THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE COLLEGE OF NURSING GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK DNP

Transcription

1 THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE COLLEGE OF NURSING GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK DNP ACADEMIC YEAR

2 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION... 4 WELCOME FROM THE CHAIR OF THE DNP PROGRAM... 4 SPECIAL NOTICES... 4 GRADUATE SCHOOL INTRODUCTION... 5 PURPOSE OF HANDBOOK... 5 GRADUATE STUDIES IN THE COLLEGE OF NURSING... 5 VISION, MISSION, & PHILOSOPHY OF THE COLLEGE OF NURSING... 6 MISSION OF THE DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE PROGRAM GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF FACULTY AND ALL GRADUATE STUDENTS... 8 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION PROCEDURE... 9 INTRODUCTION... 9 ADMISSION... 9 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS SELECTED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR DNP STUDENTS IN THE COLLEGE OF NURSING POTENTIAL SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR DNP STUDENTS ACADEMIC COMMON MARKET PAYMENT OF TUITION AND FEES REGISTRATION AND ADVISING REGISTRATION PROCEDURES PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (COURSES AND COURSE CREDITS MSN to DNP) DEGREE REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC TO THE DNP PROGRAM COURSE DESCRIPTIONS (POST MSN COURSES ONLY. MSN COURSES ARE DESCRIBED IN THE MSN CATALOG) THE CAPSTONE PROJECT CLINICAL PRECEPTORS REGISTRATION FOR N502, USE OF FACILITIES ADVISEMENT PRIOR TO PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PORTFOLIO COMPILATION SPECIAL POLICIES NURSING EDUCATION CERTIFICATE FOR DNP STUDENTS HEALTH POLICY CERTIFICATE TIME LIMIT FOR DEGREE COMPLETION ONLINE APPLICATION FOR GRADUATION EXAMINATIONS STANDARDS, PROBLEMS AND APPEALS

3 ACADEMIC STANDARDS STUDENT CONDUCT ACADEMIC INTEGRITY CODE OF ETHICS ALLEGED CODE OF ETHICS VIOLATIONS AND ALLEGED ACADEMIC DISHONESTY OR PLAGIARISM APPEAL PROCEDURES DUE PROCESS FOR SETTLING DISPUTES GENERAL POLICIES POLICY ON A DRUG-FREE CAMPUS AND WORKPLACE SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY STUDENT/CLIENT AUDIOTAPES, VIDEOTAPES AND PHOTOGRAPHS FIRE AND SMOKING RELEASE OF INFORMATION INCLEMENT WEATHER STUDENT RECOGNITIONS OTHER PROFESSIONAL NURSING ORGANIZATIONS CEREMONIES, TRADITIONS, ORGANIZATIONS COLLEGE OF NURSING FACILITIES UNIVERSITY SUPPORT FACILITIES WRITING CENTER STUDENT COUNSELING CENTER APPENDIX A GUIDELINE FOR WRITING PAPERS APPENDIX B PLAGIARISM APPENDIX C COMMITTEES WITH GRADUATE STUDENT REPRESENTATION GRADUATE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE CURRICULUM HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE DEAN S STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL (DSAC) CALENDAR FOR SELECTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION APPENDIX D APPENDIX E APPENDIX F

4 FORM A FORM B APPLICATION FORM D

5 INTRODUCTION WELCOME FROM THE CHAIR OF THE DNP PROGRAM On behalf of the faculty, welcome to the academic year in the College of Nursing at The University of Tennessee. The College of Nursing has a long illustrious history of providing quality nursing education and preparing graduates for professional nursing practice in the evolving health-care system and we are pleased that you are enrolling in this program. Best Wishes for a successful year. Margaret (Peggy) Pierce, DNP, FNP-BC Chair of the DNP Program SPECIAL NOTICES From the College of Nursing In order to protect the public, drug screening (including alcohol) and criminal background checks are required for nursing students. From the University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status in provision of educational programs and services or employment and benefits. This policy extends to both employment by and admission to the University. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex or disability in the educational programs and activities, pursuant to the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) of Inquiries and charges of violation concerning Title VI, title IX, Section 504, ADA, or the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) or any of the other above referenced policies should be directed to the Office of Diversity Resources & Educational Services (DRES), 2110 Terrace Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee ; or telephone (865) (TTY available). Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the Office of Human Resources Management, 600 Henley Street, Knoxville, TN

