2014 Program Handbook: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Transcription

1 Note: This document is best viewed as an electronic reference as it includes links to appropriate policies and web pages related to the content discussed. Links appear in underlined blue type. Table of Contents: Program Overview... 2 Program Requirements... 2 Resources for Student Records & Registration... 2 UBC Student Service Centre (SSC)... 2 Student Tracking System... 2 Resources for Academic Advising... 3 MSN Program Advisor & Coordinator... 3 Provisional Advisors... 3 Student Support Office... 3 General Guidelines for Course Selection... 4 Types of MSN Course Offerings... 5 Core Courses Focus Courses Research Courses... 5 Specialized Domain Courses Practicum Courses (NURS 577)... 6 Directed Studies (NURS 590)... 6 MSN Timetables... 7 Registering for Non Nursing Electives:... 7 Maintaining Registration in NURS 599: MSN Thesis... 7 Course Planning Examples (Full Program Forecast)... 7 Course Planning Examples Course Planning Example Registering for Your First Year Course Planning & Registration Beyond Your First Year Graduate Tuition Fee Schedules Full Time & Part Time Student Status Appendix A: Student Course Planning Worksheet Graduate Students Nursing Association Awards and Financial Aid Information Page 1 of 12

2 Program Overview The MSN program is designed to prepare graduates to function as leaders in a range of roles such as education, advanced practice, policy implementation, health care management, and nursing knowledge development. The MSN Program is administered and overseen by the School of Nursing; however, all graduate programs are part of the Faculty of Graduate & Post doctoral studies (G+PS) and students are officially admitted into G+PS, and it is G+PS that oversees and approves the progression of students until graduation. Reference: UBC Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (G+PS) Current Students Home Page Important Note for Students: Throughout this document, you will notice a series of reference & policy links in each section. It is imperative that you not only read the content of the handbook, but also review the links, references, and policies cited throughout. It is not possible for us to reiterate much of the important information you need to know to successfully complete your program in this short document, and we look to your thoughtful and thorough reading and investigation to provide you with the supplemental knowledge you need. Program Requirements The program provides a basis for leadership in professional nursing practice and also creates a foundation for doctoral studies. Students complete a total of 33 credits, comprising core, focus, and courses. In addition to course work, students complete a thesis (Nursing 599, 6 credits) or a Scholarly Practice Advancement Research project (SPAR) (Nursing 595, 3 credits) as their final project. Both completion projects will be completed under the guidance of a supervisor, who is a faculty member, and students must register for one of the two projects from their first term onwards, yet shifting from one to the other is possible. Reference: UBC Academic Calendar Master of Science in Nursing Resources for Student Records & Registration Campus Wide Login (CWL) is a single username and password that allows you to access many online services at UBC, including the Student Service Centre. UBC Student Service Centre (SSC) The UBC Student Service Centre (SSC) is a one stop shop for students at UBC to access registration, fees and financial summaries, transcripts, university records, transcripts, proof of enrolment, scholarships, awards, and so much more. The UBC SSC information is securely and confidentially linked to the School of Nursing Student Tracking System which allows for seamless records management for graduate students. Student Tracking System The School of Nursing utilizes the Student Tracking System (STS) as a secure and confidential records management system for students in our Graduate Programs. This system allows students to self manage their progression through the various milestones of the MSN program. Once students have signed up for their Campus Wide Login (CWL) and are eligible for registering in the MSN Program (generally mid June for September Program start), they can explore this system to become familiar with it. Page 2 of 12

