College of Health & Human Services Master of Science in Nursing
Master of Science Nursing Program (Graduate) Program Overview Recent Improvements Expected Outcomes and Results Plans for Further Improvement
Program Overview The University offers a Master of Science in Nursing at the Troy, Montgomery, and Phenix City campuses. The purpose of the MSN program is to provide preparation for advanced practice in nursing as a clinical specialist, nurse practitioner or nursing informatics specialist and the basis for doctoral study. The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) track offers clinical concentrations in Adult Health and Maternal- Infant Health Nursing and functional role development in education or administration. The nurse practitioner track offers specialization as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). The Nursing informatics track offers specialization as a Nursing Informatics Specialist.
Expected Outcomes & Assessment Methods (Core Courses) Expected Outcomes Course Course Course (1) Incorporate advanced knowledge and theories from nursing and related disciplines into practice as an advanced practice nurse Major Test: NSG 5504, 6649, 6660, 6671, 6692 NSG 5505, 6691, 6696, 6697 (2) Demonstrate advanced clinical expertise in advanced practice in a specialized area of nursing practice Major Test: NSG 5504, 5505 NSG 6649, 6660, 6696 Final Exam: NSG 6655 Capstone Exam: NSG 6671 (3) Evaluate research for the purpose of selectively integrating research findings in nursing practice NSG 5504, 5505, 6692, 6696, 6697 Major Test: NSG 6649, 6671, 6691 (4) Integrate leadership, management, and teaching strategies into advanced practice Major Test: NSG 5505, 6660 NSG 6649, 6671, 6691 Final Exam: NSG 6655 (5) Analyze the impact of health policy on healthcare for identification of areas needing improvement and development of appropriate strategies NSG 5505, 6649, 6660 Final Exam: NSG 6655 (6) Assume responsibility for contributing to the advancement of nursing as a profession NSG 5504, 6691, 6696 Major Test: NSG 6660
Expected Outcomes & Assessment Methods (Clinical Nurse Specialist Track) (1) Incorporate advanced knowledge and theories from nursing and related disciplines into practice as an advanced practice nurse Major Test: NSG 5512, 6616, 6640, 6642 NSG 6614, 6620, 6622 Practicum: NSG 6615, 6617, 6621, 6623, 6641, 6643 (2) Demonstrate advanced clinical expertise in advanced practice in a specialized area of nursing practice Major Test: NSG 5512, 6620, 6622 Observation: NSG 5515 NSG 6614, 6616, 6640, 6641, 6642 Practicum: NSG 6615, 6617, 6621, 6623 (3) Evaluate research for the purpose of selectively integrating research findings in nursing practice Major Test: NSG 5512 NSG 6614, 6616, 6620, 6622, 6640, 6642 Practicum: NSG 6617, 6621, 6623, 6641, 6643 (4) Integrate leadership, management, and teaching strategies into advanced practice Capstone Exam: NSG 5512, 6620, 6641 Practicum: NSG 6615, 6617, 6621, 6623 Major Test: NSG 6616, 6622 (5) Analyze the impact of health policy on healthcare for identification of areas needing improvement and development of appropriate strategies Capstone: NSG 5512, 6614, 6615, 6616, 6641 Practicum: NSG 6617, 6621, 6623, 6643 Major Test: NSG 6620, 6622, 6640 (6) Assume responsibility for contributing to the advancement of nursing as a profession Capstone Exam: NSG 6614, 6616, 6622 Practicum: NSG 6617, 6621, 6623 Major Test: NSG 6620
Expected Outcomes & Assessment Methods (Family Nurse Practitioner) (1) Incorporate advanced knowledge and theories from nursing and related disciplines into practice as an advanced practice nurse Major Test: NSG 5512, 6665, 6667 Practicum: NSG 55123, 6666, 6668, 6680 NSG 6645, 6670 (2) Demonstrate advanced clinical expertise in advanced practice in a specialized area of nursing practice Major Test: NSG 5512, 6665 Practicum: NSG 5513, 6666, 6668, 6680 NSG 6645, 6667, 6670 (3) Evaluate research for the purpose of selectively integrating research findings in nursing practice Major Test: NSG 5512 Practicum: NSG 5513, 6666, 6668, 6680 NSG 6645, 6665, 6667 (4) Integrate leadership, management, and teaching strategies into advanced practice NSG 5512, 6645, 6667, 6670 Practicum: NSG 5513, 6666, 6668, 6680 (5) Analyze the impact of health policy on healthcare for identification of areas needing improvement and development of appropriate strategies NSG 5512, 6645, 6670 Practicum: NSG 5513, 6666, 6668, 6680 Major Test: NSG 6665, 6667 (6) Assume responsibility for contributing to the advancement of nursing as a profession NSG 6645, 6670 Major Test: NSG 6665 Practicum: NSG 6680
Expected Outcomes & Assessment Methods (Nursing Informatics Specialist) Expected Outcomes Course Course Course (1) Incorporate advanced knowledge and theories from nursing and related disciplines into practice as an advanced practice nurse Capstone Exam: NSG 6631, 6635 Major Test: NSG 6632, 6633, 6634 Practicum: NSG 6636 (2) Demonstrate advanced clinical expertise in advanced practice in a specialized area of nursing practice Major Test: NSG 6631, 6632 NSG 6633, 6634, 6635 Practicum: NSG 6636 (3) Evaluate research for the purpose of selectively integrating research findings in nursing practice Capstone Exam: NSG 6631, 6632, 6633, 6634, 6635 (4) Integrate leadership, management, and teaching strategies into advanced practice Major Test: NSG 6631, 6632 NSG 6633, 6634 (5) Analyze the impact of health policy on healthcare for identification of areas needing improvement and development of appropriate strategies Capstone Exam: NSG 6631, 6633, 6634, 6635 Major Test: NSG 6632 (6) Assume responsibility for contributing to the advancement of nursing as a profession Major Test: NSG 6631, 6633, 6634 NSG 6635 Practicum: NSG 6636
Curriculum Committee Graduate Nursing Programs Curriculum Sub- Committee provides oversight of the MSN Program curriculum (Dr. Janice Nelson, Dr. Patsy Riley, Dr. Jan Kimble, and Dr. Aimee Vael) Graduate Nursing Faculty (Dr. Geraldine Allen,Dr.Patsy Riley, Dr. Janice Nelson, Dr. Jan Kimble, Dr. Imani Goodwin, Dr. Amy Spurlock, Dr. Diane Weed, Dr. Susan Holmes, and Dr. Aimee Vael, Dr. Bernita Hamilton, ex-officio) review and consider recommendations for curricular decisions from the Sub-Committee Graduate Nursing Faculty met on September 21, 2009 and April 5, 2010 to consider curricular issues
Recent Improvements Based on prior assessment activities, the MSN program has implemented several improvements, including increasing the number of students who pass the capstone examination selected by faculty on the first attempt and increasing the number of employer returned questionnaires.