6 GRADUATE SCHOOL INTRODUCTION In order to serve the mission and vision of the Graduate School and preserve the integrity of Graduate Programs at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, information related to the process of graduate education in each department is to be provided for all graduate students. Based on Best Practices offered by the Council of Graduate Schools, it is important that detailed articulation of the information specific to the graduate degrees offered in each department/program be disseminated. The department Graduate handbook does not deviate from established Graduate School Policies noted in the Graduate Catalog, but rather provides the specific ways in which those policies are carried out. PURPOSE OF HANDBOOK The purpose of this DNP student handbook is to provide DNP students with information concerning this program and to anticipate some of the frequently occurring questions of graduate students. Please note that this handbook includes information to guide your progression but it is not inclusive of all graduate school policies and procedures. The Graduate Catalog serves as the primary document for graduate program rules and policies. Graduate students are expected to be aware of and satisfy all regulations governing their work and study at the university. Information on the appeals procedure is available on the Graduate School website ( You will be referred to other publications of the University, including Hilltopics ( If you have further questions, check with your advisor. GRADUATE STUDIES IN THE COLLEGE OF NURSING Dr. Mary Gunther, Executive Associate Dean for Academic Affairs is responsible for the overall administration of academic programs. Dr. Tami Wyatt serves as Director of Graduate Studies for the College of Nursing. Dr. Margaret (Peggy) Pierce serves as Chair of the DNP program and thus has operational oversight for the program. Faculty who teach in the DNP program meet regularly to discuss curricular and operational aspects of the program. They submit recommendations for curricular change to the Curriculum Committee of the college. Administrative issues are dealt with at the appropriate level Dr. Pierce, as Chair of the DNP program, Dr. Wyatt as Director of Graduate Programs, and Dr. Gunther as Associate Dean, or at the dean s level. Dr. Pierce can be reached at ppierce@utk.edu or , Dr. Wyatt at twyatt@utk.edu or , and Dr. Gunther at mgunther@utk.edu or Once admitted, each student has a faculty advisor (see section on advisement). 5

7 VISION, MISSION, & PHILOSOPHY OF THE COLLEGE OF NURSING VISION STATEMENT: Leading the way in nursing education, research, and practice to maximize health and transform health care. MISSION STATEMENT: The college is committed to the delivery of high quality academic programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels; to the discovery and dissemination of knowledge through research and other scholarly activities; to the provision of service to the community; and to the promotion of the profession of nursing. Specifically, our unique mission is to facilitate the development of professional nurses who will promote society s health and health care at the local, regional, national, and international levels. PHILOSOPHY: Excellence in the generation and communication of nursing knowledge is the responsibility of both faculty and students engaged in a reciprocal teaching-learning process. This process is enhanced by responding to the unique learning needs of a diverse student population in an environment that facilitates critical thinking, self-awareness, communication, reflection, and action in providing health care and improving quality of life. As a College of Nursing within a land-grant research intensive university, we conduct research to develop evidence based interventions and the professional skills necessary to apply them in a variety of health contexts as well as evaluation of practice and translation of research. Our curriculum is based on the metaparadigmatic concepts of person, environment, and health as the focus of nursing practice and knowledge development. Persons, as individuals, families, groups, and communities are the focus of nursing care and have the right to have subsistence needs met and to access comprehensive health care in a climate of dignity and respect. Persons are biopsychosocial and thus are complex, creative, and relational. They are genetically, socially, culturally, spiritually, and politically diverse. Nurses value equality and equity, emphasizing the needs of vulnerable populations realizing that all persons experience vulnerability when health is challenged. Environment includes the totality of physical, social, cultural, institutional, and political structures and conditions that influence human existence, health, development, and empowerment. Persons cannot be understood apart from their environments. Excellence in health care demands that we promote, maintain, and restore health through environmentally based practice, setting the conditions for healing, the ecology for sustainable health, and the climate for belongingness, support, and respect. Health is defined as a series of transitions occurring in development, illness, recovery, wellness, social relationships, life challenges, and death. We focus on actual or potential health problems and strengths to improve the well-being of persons as defined by mutual dialogue with them. Health is a human right, enabling individuals to realize their maximum potential for self- 6

8 determination and interpersonal, family, communal relationships, and meaningful work. Health encompasses central elements of growth, development, and integrity throughout the life span. Nursing is a practice discipline, defined as the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems and needs of individuals, families, groups, and communities. Nurses strive for holistic, accessible, high-quality, cost-effective, and ethical health care. Nurses interact with other health care professionals and community partners to create optimal climates for healing, wellness, and quality of life in changing systems of health care. As nurses, we hold that health is influenced by local and global economic forces, cultural change, technological advances, and scientific discoveries. Nursing is ultimately responsible to maintain and improve health through practice, organization, leadership, scholarship, policy, and advocacy. The public trust in nursing mandates that, above all, the nursing profession is accountable for ethical protection of individuals and the public from health risks and threats to personal integrity or dignity. (revised August, 2013) MISSION OF THE DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE PROGRAM. The mission of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program is to prepare graduates to be leaders in the promotion of the highest quality health care through education, clinically-based scholarship, evidence-based practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The American Association of College of Nursing Core Competencies of the DNP Graduate can be found at The University of Tennessee, College of Nursing, Knoxville adds the following goals and objectives of the DNP Program: 1. Goal of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program The goal of the DNP program is to prepare expert clinicians who will provide advanced nursing care in a variety of settings, serve as leaders in improving the health care system, and educate future nurses. 2. Program objectives/outcomes and relationship to campus goals. At the completion of the DNP program, students will be able to: Integrate nursing science with other disciplines as the basis for the highest level of evidence-based nursing practice Demonstrate professionalism, advocacy, ethical principles, and scientific integrity in advanced nursing practice. Provide collaborative leadership in the development of clinical practice models, health policy, and standards of care, for diverse populations. Generate system and outcomes research and analyze other evidence to guide improvements in practice. Utilize information systems/technology to support and improve nursing care and healthcare systems, and prevent illness and disability. 7