3 Please Note: The School of Nursing uses the Student Tracking System (STS) to record your progression. This tool allows us to keep secure and confidential records for your progress, and it allows us to verify the accuracy of requests before they are submitted to G+PS. This system is unique to the School of Nursing. Please ensure all requests are entered into STS first, and then the Student Support Office will manage the process of filling out forms, gathering signatures, and supplemental document. Please do not complete forms prior to entering the request on STS. Resources for Academic Advising MSN Program Advisor & Coordinator The MSN Program Coordinator is a resource for all MSN students. This faculty member oversees curriculum development, student progression, and policies relating to the MSN Program. Program Advisor & Coordinator Faculty Profile: Dr. Geertje Boschma (geertje.boschma@nursing.ubc.ca) Supervisors and Provisional Advisors All students are assigned a Provisional Advisor upon admission to the program and enrollment in Nursing 599 or Nursing 595. The Provisional Advisor serves to provide guidance to MSN students who have not yet identified a supervisor for their thesis or SPAR project, but who do need initial guidance to get started on their thesis work. Once students are ready to decide more firmly on a topic they may identify a supervisor. Typically students connect with supervisors after first or second term. Link: List of eligible supervisors for MSN Students The provisional advisor does not need to be expert in the particular area of interest of the student but provides general guidance to engage the student in the initial work towards their thesis or SPAR. In May students receive an e mail with the name of their provisional advisor. Even though advisor approval is not required for course registration, we recommend they contact their advisor to discuss their study plan. Once they have registered for courses, the name of your provisional advisor also can be located by following the steps below: Login to STS View Student Tab Summary MSN Program Heading Provisional Advisor Name Student Support Office (T248 in School of Nursing) The MSN Program Advisor & Coordinator, as well as provisional advisors and supervisors, are available for academic advising for all MSN Students. For non academic advising, guidance navigating UBC and the School of Nursing, MSN Students are encouraged to contact the Student Support Office for assistance. The Student Support Office (SSO) is located in T248 in the UBC School of Nursing (Koerner Pavilion, UBC Hospital). It is open regular School of Nursing business hours (8:30am 4:30pm, Monday Friday). The Graduate Support Team in the SSO is also reachable via student.services@nursing.ubc.ca. Page 3 of 12

4 General Guidelines for Course Selection The MSN Program provides flexibility for students to set up a course planning trajectory for a total of 33 credits that aligns with their professional and research interests. They may choose courses beyond 33 credits and they may choose s outside of nursing (with approval of the Program Coordinator). There are a number of possible foci that provide the foundation for the MSN Program such as Research, Education, Leadership, Policy and Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). Yet, you can choose courses flexibly between streams and you do not need to declare a particular stream or focus. In this guide, we have provided you with examples of course planning trajectories based on possible course sequences centered on the foci referenced above. However, each student can customize their own course planning trajectory based on interest, scheduling preferences and preparation for the final project (Thesis or SPAR). Important Note: Students should regard the examples as practical suggestions they are by no means limited to a sequence of courses within a particular stream but can choose across streams. Typically core courses are offered twice a year and are required. School of Nursing courses are offered once a year, including the focus courses. It is strongly suggested that students review the information in this guide, explore the course planning trajectory examples, and plan a sequence of courses taking guidance and direction from their provisional advisor or supervisor. In general MSN students are normally required to: Complete five required core courses within the first year of the program Complete at least one focus course based on their area of interest Use a combination of focus and specialized domain courses to complement their core courses In consultation with their supervisor select research methods and data analysis courses in line with their research project (Thesis or SPAR) In consultation with the supervisor and the Program Coordinator select non nursing s (optional) Maintain registration in NURS 599 MSN Thesis or NURS 595 SPAR throughout their program Page 4 of 12

