Degree Program Assessment Reports

Develops insight through reflective practice, self-analysis, and self care

Engages in ongoing self-directed learning and provides care based on evidence supported by research

Demonstrates leadership in nursing and health care

Collaborates as part of a health care team

Practices within, utilizes, and contributes to the broader health care system

Practices client-centered care

Communicates effectively and uses technology

Demonstrates clinical judgment/critical thinking in the delivery of care of clients while maintaining safety

BACCALAUREATE NURSING

MASTERS IN NURSING

PHD IN NURSING

1. A competent nurse’s professional actions are based on core nursing values, professional standards of practice, and the law.

1.1    Core nursing values include social justice (from the ANA statement), caring, advocacy, respect for self and others, collegiality, and ethical behavior.
1.2    Ethical dilemmas are embedded in clinical practice; an obligation of nurses is to notice, interpret respond and reflect on these dilemmas using ethical principles and frameworks as a guideline.
1.3     It is essential for nurses to participate in discussions of ethical issues in health care as they affect communities, society, and health professions.
1.4    Professional nursing functions within legally defined standards of practice and state specific regulations.

1.1.    The Master’s prepared nurse demonstrates accountability for specialist legal scope of practice, professional standards and code of ethics.
1.2.    It is a responsibility of the Master’s prepared nurse to participate in professional organizations to support nursing practice.
1.3.    Ethical analysis and clinical reasoning are required for advanced nursing practice.
1.4.    The Master’s prepared nurse articulates and actualizes a personal philosophy of nursing that incorporates ethics, values, and professional standards.

1.1.     It is expected that the nurse prepared at the PhD level will lead efforts in professional organizations to develop policy and standards for nursing practice.
1.2.     In positions of responsibility, the PhD prepared nurse advocates for the ethical conduct of practice.

2. A competent nurse develops insight through reflective practice, self-analysis, and self care through the understanding that…

2.1.   Ongoing reflection, critical examination and evaluation of one’s professional and personal life improves nursing practice.
2.2.    Reflection and self-analysis encourage self-awareness and self-care.
2.3.    Pursuing and advocating healthy behaviors enhance nurses’ ability to care for client.

2.1.    The Master’s prepared nurse continually engages in self reflection in order to design strategies that promote lifelong learning of self to guide advanced practice.

2.1.    The PhD nurse critically examines data-based sources and individual experiences to analyze and develop leadership strategies for dealing with social, ethical, cultural, economic and political issues related to nursing, health care, and research.

3. A competent nurse engages in ongoing self-directed learning and provides care based on evidence  supported by research with the understanding that . . .

3.1.   Knowledge and skills are dynamic and evolving, in order to maintain competency one must continuously update their knowledge using reliable, current sources of information from the biological, social, medical, public health, and nursing sciences.
3.2.   The nurse uses legitimate sources of evidence for decision-making such as research evidence, standards of care, community perspectives and practical wisdom gained from experience.
3.3.    As “best practices” are continuously modified and new interventions are constant, the nurse incorporates changes into practice.

3.1.    The Master’s prepared nurse critically examines and utilizes evidence-based sources to support advanced practice.
3.2.    In specialist nursing, the practitioner is able to identify problems amenable to research.
3.3.    The Master’s prepared nurse participates in the process of evaluating evidence in collaboration with other members of the health care team.
3.4.    The Master’s prepared nurse maintains competency through the development of a personal plan for lifelong learning and continued professional development.
3.5.    Professional practice obligations dictate that one will demonstrate initiative and self-direction in seeking ways to improve health and health care.

3.1.    The PhD nurse develops and uses existing and evolving knowledge to improve nursing education and practice.
3.2.    The PhD nurse conducts research to improve and maintain the health of a diverse society.
3.3.    The PhD nurse employs translational models for applying research evidence to nursing practice. 
3.4.    The PhD nurse disseminates innovative outcomes and findings from evidence-based research improve practice and health care outcomes.

4. A competent nurse demonstrates leadership in nursing and health care through the understanding that …

4.1.   An effective nurse is able to take a leadership role to meet client needs, improve the health care system, and facilitate community problem solving.
4.2.    A competent nurse effectively uses management principles, strategies, and tools.
4.3     An effective nurse works with the health care team including the delegation of responsibilities and supervision.

4.1.    The Master’s prepared nurse is expected to demonstrate leadership skills and decision making in the provision of nursing care, team coordination, and accountability for care delivery at the micro-systems level.
4.2.    Assuming a leadership role for patient safety and quality improvement initiatives is expected from a master’s prepared nurse.
4.3.    Advanced nursing requires an understanding of how healthcare delivery systems are organized and financed and how this affects patient care.
4.4.    The Master’s prepared nurse articulates to a variety of audiences the evidence base for practice decisions.
4.5.    Leadership skills are required to teach, coach, and mentor other members of the healthcare team.

4.1.    The PhD nurse assumes a leadership role in the development of research and clinical practice models to improve outcomes to meet health care needs of culturally diverse populations.
4.2.    The PhD nurse assumes a leadership role in conducting and using research findings and other health information to design and evaluate systems of care for culturally diverse populations.