9 GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF FACULTY AND ALL GRADUATE STUDENTS Faculty who teach in the DNP program are committed to facilitating students success. Faculty who serve as advisors to DNP students will not only be a guide and facilitator in terms of the program of study, but also a coach and mentor. Doctoral students should look to their advisors as sources of information, such as suggestions for clinical experiences, but also for mentorship in terms of special learning opportunities on campus, outside conferences, etc. The intensity and depth of doctoral study requires a level of commitment to one s studies that exceeds that required by prior nursing education. In order to be successful, doctoral students must be able to commit substantial time and effort in their studies and to participate in other scholarly activities associated with the program. Part of becoming a scholarly clinical expert in nursing is being socialized into the role. This cannot happen without participation in colloquia, research groups, conferences, and other learning activities beyond coursework per se. Attendance is expected at all colloquia and conferences that are scheduled during on-site weeks unless the program chair has granted an exception. While not every student has the luxury of fulltime study without outside employment, every student does need to carve out key portions of their program where their immersion in their studies is more intense and more indepth. Graduate students in nursing are responsible to meet both coursework and policy conditions in the College of Nursing as well as all university regulations in a timely fashion. Students need to be vigilant in reviewing the university academic calendar frequently, as well as the Graduate School homepage, so as to not miss key deadlines. While there may be reminders sent through the DNP community Blackboard site, it remains the student s responsibility to adhere to these deadlines. Perhaps the chief responsibility of a doctoral student is to cultivate habits of rigorous scholarship, like those described by John Dewey (1910/1940; 1922/1930; 1935/1963). Dewey distinguished creative, productive habits from routine, unthinking habits. The productive habits described by Dewey include deliberation, critical reflection, risk-taking, courage, and a kind of intellectual restlessness which compels the scholar to perpetually evolve. Because earlier levels of nursing education often focus more on mastery of didactic course content and development of clinical proficiencies, doctoral students may struggle to relinquish old habits of studying. Doctoral education creates discomfort. It is sometimes difficult to put one s personal beliefs and experiences in the background and take a new look at the world, human beings, and nursing work from the perspective of a scholar rather than a practitioner. Faculty understand this difficulty and stand ready to guide students through the transition. 8

10 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION PROCEDURE INTRODUCTION Catalogue Description Doctor of Nursing Practice, Nursing Major The College of Nursing DNP program is designed for BSN and MSN graduates who are interested in earning a clinical doctoral degree in nursing. At the completion of the DNP program, students will be able to: Integrate nursing science with other disciplines as the basis for the highest level of evidence-based nursing practice. Demonstrate professionalism, advocacy, ethical principles, and scientific integrity in advanced nursing practice. Provide collaborative leadership in the development of clinical practice models, health policy, and standards of care, for diverse populations. Generate system and outcomes research and analyze other evidence to guide improvements in practice. Utilize information systems/technology to support and improve nursing care and healthcare systems, and prevent illness and disability. ADMISSION Submit online application to the Graduate Admissions Office. Meet admission requirements of Graduate School. Hold a Bachelor's or Master s degree in nursing from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission or the Collegiate Commission on Nursing Education. Have a minimum cumulative graduate grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for previous college work. The GRE is not required for application to the BSN to DNP Program for applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 3.3 or higher.. Applicants with a GPA < 3.3 must take the GRE exam. Have TOEFL scores of at least 550 on the paper test or 80 on the internet-based test if native language is not English. Complete College of Nursing Graduate Program Data Form. Submit College of Nursing Graduate Rating Forms from three college level instructors and/or nurses and administrators who have supervised applicant s professional work. Submit an essay describing personal and professional aspirations. 9