5 Types of MSN Course Offerings The UBC Academic Calendar has a list of all NURS Courses. This list includes course numbers and descriptions of any course that is currently approved by the UBC Vancouver Academic Senate the regulatory body of the university. Use this list to explore potential course offerings, but keep in mind that not all courses are offered all semesters. The course offering for each term are listed in the Timetable for each term: See below. Reference: All NURS Courses: School of Nursing, Faculty of Applied Science Reference: Abbreviated Course Descriptions for MSN Courses MSN Courses can generally be classified into six types, as described below: 1. Core Courses (required) are offered twice from September August (either in the Fall & Spring, Fall & Summer, or Spring & Summer). The core courses below are required for all MSN students. NURS 502 (3 credits) Ethics & Politics of Nursing NURS 505 (3 credits) Statistical Literacy in Nursing NURS 504 (3 credits) Research & Evidence Based Practice NURS 511 (3 credits) Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice NURS 552 (3 credits) Methods in Nursing Science (Corequisite: NURS 511, Recommended NURS 505) 2. Focus Courses are only offered once from September August. NURS 512 (3 credits) Leadership in Nursing NURS 520 (3 credits) Administrative Leadership in Nursing (Corequisite: NURS 511) NURS 530 (3 credits) Advanced Practice in Nursing (Corequisite: NURS 511) NURS 540 (3 credits) Educational Processes in Nursing (Corequisite: NURS 511) NURS 541 (3 credits) Clinical Nursing Education (Prerequisite: NURS 540, Corequisite: NURS 511) NURS 560 (3 credits) Politics of Health Policy (Corequisite: NURS 511) Normally one focus course is taken within the first year of entering the MSN Program, but students can take more than one. They provide the foundation for the professional and research focus of the student. They are complements to the required courses based on a student s area of professional or research interest. As these courses are only offered once a year, students are encouraged to discuss these with their Provisional Advisor for incorporation into their course planning trajectory. 3. Additional Research Courses are also offered once from September August: One of these is required for students enrolled in Nursing 599. They are optional for students enrolled in Nursing 595. NURS 548 (3 credits) Qualitative Methods & Analysis NURS 549 (3 credits) Quantitative Research Methods and Analytic Strategies in Nursing and Health Sciences MSN Students normally select which research courses to enroll in based on the data collection and analysis method for their thesis project. If other methods than these listed are required students may request to take those to fill the requirement (with approval of the MSN Program Coordinator and Supervisor). 4. Specialized Domain Courses are nursing courses offered based on a rotating schedule. Not all specialized domain courses are offered every year, but typically each term one or two domain courses are offered. NURS 586 A H (3 credits each) Specialized Domains in Nursing (see complete course list for details). Includes courses on Nursing History Inquiry, Child Development, Informatics, etc Page 5 of 12

6 5. Practicum Courses (NURS 577) can be completed in particular focus areas. This course allows the student to set up an individualized learning plan with a preceptor under the supervision of a faculty member. Currently, practicum opportunities are common in Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) roles (prerequisite is NURS 530) and Nursing Education (prerequisite is NURS 540). 6. Non nursing s at UBC or s outside of UBC: Students are encouraged to consider taking a non nursing (either 500 level or IHHS 400 level), yet this is optional. Students also can take 500 level courses in other universities in Western Canada based on the Western Deans' Agreement policy (see: below, item 9). When a student registers for a non nursing course through the UBC SSC, the Student Tracking System (STS) sends a notification to the Program Coordinator and the student asking the Program Coordinator to approve this course. Once the program coordinator approves the course on the Student Tracking System (STS), both Program Coordinator and student receive notification. Permission is not required prior to registering; however, we recommend registering for non nursing s early to ensure time for the approval process. 7. Directed Studies (NURS 590) are individualized plans of study set between a student and faculty member based on a directed study contract which can be requested for in STS. MSN Students are normally eligible for directed study once they have completed the required course work for the MSN program. Preparation of the Thesis or SPAR project can be done as part of NURS 599 or 595 credits and does not need to take the form of a Directed Study. Tips & Tricks: Directed Study Requests are initiated by the student in the Student Tracking System (STS). Before initiating such a request a student first has to arrange (and write up) a directed study plan with a faculty member. Approval has to be obtained from the MSN Program Coordinator. To request directed study course registration follows the steps below: Login to STS Click on Courses in right hand menu Click on Study Course Registration Request 8. Registering for Courses at Other Universities under the Western Deans Agreement (WDA): All non nursing s and WDA courses must be approved by the Program Coordinator, which occurs through STS. Reference: UBC Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (G+PS) Policy on Transfer Credits & WDA How to register for courses at WDA institutions: Select the appropriate course, contact the institution offering the course & obtain a syllabus Login to STS View Student Tab Courses Select Request transfer credit Fill in appropriate information & submit request Once the MSN Program Coordinator has approved the request on STS, the Student Support Office will complete the WDA Request paperwork with the student & submit to G+PS G+PS must request the registration from the institution offering the course to ensure the student is not charged additional tuition fees, and the credits are approved to be transferred back to UBC. Once G+PS has completed the registration, they will directly notify the student. Once the student has completed the course they are required to order 2 copies of their official transcripts from the institution offering the course to the following departments: o One copy to G+PS: Attn: NURS SAS Clerk, Crescent Road, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z2 Page 6 of 12

