their integratin f the cmpetencies thrugh a PwerPint case study/prblem presentatin. It is strngly suggested that preparatin fr the Cmp Exam shuld fllw the suggestins utlined in sectin II. PwerPint frmat invlving a case study r specific health prblem PwerPint slides will be prepared based n the guidance f the cmp chair during preparatry meetings. Fr students in clinical ptins the fllwing frmat is suggested: 1. Chse a patient scenari r tpic that clearly demnstrates a need fr a cmprehensive literature review and evaluatin f the literature. 2. Frm a PICO questin. 3. Describe in detail the significance f the prblem Incrprate pertinent physilgy/pathphysilgy, pharmaclgy, physical assessment as apprpriate 4. The student may be asked questins frm any f the MS curse credits taken during their prgram f study 5. Theretical r cnceptual mdel shuld be applicable the clinical scenari r tpic f interest Knw tenets f mdel Thrughly analyze the mdel r thery and delineate limits and generalizability and applicability t advanced practice MUST have read at least 1 riginal article by the authr f the thery/cnceptual mdel 6. Evidence-based practice Present a review f extant research that elucidates the tpic and prvides the evidence t guide practice Defend databases selected: Cchrane, CINHAL etc Perfrm a thrugh review f literature Articulate level f evidence 7. Applicatin t practice Shuld practice related t the tpic remain the same r be changed based n the evidence? Incrprate the advanced practice rle int the discussin Fr students in systems ptin: 1. Cmprehensive literature review and evaluatin f the literature 2. Must articulate the evidence t supprt the case scenari using evidencebased practice techniques OR generate a research questin t address specific t the case study 3. Describe in detail the significance f the prblem 4. Include a theretical r cnceptual mdel apprpriate t the tpic f interest Knw tenets f mdel Limits and generalizability MUST have read at least 1 riginal article by the authr f the thery/cnceptual mdel 5. Evidence-based practice Revised and apprved: 4/26/11 Kass-Wlff & Gilbert; Original created by Hagedrn & Thmpsn 1/07

4 4 Student Guidelines MS Cmp Exam Present a review f extant research that elucidates the tpic and prvides the evidence t guide practice Defend databases selected: Cchrane, CINHAL etc Perfrm a thrugh review f literature Articulate level f evidence 6. Applicatin t practice Shuld practice related t the tpic remain the same r be changed, based n the evidence? Incrprate the advanced practice rle int the discussin. The exam will begin at the designated time and prceed accrding t the Graduate Schl rules. Students shuld allw time prir t the start f the exam t acquire and set up equipment, if used. PwerPint presentatin 1. N mre than 15 slides are allwed in the presentatin (excluding the title slide and reference slides), using n smaller than a 24-pint Times New Rman r similar fnt. The number f cntent slides may be mdified slightly with apprval f the chair. 2. Students are strngly encuraged t keep the presentatin simple. Bullets fr key items t be cvered are suggested. Lengthy slides with many wrds are strngly discuraged. Slides shuld be used t guide r illustrate and shuld nt be read. 3. Student s success n the examinatin is nt related t the aesthetics f the PwerPint presentatin (e.g., clrs, animatin, etc.). 4. N PwerPint ntes are allwed fr the speaker s reference. 5. N reference materials r ntes f any kind are allwed in the exam rm during the actual exam. Students may present with r withut a prjectr 1. If student chses t use a prjectr, s/he is respnsible fr prviding the equipment. Student may cntact Educatin Supprt Services ( ) t make equipment arrangements. S/he may distribute cpies f the presentatin t the cmp members at the beginning f the exam. 2. If student chses t present withut a data prjectr, cpies f the presentatin are t be distributed t the cmmittee members at the time f the exam. IV. Evaluatin f the Student s Success When the cmprehensive exam is cmpleted, the cmmittee members will ask the student t leave the rm and evaluate the success f the candidate s exam. The majrity f the cmmittee must agree n the utcme. Success is evaluated based n three pssible utcmes: Pass The student successfully demnstrates the integratin and applicatin f thery, research methdlgies, evidence-based practice, and advanced clinical decisinmaking. The student engages in schlarly dialgue, cites relevant and current evidence t supprt his/her psitin, and demnstrates gd critical thinking skills (i.e., uses standards f critical thinking: is clear, accurate, precise, relevant, and lgical). Pass, with stated cnditins The student partially demnstrates the integratin and applicatin f thery, research methdlgies, evidence-based practice, and advanced clinical decisin-making. The student s ability t adequately engage in schlarly dialgue is incnsistent, may nt cite relevant r current evidence t supprt psitins, and/r incnsistently demnstrates standards f critical thinking (is nt clear, nt accurate, nt precise, nt relevant, and/r nt lgical). Revised and apprved: 4/26/11 Kass-Wlff & Gilbert; Original created by Hagedrn & Thmpsn 1/07