11 If invited to interview, schedule a personal interview with the College of Nursing DNP admissions committee. International applicants or applicants living more than 100 miles from Knoxville may be interviewed by telephone or teleconferencing at the discretion of the admissions committee. Prospective students with a BSN must simultaneously apply to a clinical concentration in the MSN Program. Currently, the BSN to DNP Program is offered in the following concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. See College of Nursing website ( for current application deadlines and additional information on admission procedures. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES Prior to enrollment in the DNP program, each student must successfully complete a criminal background check. Each student must hold personal professional liability insurance and health insurance. As Registered Nurses, DNP students must be eligible to practice nursing in Tennessee, i.e., licensed in Tennessee or one of the inter-state compact states. Each student must present evidence of meeting current health requirements. See College of Nursing website, Each student must present evidence of current health care provider CPR certified. A maximum of 6 graduate hours taken before acceptance into the DNP program may be applied toward the degree. A minimum grade of B in all DNP nursing courses and a 3.0 cumulative GPA is required for continuation in the program. 10

12 FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS Financial support for graduate students comes in many forms: traineeships, assistantships, fellowships, scholarships, loans, and employment. Traineeships: Nursing graduate students are eligible to apply for federal traineeship monies, which assist with the cost of tuition and fees. Assistantships: These are awards that support administrative work in a college/department ( Graduate Assistantship (GA)), teaching ( Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA)), or ( Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA)). An assistantship provides a tuition/fee waiver and a monthly stipend. See for further information. Fellowships: These awards typically come from the Graduate School, and are competitive in nature. A fellowship usually provides a tuition/fee waiver and a monthly stipend. Some also require the department or college to provide an assistantship on top of the fellowship. See Scholarships: The College of Nursing provides scholarships each year to selected students, who apply and meet specific eligibility criteria. CON scholarships are awarded to assist students in meeting their tuition/fee needs. Examples of these scholarships are provided below. Additional information is available on the CON web site. Loans: Due to the current nursing shortage, there are special loan programs available for nurses pursuing graduate education; i.e., the federal Nursing Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) and the state TSAC program. Nursing graduate students may also be eligible for subsidized or unsubsidized educational loans. To determine eligibility, students must submit a FAFSA and apply through the university Office of Financial Aid. Students may also pursue personal loans. Employment: Many graduate students work at outside employment while pursuing graduate studies. Some employers do offer tuition assistance. See the Table on the next page for more details regarding these types of funding. Travel Awards may be available from the Graduate School for research presentations. Students are encouraged to investigate additional financial aid/scholarships from sources such as employers, professional organizations and civic/service organizations with goals relevant to their field of study. SELECTED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR DNP STUDENTS IN THE COLLEGE OF NURSING Admitted Students may apply for scholarships. Please see the College of Nursing website for details about eligibility for scholarships, the application process and deadlines. Students may apply annually for scholarship support. Listed below are a few examples of College of Nursing Scholarships open to DNP students: Dyer Award Applicant must be a native East Tennessean or plan to work in East Tennessee for a minimum of 3 years after graduation, be enrolled in MSN, PhD or DNP program, and demonstrate successful academic performance and/or financial need (in the broadest sense). Applicant need only complete the college of nursing application (available on the CON web site) and return to the chair of the Scholarship and Awards committee. Artie Ruth Reilly Scholarship Applicant must be female, from the Appalachian region, and admitted as a full-time, degreeseeking student. The scholarship is a three-year award, renewable upon annual reapplication as long as an overall B average is maintained. The scholarship pays full tuition and fees. 11

13 Both financial need and academic promise are considered in awarding this scholarship. Sylvia Hart Scholarship Endowment It is open to all full-time nursing students who have demonstrated the following: BSN 3.25 GPA with 90 semester hours completed; all junior level nursing courses completed with B or higher. MSN 3.5 GPA with 12 graduate credit hours completed with a grade of B or higher for each course. DNP with 18 post masters credit hours completed with a grade of B or higher in each course. The student must submit a letter of application for the scholarship that includes a statement of personal philosophy of nursing, career aspirations and hopes, and dreams for the nursing profession. These statements will be compared within, but not across program levels, to determine the recipients (UG, MSN, PhD, DNP). 12

14 UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE KNOXVILLE COLLEGE OF NURSING POTENTIAL SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR DNP STUDENTS Entity Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) Graduate Nursing Loan-Forgiveness Program Source and Type of Funds Federal monies. Loan program; 85% forgiveable if recipient is employed fulltime in nursing education for five years. State monies. Loan program with forgiveness. Eligibility* Enrolled in graduate nursing program. Requires completion of nursing education program of study while receiving NFLP monies. Must be enrolled in at least two consecutive terms during the academic year. Enrolled in graduate nursing program and pursuing preparation as a nursing faculty. For TN residents. Process and Deadline for Applications Associate Dean for Academic Affairs alerts students via UTK of opportunity to apply for funds. Students apply in late spring/early summer; meet with financial aid officer to verify eligibility and sign promissory note. Awards made to college in late summer; amount awarded is posted to students fee bill acct. March 1 deadline. Other Information** Funds are awarded to colleges on July 1 through June 30 timeline. See urse_lf.html Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) Rural Health Loan Forgiveness Program State monies. Loan program with forgiveness. Enrolled in graduate nursing program leading to nurse practitioner preparation. Must complete education by Spring For TN residents. March 1 deadline. See urse_lf.html 13