7 o A second copy to SoN SSO: Attn: SSO Grad Admin Assistant, T248, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 2B5 Once the transcripts have been processed by G+PS, they will the student directly, and add the transfer credits to the students UBC Academic Record An important note on timelines: Requesting to take a course via WDA: We request that students place their initial STS Request for Transfer Credits at least 2 months prior to the start of the course. WDA Approval by G+PS usually takes 4 6 weeks minimum. Making the request 2 months in advance gives the MSN Program Coordinator adequate time to review the request, and the SSO adequate time to complete the approporiate paper work. Having Transfer Credits Approved by G+PS: In general it takes 4 8 weeks from the time of receipt of official transcripts at G+PS to have transfer credits approved & added to the students UBC Academic Record. Please be mindful of this when nearing graduation. MSN Timetables Current MSN Timetables which list the courses offered each semester are available on the School of Nursing Website: Current Students MSN Program (Left hand side menu) Timetables Normally, timetables are available one academic session ahead: Summer Session (May August) is usually available in January Winter Session (September April) is usually available in April Maintaining Registration in NURS 599 MSN Thesis and NURS 595 SPAR Normally, students enroll in NURS 599 or NURS 595 from the beginning of their program. Full concentration on their project normally begins after having completed their five required courses, yet planning for it can start earlier. Registration in NURS 599 or 595 must be maintained every semester they are enrolled in the program. Normally students will not be permitted to switch between the SPAR project and Thesis after the proposal for either project has been approved. Once registered for NURS 599 or 595, students must maintain that registration until the project is completed and approved by their committee. Reference: UBC School of Nursing Guidelines for NURS 599: MSN Thesis Reference: UBC School of Nursing Guidelines for NURS 595: MSN SPAR Course Planning Examples (Full Program Forecast) These Course Planning Examples are provided to help you conceptualize how to complete your MSN program within two years (24 months). These are not intended as prescriptive templates. Please be reminded, as outlined above, that students do not need to declare a focus, yet it is important to keep the sequence of course offerings in mind. Students are free to create their own study plans with their Provisional Advisor, and later Thesis Supervisor. They can freely choose across streams, as long as they take required courses and complete at least 33 credits. Page 7 of 12

8 Course Planning Examples 1 2 courses per term and completion of 33 credits within 24 months (Sep Year 1 Aug Year 2). NB you do not need to declare a stream courses can be taken across streams Research Focus Education Focus Leadership Focus CNS Focus Policy Focus Term 1 (Sept Dec Year 1) NURS 511 NURS 511 or 505 NURS 505 NURS 505 NURS 505 NURS 505 NURS 540 NURS 520 NURS 506 (optional) NURS 511 Term 2 (Jan Apr Year 1) NURS 552 NURS 511 or NURS NURS 552 NURS 511 NURS NURS 502 or NURS 548 NURS 504 or NURS 502 NURS NURS 505 NURS 502 or NURS 512 NURS 530 NURS NURS 502 NURS Term 3 (May Aug Year 1) Elective or Specialized Domain course NURS NURS Term 4 (Sept Dec Year 2) NURS NURS 577 (CNS Practicum) NURS 504 or 502 NURS 502 NURS NURS 502 (recommended before NURS 560) NURS 560 NURS 504 NURS 549 NURS 552 or 504 NURS 552 NURS 552 NURS 552 NURS 504 or 586*(Specialized Domain Course) or NURS NURS 548 or Non Nursing Elective (e.g. SPPH 510) NURS Optional NURS 577 (Education Practicum) NURS NURS 502 or NURS 541 Non Nursing Elective (e.g. Education course) NURS NURS 586*(Specialized Domain Course) or NURS Term 5 (Jan Apr Year 2) NURS 512 or NURS 502 NURS 586*(Specialized Domain Course) or NURS Term 6 (May Aug Year 2) NURS Optional Optional Graduate in November Year 2 NURS 504 NURS Non Nursing Elective (e.g. SPPH 513) NURS 586*(Specialized Domain Course) or NURS 586*(Specialized Domain Course) or NURS 530 Research course or Page 8 of 12