Program Level Expected Outcomes (including student learning outcomes) 2006, 2007, 2008-2009 80% or more of MSN students will complete their specialty track within 150% of the time for the stated program length. The MSN Program has exceeded this outcome with an average graduation rate of 91% for the past 5 years. 80% or more of students will pass the national certification examination on the first attempt. 2006: 100% 2007: 98% 2008: 100%
Program Level Expected Outcomes (continued), 2006, 2007, 2008-2009 80% or more of graduates will successfully complete the faculty-developed comprehensive examination on the first attempt. 2006: 100% were successful on the first attempt. 2007: 98% were successful on the first attempt. 100% successful on second attempt. 2008: 89% were successful on the first attempt. 100% were successful on the second attempt.
Program Level Expected Outcomes (continued), 2006, 2007, 2008-2009 100% of MSN graduates will achieve a 3.0 GPA or higher. 2006: 100% of graduates achieved a 3.0 GPA or higher 2007: 100% of graduates achieved a 3.0 GPA or higher 2008: 100% of graduates achieved a 3.0 GPA or higher
Program Level Expected Outcomes (continued), 2006, 2007, 2008-2009 100% of all employer-returned questionnaires will indicate successful MSN graduate performance. The program met this goal with the following rates: 2006: 100% 2007: 100% 2008: 100%
Program Level Expected Outcomes (continued), 2006, 2007, 2008-2009 100% of MSN graduate-returned questionnaires will indicated satisfaction with MSN program. The program met this goal with the following rates: 2006: 100% 2007: 100% 2008: 100%
Program Level Expected Outcomes (including student learning outcomes) 2009-2010 80% or more of MSN students will complete their specialty track within 150% of the time for the stated program length. The MSN Program has exceeded this outcome with an average graduation rate of 91% for the past 5 years. 80% or more of students will pass the national certification examination on the first attempt. 2009: 89% (100% on second attempt)
Program Level Expected Outcomes (continued), 2009-2010 80% or more of graduates will successfully complete the faculty-developed comprehensive examination on the first attempt. 2009: 96% were successful on first attempt 100% were successful on the second attempt 2010: results pending
Program Level Expected Outcomes (continued), 2009-2010 100% of MSN graduates will achieve a 3.0 GPA or higher. 2009: 100% of graduates achieved a 3.0 GPA or higher 100% of all employer-returned questionnaires will indicate successful MSN graduate performance. The program met this goal with the following rates: 2009: 100%
Program Level Expected Outcomes (continued), 2009-2010 100% of MSN graduate-returned questionnaires will indicated satisfaction with MSN program. The program met this goal with the following rates: 2009: 100%
Assessment Data for MSN from 2010 Gradate Student Survey % of Respondents who rated item Good to Excellent Overall quality of the MSN program 89% Quality of instruction 81% Faculty s use of technology to enhance teaching 91% Quality of library resources 88%
MSN Program Strengths Enrollment Fall 2009 Montgomery 53 Troy 14 Phenix City 50 Spring 2010 Montgomery 58 Troy 20 Phenix City 56 MSN Program fully accredited by National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) MSN Program consistently meets program outcomes related to pass rates on certification exams, graduation rates, graduate job placement, and graduate/employer satisfaction with quality of program
Plans for Further Improvement, 2009-2010 The MSN program will maintain excellent graduation rates. The MSN program will maintain pass rates on national certification examinations. The MSN program will survey, record data, and report percentages of MSN graduates and their employers who express satisfaction with MSN program. The MSN program will record data for each location (campus).
Report on Status of PFFI entered in 2009 MSN program continues to maintain excellent graduation rates Goal met Pass rates on national certification exams 89% on first attempt and 100% on second attempt Goal met Survey of graduates and employers revealed satisfaction with program quality Goal met
Plans for Further Improvement, 2010-2011 The MSN program will maintain excellent graduation rates. The MSN program will maintain pass rates on national certification examinations. The MSN program will survey, record data, and report percentages of MSN graduates and their employers who express satisfaction with MSN program. The MSN program will improve first time pass rate on the comprehensive exam. Incorporate more evidence-based practice concepts into entire MSN curriculum.