15 College of Nursing scholarships Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) UT Graduate School Fellowships Employer funding Self-funding Other Donors Tuition and fee waiver Stipend of $1500/month Tuition and fees, and stipend (rate varies) paid by the professor s grant Usually pays tuition and fees. Sometimes accompanied by an assistantship. Depends on employer may be tuition reimbursement. Funds from student s own resources savings, personal loans, etc. Check with fraternal or professional organizations to which you belong Enrolled in a degree-granting program in the UT College of Nursing Enrolled in a graduate program in UT College of Nursing Enrolled in a graduate program in UT College of Nursing Admitted to a UT graduate program Varies Apply by April 1 of each year. Students complete one application and are considered for various scholarships for which they are eligible. Apply by April 1 to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Nursing, via jlee39@utk.edu. Provide a statement of interest and cv or resume. Apply to faculty members with grants. Vacancies in these positions are announced when available. See UT Graduate School website for various fellowships requirements Check with HR dept at your employer See UT CON website <Current/prospective students> <Current Students> <College of Nursing Scholarships> Look for the link for the Student Activities Data sheet and the application form. The college s needs for GTAs center around undergraduate teaching needs. To be eligible for a GTA the student needs current expertise in a specific clinical area. In order to support a graduate student at the level of tuition/fees/stipend, the grant is usually large and federal in nature. See Varies Varies. Need to complete FAFSA to be considered for any loan programs administered through UTK Office of Financial Aid See Varies Varies Varies * Major eligibility criteria are listed. Additional criteria are listed in the request for applications. All are subject to change. ** Whenever applying for any form of financial aid or conducting any business as a student of UT. 14

16 ACADEMIC COMMON MARKET An agreement among Southern states for sharing graduate programs allows legal residents of some states to enroll in certain programs at UT Knoxville on an in-state tuition basis. Additional information may be obtained from the Admissions Specialist in the Office of Graduate Admissions and Records (865) PAYMENT OF TUITION AND FEES Payment of fee information can be found at the One Stop website: If you have questions, please contact the Bursar s Office at or via at bursar@utk.edu, Current tuition and fee structures are posted on the College of Nursing website and available from the University Bursar s Office. REGISTRATION AND ADVISING REGISTRATION PROCEDURES Deadlines for registration for each academic semester are posted on the university web site ( Please register by logging on to Circle Park Online, by supplying your net ID and password. Questions should be directed to PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (COURSES AND COURSE CREDITS MSN to DNP) The following courses are required for all students in the MSN to DNP Program: 612 Health and Nursing Policy/Planning Nursing Leadership in Complex Systems 3 Inferential Statistics 3 Epidemiology Philosophy of Scientific Practice Methods for Translation of Research Bioethics, Cultural and Societal Issues within Healthcare Evidence-Based Practice and Use of Information Technology Healthcare Economics Project Organization Seminar Advanced Practice Option I Advanced Practice Option II DNP Practice Immersion Capstone 3 TOTAL

17 PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (COURSES AND COURSE CREDITS BSN to DNP) BSN prepared students must also complete the following MSN level courses as well as those in their selected clinical concentration. (Note: Administration students are not required to take N504, N505, or N515). Course descriptions are in the MSN Handbook. 501 Nursing Research Advanced Assessment Advanced Pharmacology Advanced Pathophysiology 3 BSN prepared students may request enrollment in a BSN to DNP Program, without an earned MSN or with an earned MSN. Those opting to earn the MSN degree must complete all courses in the MSN program as well as all courses in the MSN to DNP Program. Those opting to earn the BSN to DNP degree, without an earned MSN should follow the curricula posted on the College of Nursing website after consultation with the DNP program and their clinical concentration coordinator. All students should discuss these options with their adviser and or the Program Chair. The Graduate School requires applicants to specify their degree program and any change requires both College of Nursing and Graduate School approval. CONCURRENT MASTER S DEGREE PROGRAM The Graduate Council approved a policy that allows enrollment in a concurrent Master s degree program for DNP students within the same major. The policy was approved at the same time that changes were made to the readmission application and the change of program policies. The concurrent master s degree program is only eligible for students who are maintaining enrollment in the DNP program with the same major as the concurrent master s degree. The request for the Concurrent Master s Degree Program involves submission of a form, found on the Graduate School webpage at requiring authentication from the student and endorsement for the Graduate Program Director. Currently enrolled UTK doctoral students who plan to complete the master s degree while maintaining enrollment in the doctoral program must submit the Request for Concurrent Master s Degree Form to the Graduate School graduation office two weeks prior to the deadline for the deadline for submission of the graduation application for the master s degree. No fee will be assessed for submission of this form. 16