9 Course Planning Example 2 3 courses per term and completion of 33 credits within 20 months (Sep Year 1 Apr Year 2). NB you do not need to declare a stream courses can be taken across streams Research Focus/Track Education Focus Leadership Focus CNS/Policy Focus Term 1 (Sept Dec Year 1) NURS 511 NURS 511 NURS 511 NURS 511 NURS 505 NURS 505 NURS 505 NURS 505 NURS 549 NURS 540 NURS 520 or 504 NURS 506 or 504 NURS 599 Term 2 (Jan Apr Year 1) NURS 552 NURS 552 NURS 552 NURS 552 NURS 502 or 504 NURS 504 NURS 512 NURS 530 NURS 512 or NURS 548 NURS 502 NURS 502 NURS 502 NURS 599 Term 3 (May Aug Year 1) NURS 586*(Specialized Domain Course) or NURS 504 or 502 NURS 586*(Specialized Domain Course) or NURS 504 or 560 NURS 504 or 502 NURS 541 NURS 504 NURS 577 (CNS Practicum) or Nursing or Non Nursing Elective (e.g. SPPH 515) Non Nursing Elective (e.g. SPPH 510) Term 4 (Sept Dec Year 2) NURS 577 (Education Practicum) or Non Nursing Elective in NURS 520 or 504 Education (e.g. EDST 503) NURS 577 (CNS Practicum) or Non Nursing Elective (e.g. SPPH 515) Elective (optional) Elective (optional) Elective (optional) Elective (optional) Term 5 (Jan Apr of Year 2) Elective (optional) Elective (optional) Elective (optional) Elective (optional) Graduate in May of Year 2 Page 9 of 12

10 Registering for Your First Year In your first year of the MSN program, it is important for you to complete the following two (2) foundational core courses in either Winter 1 or Winter 2: NURS 505 (3 credits) Statistical Literacy in Nursing NURS 511 (3 credits) Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice In additional to these core courses, students typically also register in one of the following focus courses: NURS 520* (3 credits) Administrative Leadership in Nursing (Corequisite: NURS 511) NURS 530* (3 credits) Advanced Practice in Nursing (Corequisite: NURS 511) NURS 540* (3 credits) Educational Processes in Nursing (Corequisite: NURS 511) NURS 512* (3 credits) Nursing leadership (Corequisite NURS 511) * Tips & Tricks: Remember, these courses are only offered once in an academic year. Course Planning & Registration Beyond Winter terms 1 and 2: Course planning after the first two semesters normally occurs when students meet with their Provisional Advisor or Supervisor once a semester to discuss their MSN Progress Report. Reference: MSN Term Progress Reports Instructions for Students & Faculty In Appendix A: there is a sample course planning template from the MSN Term Progress Report. This tool is helpful as you begin to plan your program forecast with your provisional advisor. Get involved: Graduate Student Nurses Association (GSNA): The GSNA is the official departmental organization representing the collective interests of graduate students in the School of Nursing. The GSNA executive is elected by the student body and may be comprised of MSN, MN and PhD students. GSNA Blog: Contact the GSNA: gsna@nursing.ubc.ca Awards & Financial Aid Information for Graduate Students: As UBC Students, students in the School of Nursing have access to a wealth of resources with regards to student awards and financial aid. If you have questions about your tuition, your student account, or information on funding and awards opportunities for all students (graduate and undergraduate) please contact the Enrolment Services Professionals at Brock Hall. Reference: How to Contact Enrolment Services at Brock Hall Reference: School of Nursing Website Graduate Student Financial Resources School of Nursing Website Graduate Awards, Scholarships & Competitions School of Nursing Website Emergency Financial Assistance Page 10 of 12