5 5 Student Guidelines MS Cmp Exam At least ne majr area (i.e., research, practice, thery) meets the criteria fr passing as nted under Pass. The cmp cmmittee will generate the cnditins and present thse t the student. 1. The student has fur mnths (r ne academic term) t satisfy the cnditins identified by the cmp cmmittee. Failure t satisfy these cnditins within the fur-mnth timeframe will result in failure f the examinatin. The CON may then recmmend immediate dismissal frm the prgram r allw the student t retake the exam. The decisin t allw a retake is slely at the discretin f the prgram directr. Fail The student is nt able t demnstrate the integratin and applicatin f thery, research methdlgies, evidence-based practice, and advanced clinical decisinmaking in mre than ne majr area (i.e., research, practice, thery). The student is unable t engage in schlarly dialgue, des nt cite relevant r current evidence t supprt psitins, and/r des nt demnstrate standards f critical thinking (is nt clear, nt accurate, nt precise, nt relevant, and/r nt lgical). A student wh fails the examinatin is subject t immediate dismissal frm the prgram n the recmmendatin f the graduate prgram and cncurrence f the Dean. At the prgram s discretin, a student wh fails the examinatin may retake it nce. The reexaminatin must be cmpleted by the end f the next academic term. The riginal examinatin frm nting the failure is signed by the cmmittee and returned t the Graduate Schl ffice. New examinatin frms will be generated when the examinatin is rescheduled. [Students] will be required t meet registratin requirements and be registered during the term in which the repeated exam is taken (Graduate Schl Rules, Sectin 10, accessed 5/24/10; emphasis added). Resurces fr Students: Graduate Schl Rules and Student Handbk CON Student Handbk Revised and apprved: 4/26/11 Kass-Wlff & Gilbert; Original created by Hagedrn & Thmpsn 1/07

6 Student Guidelines MS Cmp Exam Master s Prgram Outcme Cmpetencies Apprved by CON faculty n 2/27/06 6 1) Implement ethical, cmpetent nursing practice with individuals, families and cmmunities based n 2) Understanding the human experiences f health, illness, healing, and dying. Implement the advanced practice rle with a specific ppulatin r specialized fcus based n advanced scientific knwledge. Prvide advanced specialty nursing care, respecting client chice and appreciating the subjective experiences f health, illness, healing, and dying. 3) Use technlgy and infrmatin systems t prmte health, facilitate apprpriate and ethical decisin-making, supprt cllabratin, and fster cmmunicatin. Integrate technlgy and infrmatin systems within an advanced practice rle with a specific ppulatin r a specialized fcus. Prvide leadership in the use f technlgy and infrmatin systems in the prmtin f ptimal health fr a specific ppulatin. Critique and analyze the ethical implicatins f advanced technlgies. 4) Prmte health and safe envirnments f lcal t glbal ppulatins and cmmunities thrugh the develpment, implementatin, and evaluatin f mdels, prgrams, and plicies. Assess existing health and scial plicies fr specific ppulatins t prmte awareness f the relatinships between scial-plitical-physical envirnments and health. Advcate fr vulnerable ppulatins and, thrugh cllabratin, mbilize necessary changes in existing plicies t prmte the health and wellness f specific ppulatins. 5) Manage care ethically with individuals, families, and ppulatins t achieve quality, cst-effective utcmes. Assume a leadership rle in managing care fr specific ppulatins while maintaining sensitivity t ptential ethical/legal dilemmas. Manage quality and cst-effective utcmes related t advanced practice with specific ppulatin r specialized fcus. Direct the care/case management acrss the cntinuum fr a specific ppulatin. 6) Advcate fr scial justice initiatives that enhance access, quality, and sci-cultural acceptability f health care fr all. Prvide leadership fr scial justice initiatives fr vulnerable and under-served ppulatins. Design prgrams fr and with specific ppulatins t prmte access t culturally cmpetent, quality care. 7) Prvide leadership in the delivery and management f health care fr diverse ppulatins and envirnments acrss the cntinuum f care. Design, deliver, and manage health care f specific ppulatins incrprating a multicultural perspective. Mdel culturally cmpetent care t ther health care prviders. Institute changes in health care systems that facilitate meeting the needs f diverse ppulatins. 8) Practice relatinship-centered caring based n the human experience f health/illness/healing/dying. Demnstrate relatinship-centered caring in advanced practice nursing thrugh advcating fr client dignity, uniqueness, and chice. Integrate practices that mdel effective caring and the value f relatinships int advanced practice. 9) Practice nursing reflectively, guided by thery, based n best evidence. Practice in an advanced rle with an explicit philsphic and theretic framewrk, using midrange theries and surces f evidence t infrm decisins. Generate innvative slutins t existing and emerging dilemmas in advanced practice with specific ppulatins. 10) Participate in generating and testing knwledge regarding nursing science, nursing practice, and health care delivery. Identify questins apprpriate fr knwledge develpment in nursing. Cllabrate with thers in all phases f the research prcess t generate nursing knwledge and infrm nursing practice. Evaluate nursing research critically t infrm advanced practice. Revised and apprved: 4/26/11 Kass-Wlff & Gilbert; Original created by Hagedrn & Thmpsn 1/07

7 7 Student Guidelines MS Cmp Exam 11) Engage in prfessinal stewardship t imprve interdisciplinary cllabratin and nursing practice, educatin, research, and health care delivery. Obtain apprpriate natinal certificatin in advanced practice specialty area and maintain certificatin thrughut ne's career. Assume leadership in practice settings and prfessinal rganizatins t fster imprvements in advanced nursing practice, nursing educatin, client care, and the health care delivery system. Share relevant knwledge related t advanced practice specialty with clients, nurses and ther health care prfessinals. Revised and apprved: 4/26/11 Kass-Wlff & Gilbert; Original created by Hagedrn & Thmpsn 1/07