18 DEGREE REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC TO THE DNP PROGRAM To earn a DNP degree, 1000 post-bsn clinical hours are required in the specialty. For postmaster s students, the required number of clinical hours may vary, depending on the number of hours included in the master s program and the additional hours needed to reach Students must document their clinical hours from a previous program (MSN) by submitting the form completed by a faculty or staff from the school where these clinical hours were completed. See Appendix XXX COURSE DESCRIPTIONS (POST MSN COURSES ONLY. MSN COURSES ARE DESCRIBED IN THE MSN CATALOG) N579 Epidemiology for Clinical Practice (3). The basic principles of epidemiology will be introduced in this course with special emphasis given to clinical practice applications. Topics include a general overview of epidemiology, historical perspectives, epidemiology measures, surveillance, study design, and clinical decision making. Course is designed to equip students with the essential tools of epidemiology to use in practice. N612 Health and Nursing Policy/Planning (3). Policies affecting nursing education and practice; health policies and political processes; interactions between health professionals, consumer groups, and government in health policy development and health planning activities. F. N613 Nursing Leadership in Complex Systems (3). Analysis and evaluation of nursing leadership/management in complex professional, academic and health care systems. F. N620 Philosophy of Scientific Practice (4 hours). A critical examination of the philosophical, historical, and theoretical context of knowledge N630 Project Organization Seminar (1 hour). Conceptualization, analysis, and critical assessment of a clinical problem N622 Methods for Translation of Research (3 hours). Provides students with methods and tools for evaluating the strength of existing evidence through metasynthesis and meta-analysis and testing application of interventions N623 Bioethics, Cultural and Societal Issues within Healthcare (2 hours). A critical analysis of ethical, diversity and social issues within healthcare systems N631 Advanced Practice Option I (3 hours: 2 directed study, 1 clinical). Application of advanced practice nursing concepts in area of clinical focus Grading: Satisfactory/no credit or letter grade 17

19 (RE) prerequisites: 621 and 630 (DE) prerequisites: 613 (DE) prerequisites or (DE) corequisites: 612 and 623 Registration restriction: Doctor of Nursing Practice N624 Evidence-Based Practice and Use of Information Technology (3 hours). Provides students with knowledge and tools to design and implement evidence-based practice in health care systems. Emphasis on critical examination, synthesis and application of evidence in support of high quality practices (RE) prerequisites: 622 Registration restriction: Doctor of Nursing Practice, PhD in Nursing N625 Healthcare Economics (3 hours) Critical analysis of economics in health and healthcare focusing on the healthcare market, financing, and delivery in the United States. N632 Advanced Practice Option II (4 hours: 2 directed study, 2 clinical) Field experiences in area of clinical focus, and planning for capstone project. Grading; Satisfactory/no credit or letter grade. (RE) prerequisites: 631 (DE) prerequisites or (DE) corequisites; 624 and 625 Registration restriction: Doctor of Nursing Practice N633 DNP Practice Immersion (6-12, all clinical). Individually designed practicum, field, or internship experiences in a variety of administrative, educational, research, or clinical practice settings Grading: Satisfactory/no credit. (RE) prerequisites: 632 (DE) prerequisites or (DE) corequisites: 612 and 613. Registration restriction: Doctor of Nursing Practice N634 DNP Capstone (3). Preparation of a tangible and deliverable academic product derived from the practice immersion experience contained in the DNP student s program of study. Objectives: Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: 1. Prepare a tangible and deliverable scholarly product that can serve as a foundation for future practice. 2. Present evidence that verifies the student s growth in knowledge and experience commensurate with doctoral-level preparation in nursing. 3. Produce a plan for dissemination of the scholarly product prepared in this course. (RE) prerequisites or (RE) corequisites; 633 Registration restriction: Doctor of Nursing Practice 18