11 Graduate Tuition Fee Schedules Every student enrolled in a master's program is required to maintain continuous registration by paying tuition installments according to Schedules A or B, plus authorized student fees. Tuition installments are based on total program cost for the projected length of the program, and not based on credits per term. Fees, including tuition, program, course, special, and student society fees, are approved by the Board of Governors following consultation with students and are subject to change. The fees in the chart below are for the 2012/2013 academic year and are used as an example of fee schedules. For accurate and up to date fees use the reference link below to the UBC Academic Calendar. Program Instalments per year Minimum # of instalments Domestic (per instalment) International (per instalment) Full-time (Schedule A) Part-time (Schedule B) 3 3 $1, $2, $ $1, On-leave fee 1 3 N/A $ $ Continuing fee 2 3 N/A $ $2, Extension fee 3 3 N/A $ $2, All master's programs have a fee assessed for each term in which On-leave status is taken. 2 If a degree program is not completed by a set number of instalments or a minimum program fee, the assessments will then switch to a Continuing fee. The Schedule A Continuing fee is assessed after instalment 6. The Schedule B Continuing fee is assessed after instalment 9. 3 If a master's degree is not awarded within a period of five years from the initial registration, a student may be granted an extension with permission from the Faculty of Graduate Studies, but will be charged additional fees. Reference: UBC Academic Calendar Research Based Master s Program Graduate Tuition Fees UBC Faculty of Graduate Studies Graduate Tuition Fees Full Time & Part Time Student Status At UBC Student Status is separate from the pace at which a student chooses to pursue their studies. Master's students are normally considered Full time Status and are assessed tuition fees according to Schedule A. Schedule A (Full Time Status) students are eligible for graduate scholarships and fellowships. Normally, teaching assistantships (TAs) and research assistantships (RAs) are limited to full time students. MSN Students assessed fees according to Schedule A can choose to pursue studies at a full time or part time pace. Students wishing to purse their studies at a part time pace are not required to switch to Schedule B (Part Time Status). MSN Program Full time Pace = 2 3 courses / term + thesis or SPAR(NURS 599 or NURS 595)* MSN Program Part time Pace = 1 2 courses / term + thesis or SPAR (NURS 599 or NURS 595* *Reduced course (only 1 course / term) is available with Program Coordinator Approval Schedule B (Part Time Status) fee assessment has several disadvantages for the student which include: not eligible to receive interest free status government loans, University fellowships or scholarships; not eligible for teaching assistantships, research assistantships, student housing, or assigned desk space at the University; and The five year maximum time allowed for the Master s program also applies to Schedule B students. All MSN Students requesting to switch from Schedule A to Schedule B assessments must do so in consultation with, and with approval from, the MSN Program Advisor & Coordinator. Reference: Faculty of Graduate Studies Full Time / Part Time Student Status Page 11 of 12

12 Appendix A: Student Course Planning Worksheet Student Course Planning Worksheet Semester I plan to take this course: Completed (Y/N) Semester Completed Required Core Courses NURS 502 (3 credits) Ethics and Politics of Nursing NURS 505 (3 credits) Statistical Literacy in Nursing NURS 511 (3 credits) Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice NURS 552 (3 credits) Methods in Nursing Science Registration in NURS 599 or NURS 595: is required for every semester enrolled in the MSN Program Additional Courses Students may select from all research, focus, and specialized domain courses based on their individual study plan the selection should support the goals of your study plan; selection will be made in consultation with your provisional advisor or supervisor Research Courses: NURS 504 (3 credits) Research and Evidence Based Practice NURS 548 (3 credits) Qualitative Research Methods NURS 549 (3 credits) Quantitative Research Methods Focus Courses: NURS 512(3 credits) Leadership in Nursing NURS 520 (3 credits) Admin Leadership N540(3 credits) Educational Processes N541(3 credits) Clinical Nursing Education N506 (3 credits) Health Promotion N530 (3 credits) Advanced Clinical Practice N560 (3 credits) Health Policy Specialized Domain Courses (these courses are offered on a rotating bases, usually once every two years) NURS 586A History of Nursing and Health Care NURS 586B Curriculum Development in Nursing NURS 586C Healthy Infant and Child Development NURS 586M Multidisciplinary Perspectives in Adolescent Health NURS 586V Violence in families: Advanced understanding and responses (cross listed with SOWK570E) NURS 586L Informatics (New) Directed Studies N590 (3 6 credits) Directed Studies in Nursing Practicum Courses NURS 577A (3 credits) Graduate Practicum in Nursing (CNS) NURS 577B (3 credits) Graduate Practicum in Nursing (Education) Elective Courses (Needs Approval) Page 12 of 12