Master of Science in Nursing
Mission
The School of Nursing (SON) mission is "To educate nursing students at beginning and advanced levels through excellence and innovation in teaching, scholarship and service." Beginning level professional nurses are educated at the baccalaureate level (BSN) and advanced practice nurses at the master's level (MSN). Graduates of the master's program possess knowledge to design and implement comprehensive programs to meet identified needs of individuals, families, and communities.
The mission of the University states "The University of North Florida's primary focus is on instruction, informed by scholarly activity and a commitment to community involvement." Four principles guide the University in fulfilling this mission: 1) a commitment to excellence, 2) a commitment to focus, 3) a commitment to relevance, and 4) a commitment to accountability. The SON demonstrates commitment to excellence and accountability through seeking and successfully obtaining national accreditation for all tracks within the MSN program. All tracks are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and the newest track, the Nurse Anesthesia track, is further accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Programs (COA). A commitment to focus and relevancy is demonstrated through the careful use of resources available to the SON, while at the same time preparing graduates to work within the current as well as the future health care environment. To illustrate, all tracks within the MSN program require the same group of core courses, in addition to the courses specific to the individual tracks.
Graduate Learning Objectives
The graduate learning objectives for the MSN program build upon the objectives for the undergraduate program. Further, the MSN curricula for the various tracks also include the essential elements for graduate education identified by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the National Association of Nursing Clinical Specialists, as well as incorporating the Nursing Task Force Standards.
A graduate of the MSN program will be able to:
1. Synthesize theory and research to develop a conceptual framework for advanced nursing practice.
2. Demonstrate competency in the advanced practice role in delivering comprehensive care to individuals and families in a variety of community settings.
3. Incorporate theory and research findings into advanced clinical practice.
4. Collaborate and consult with family members and other professionals.
5. Assume responsibility and accountability for independent nursing practice and improvement of health care.
6. Analyze nursing practice, health policy, and legal, social and ethical issues as they impact health care.
7. Contribute to professional leadership in nursing through education, research, and collaborative practice.
8. Demonstrate a commitment for continued professional growth through self-directed learning.
9. Implement the research process by conducting a research project or thesis.
Assessment Strategies
The SON uses a variety of assessment strategies to evaluate both achievement of outcomes as well as the educational process itself. The following are examples of these strategies.
Clinical Areas:
Students. All students are assigned to a preceptor who works one-on-one with them in the clinical setting. The preceptors provide on-going feedback to the students in conjunction with the assigned faculty member, as well as a final evaluation, also in conjunction with the assigned faculty member. An evaluation tool which identifies specific behaviors students are expected to exhibit during their clinical experiences, is the vehicle by which preceptors record their final evaluation of student clinical performance. Clinical performance is graded on a pass/fail basis.
Clinical sites/preceptors. All clinical sites are evaluated prior to assigning students. Further, there are specific criteria (established by the national accrediting bodies) which preceptors must meet before they can serve in that capacity. Students also have the opportunity to evaluate both their preceptors and the clinical sites at the end of each rotation, using a standard tool provided by the SON.
Courses:
Students. Students are expected to achieve an average of 75% on all tests in every course. Once the required test average has been earned, grades on other assignments (papers, projects, etc) are included with the tests to arrive at the final grade for a course. Papers and projects are graded based on specific criteria. Because many courses are team taught, faculty use various means to assure consistent grading. For example, both faculty may grade the same paper as a check for interrater reliability, or faculty may divide the projects/papers so that one faculty grades all of the student work for a single assignment. In the case of student presentations, peer evaluations also make up a portion of the grade. The peer evaluations themselves are also graded but in this instance by faculty. Use of information/presentation technology is required for all student presentations.
Faculty. Students have to opportunity to evaluate faculty at the end of each course through use of the University sanctioned ISQ form.
Comprehensive Examination:
During the last semester of the primary care nurse practitioner track, all students are expected to pass a comprehensive examination at the 75% level. In the nurse anesthesia track, students must successfully complete the Self Evaluation Examination (SEE) administered by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists at the end of both the first and second year of the program.
Master's Project/Thesis:
All graduates of the MSN program regardless of track complete either a thesis or project. The thesis must be research based and conducted by the student, however students may satisfy project requirements in a variety of ways. The project can be in the form of a pilot study for future research, collaboration with a faculty member on the faculty's research, or an integrated literature review submitted for publication.
Certification Examination:
All graduates of the MSN program are expected to sit for the national certification examination in their respective areas of concentration. Although Florida does not currently require that nurse practitioner and clinical specialists hold national certification in order to practice, graduates of the Nurse Anesthesia track must sit for the National Certification Examination in order to be licensed as nurse anesthetists. SON graduates have consistently scored above national averages on certification examinations.
Employment:
A final assessment strategy used by the SON is the tracking graduate employment rates. Approximately 98% of graduates are employed in the area of their choice in advanced practice within six months of completion of the program.
Assessment of Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes are assessed in a number of ways.
• While in the program, students demonstrate mastery of course content through achievement of a minimum 75% average on tests in each course. Specific behaviors in relation to clinical performance are evaluated both by clinical preceptors and by faculty. In order to pass a course that involves clinical practice, students must successfully complete both the didactic requirements as well as the clinical requirements. Failure to successfully complete either the clinical portion or the didactic portion of a course will result in course failure.
• Students may earn no more than two course grades of C throughout the program. Earning a third C or failing a course will result in dismissal from the program.
• Students must pass the comprehensive examination administered during the final semester. Students are given two opportunities to pass the examination. Failure to pass the examination will result in dismissal from the program.
• The thesis/project is considered a capstone experience and must be successfully completed in order to graduate from the program.
• The national certification examination results are also used as a benchmark for having successfully mastered the learning outcomes. As noted above, SON MSN graduates' pass rate on these examinations is above the national average (UNF 86-90%)
• Employment rates are also considered a measure of learning outcome attainment. As noted earlier, 98% of SON MSN graduates are employed are employed in advanced practice within six months of graduation.