20 THE CAPSTONE PROJECT Doctoral education, whether practice or research, is distinguished by the completion of a specific project that demonstrates synthesis of the student s work and lays the groundwork for future scholarship. For practice doctorates, requiring a dissertation or other original research is contrary to the intent of the DNP. The DNP primarily involves mastery of an advanced specialty within nursing practice. Therefore, other methods must be used to distinguish the achievement of that mastery. Unlike a dissertation, the work may take a number of forms. At UTK College of Nursing the Capstone Project is to be focused on a practice change initiative. This may be represented by a pilot study, a program evaluation, a quality improvement project, an evaluation of a new practice model, or a consulting project. The student must submit a tangible and deliverable scholarly product that can serve as a foundation for future practice, must present evidence that verifies the student s growth in knowledge and experience commensurate with doctoral-level preparation in nursing, and produce a plan for dissemination of the scholarly product prepared in this course. The theme that links these scholarly experiences is the use of evidence to improve either practice or patient outcomes. The final DNP project produces a tangible and deliverable academic product that is derived from the practice immersion experience and is reviewed and evaluated by an academic committee. The final DNP product documents outcomes of the student s educational experiences, provides a measurable medium for evaluating the immersion experience, and summarizes the student s growth in knowledge and expertise. The DNP Capstone Project serves as a foundation for future scholarly practice (adapted from AACN (2006), The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice). The key to a high quality capstone project is a good working relationship between the student and the advisor. The student should meet with his/her adviser to develop a plan and time line for the conduct of the project. Thereafter, the student should schedule an appointment with the advisor in person at the beginning of every semester and in person or by phone at least monthly throughout the program. Objectives for the semester's work are to be developed and agreed upon during this meeting. In addition to frequent, regular communication with one s adviser, students are urged to keep all committee members informed regarding the progress of the project. updates are useful. Bear in mind that the chairperson and/or other committee members may want to review materials pertinent to the project. Do not destroy any questionnaires or other data before the Capstone Project is completed and approved. Students are required to adhere to current UT requirements for data storage and security. These requirements can be accessed via the Office of Research and Engagement at Guidelines for Capstone Project Proposal In this document, the student clearly articulates CP plans and provides advisors/committee with good understanding of the student s intent. It may require discussion/revisions until the student and advisor agree that the project is appropriate in scope, focus, and format. The Capstone Project Proposal (CPP) should be a brief description of the following: 1. The phenomenon of interest (developed in first semester) 19

21 Why is it important? Is it within the realm of nursing? What is in the literature about this phenomenon (N630) 2. Statement of the problem/concern/question Based upon readings, discussions, clinical observations (N630, 631) identify your issue of interest clearly and succinctly. Explain why it is important to address it in nursing. 3. Define the project goal What are the desired outcomes? (These may be refined as project implementation continues) 4. Define the scope of the project (think in terms of who will the project benefit? And how?) Sponsor or partnering agency (ies), individuals Population/group 5. Describe the theoretical framework for the project Consider theories/frameworks discussed in philosophy of science course. You may use a theory or a framework. Commonly used frameworks/theories in DNP projects include change theory, Watson s theory of human caring, Leininger s theory of culture care diversity and universality. Theoretical framework may be from other disciplines-consider business, education. 6. Describe the type of project: e.g. quality improvement, translating evidence into practice, clinical or practice-based inquiry, healthcare delivery innovation, program development/evaluation, demonstration project, healthcare policy, generating new evidence, describing a phenomenon. (There may be additional categories that you find in literature) 7. Methodology Explain how the project will be done including as appropriate: Team members who will collaborate on project Subjects (number, characteristics, number expected) Environment where project will take place (setting) Tools to be used if applicable (include examples of them in appendices) Intervention (what will be done, how it will be done, timeline) Anticipated costs Evaluation/analysis (how you will evaluate the project results) The Capstone Project Report This is a general outline of the sections that you should consider including in your Capstone Project Report. There may be sections that are not relevant to your project but most of those listed below should be considered for inclusion. Introduction: Why is this topic important? This is a lead in to the problem Statement Problem Statement: A concise clear statement articulating the scope and breadth of the problem, why it is a concern and why it should be evaluated Literature Review: Presents data to support the need for the project e.g. is there a gap in knowledge? Poor outcomes in current practice? High cost of care? Policy Issues? Conceptual framework or Theory: What framework did you use to organize your project? Briefly describe it and how it guided you in project development. Project Plan & Methodology: Would likely include- project design, subjects, setting, tools, intervention, data collection methods. Results: Characteristics of the sample (subjects), data results; descriptive statistics Discussion/Analysis: Your interpretation of the results. Limitations of data Implications for Practice: How do you recommend that your findings be utilized in other settings 20

22 Conclusions: could be included in Implications for Practice. Should describe the implications of the findings and offer recommendations. Be cautious not to over-generalize. Include next steps. What problems have you identified in your project that will need further study? Acknowledgements References CLINICAL PRECEPTORS When enrolled in N631, 632 and 633 students will identify a preceptor in one or more clinical sites. A preceptor for DNP clinical courses is an individual in an academic, healthcare, or health policy position with credentials suitable for mentoring doctoral students in achieving their facultyapproved learning objectives for the clinical experience. The preceptor does not grade student performance but may provide feedback to the course faculty regarding the student s achievement of the learning objectives. REGISTRATION FOR N502, USE OF FACILITIES As specified in the Graduate Catalog, students using university facilities, services or faculty time, including summer term, must be registered. Normally students are registered for coursework or thesis/dissertation credit. Students who are not taking coursework must register for course 502 (Use of Facilities) if they wish to have borrowing privileges in the University Libraries or to use computer labs, other labs, or other university resources. ADVISEMENT PRIOR TO PROJECT DEVELOPMENT Early in the student s program, a nursing faculty advisor will be assigned by the program director. The student should make an appointment with his/her advisor each semester prior to registration for the next semester's courses. Should the student wish to change advisors, he/she must obtain agreement from the faculty member and notify the program director of this change. The faculty advisor will provide academic advisement, assist the student in selection of clinical experiences and project implementation, and evaluate the Capstone Project Report PORTFOLIO COMPILATION The doctoral portfolio is a requirement for all students and an essential element of effective student advisement by the faculty. Students are encouraged to purchase a loose-leaf notebook or binder for the compilation of materials, which will be reviewed by their advisor each semester. Graded copies of major course papers must be placed in the portfolio, along with a critical selfevaluation of the semester s work. The purpose of the portfolio is to demonstrate students early accomplishments as scholars in a selected focus area of nursing and to document their progress in acquiring advanced clinical expertise, and documentation of Capstone Project Development. These accomplishments relate directly to the terminal objectives of the DNP program. Responsibility for maintaining the portfolio is the student s, but the faculty bear 21

23 responsibility for evaluating the student s development and providing appropriate guidance at the end of each term. It is the student s responsibility to schedule the advising appointment each term. Items to be included in the portfolio include: 1. A curriculum vitae 2. Documentation of teaching expertise (e.g., guest lectures, workshops, teaching assistantships, preceptorship experiences in nursing education) 3. Documentation of clinical experiences (e.g., a time log and narrative description of experiences and skills acquired. 4. Copies of approved IRBs 5. Documentation of attendance at two conferences, with copies of any presentation of a paper or poster. 6. Documentation of participation in professional organizations (e.g., Sigma Theta Tau, American Nurses Association, Southern Nursing Research Society, specialty nursing organization) SPECIAL POLICIES 1. A maximum of 6 graduate hours taken before acceptance into the doctoral program may be applied toward the degree. 2. Minimum grades of B in all nursing courses and a 3.0 cumulative GPA are required for continuation in the program. The grading scale for doctoral courses may differ slightly from course to course. Grading scales are developed at the discretion of faculty. 3. Courses such as statistics and epidemiology may be taken at other universities after submission of syllabi to the DNP program director for approval. Students should not register for such courses without seeking approval. 4. The College of Nursing expects doctoral students to fulfill the standard for formal writing specified in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6 th edition). The University of Tennessee Graduate School defines grading standards as follows: Grades in graduate study have the following meanings. A (4 quality points per semester hour) superior performance. B+ (3.5 quality points per semester hour) better than satisfactory performance. B (3 quality points per semester hour) satisfactory performance. C+ (2.5 quality points per semester hour) less than satisfactory performance. C (2 quality points per semester hour) performance well below the standard expected of 22

24 graduate students. D (1 quality point per semester hour) clearly unsatisfactory performance and cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements. F (no quality points) extremely unsatisfactory performance and cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements. I (no quality points) a temporary grade indicating that the student has performed satisfactorily in the course but, due to unforeseen circumstances, has been unable to finish all requirements. An I is not given to enable a student to do additional work to raise a deficient grade. The instructor, in consultation with the student, decides the terms for the removal of the I, including the time limit for removal. If the I is not removed within one calendar year, the grade will be changed to an F. The course will not be counted in the cumulative grade point average until a final grade is assigned. No student may graduate with an I on the record. S/NC (carries credit hours, but no quality points) S is equivalent to a grade of B or better, and NC means no credit earned. A grade of Satisfactory/No Credit is allowed only where indicated in the course description in the Graduate Catalog. The number of Satisfactory/No Credit courses in a student's program is limited to one-fourth of the total credit hours required. P/NP (carries credit hours, but no quality points) P indicates progress toward completion of a thesis or dissertation. NP indicates no progress or inadequate progress. W (carries no credit hours or quality points) indicates that the student officially withdrew from the course. The College of Nursing faculty has agreed on the following conceptual descriptions of grades for formal papers in doctoral courses: A = B = paper of exceptional quality, both in command of the material and style of the writing. An A paper exceeds the stated aims of the assignment. Additionally, the paper adheres to APA format, exhibits logical organization and flow, and exemplifies outstanding scholarly writing. Papers of this quality may be forwarded by the instructor to be considered for an annual DNP Student Writing Award to be bestowed at the last colloquium of the year. paper of good quality, meeting the stated aims of the assignment C* = paper of unacceptable quality, fails to meet the stated aims of the assignment. and * Receiving a grade of C on an assignment is a matter of serious concern to the faculty mandates that the student: 1. Make an appointment with the faculty in timely fashion. 2. At the faculty s discretion, rewrite the paper. Papers can only be re-written one time. 3. At the faculty s discretion, attend the university writing lab. 4. At the faculty s discretion, undertake additional remediation. 23