5. A competent nurse collaborates as part of a health care team.

5.1.    The client is an essential member of the healthcare team.
5.2.   A collegial team is essential for success in serving clients.
5.3.   Effective team members must be able to give and receive constructive feedback.
5.4.   Colleagues create a positive environment for each other that values holistic client care.

5.1.    Collaborative strategies are required in the design, coordination, and evaluation of patient-centered care.
5.2.    The Master’s prepared nurse understands other professions’ scope of practice, and demonstrates highly developed strategies to support communication among team members, patients, and health care professionals.
5.3.    The Master’s prepared nurse demonstrates critical skills in leading inter-professional teams and partnerships.
5.4.    Coordinating comprehensive care for patients within and across settings and among care providers is expected of the master’s prepared nurse.

5.1.    The PhD nurse participates in collaborative team(s) to generate empirical knowledge that improves practice, health care outcomes, and policy change.

6. A competent nurse practices within, utilizes, and contributes to the broader health care system.

6.1.    All components of the healthcare system must be incorporated when providing interdisciplinary care.
6.2.   The effective nurse contributes to improvements of the health care system through involvement in policy, decision-making processes, and political activities.

6.1.    The Master’s prepared nurse is charged with bringing the nursing perspective to policy development by advocating for policies that improve the health of the public and the profession of nursing.
6.2.    Practice guidelines to improve practice and the care environment are developed by the Master’s prepared nurse.
6.3.    The Masters’ prepared nurse is expected to analyze how policies influence the structure and financing of health care practice, and health outcomes on an institutional, local, and state level.
6.5.    Examining the effect of legal and regulatory processes on nursing practice, healthcare delivery, and outcomes is the responsibility of the Master’s prepared nurse.
6.6.    The Master’s prepared nurse advances equitable and efficient prevention services through population based health promotion and disease prevention services.

6.1.    The PhD nurse assumes a leadership role in the political process to improve the quality and safety of health care and advance nursing education.
6.2.    The PhD nurse develops educational programs that are accountable to the community of interest in preparation of professional nurses.

7. A competent nurse practices client-centered care.

7.1.    Effective care is centered around a respectful relationship with the client that is based on empathy, caring, mutual trust, and advocacy.
7.2.    Nursing practice should reflect the attitudes, beliefs and values of clients.
7.3.    An understanding of the culture and history of the community is fundamental in the practice of nursing.

7.1.    Advanced nursing includes advocating for patients, families, caregivers, and members of the healthcare team.
7.2.    Preparing clinical practice guidelines appropriate for diverse cultures is expected of the advanced practice nurse.
7.3.    Advanced knowledge of the effects of bio/psycho/social determinants of health is required to design, evaluate, and implement patient care.

  7.1  The PhD nurse generates nursing knowledge about health care systems and care models.

8. A competent nurse communicates and uses technology effectively through the understanding that …

8.1.    Effective use of communication is an essential part of all interventions to establish caring and therapeutic relationships to educate and advocate for clients.
8.2.    When working with colleagues or clients, it is important to ensure that accurate, timely and complete communication has occurred.
8.3.    Successful communication requires attention to elements of cultural influences, variations in the use of language and a participatory approach.
8.4.    Information and communication technologies provide essential information for delivery of effective nursing care.

8.1.    The Master’s prepared nurse demonstrates effective communication across and within all professional spheres including the interdisciplinary team, peers, clients and the community.
8.2.    The Master’s prepared nurse uses information technology and research methods appropriately to identify gaps in evidence for practice and collect appropriate and accurate data to generate evidence for nursing practice.
8.3.    The Master’s prepared nurse analyzes current and emerging technologies to optimize patient safety, cost effectiveness, and outcomes of care.
8.4.    The Master’s prepared nurse in a leadership position implements the use of information technologies to coordinate and integrate patient care and transitions of care across settings and among healthcare providers.
8.5.    The Master’s prepared nurse holds the responsibility of ensuring the use of ethical principles and legal policies in the integration and use of patient care and information technologies into care delivery.

8.1.    The PhD nurse participates in collaborative team(s) to generate empirical knowledge that improves practice, health care outcomes, and policy change.

9. A competent nurse demonstrates clinical judgment/critical thinking in the delivery of care of clients while maintaining safety through…

9.1.    Analysis and integration of available data.
9.2.    Implementation of prioritized care based on evaluation of data.
9.3.    Evaluation and analysis of the nurse’s personal clinical performance
9.4.    A competent nurse engages in risk reduction activities, recognizes, communicates and intervenes to promote client safety.      

9.1.    The Master’s prepared nurse must critically analyze the best evidence to determine practice implications.
9.2.    The delivery of advanced nursing care to diverse populations requires an integration of knowledge of nursing and related sciences.
9.3.    The Master’s prepared nurse is equipped to design care for a clinical or community-based population.
9.4.    The Master’s prepared nurse uses quality improvement practices to ensure patient safety and the highest quality nursing care.
9.5.    A professional environment with high level communication skills is required for peer review, advocacy for patients and families, reporting of errors, and professional writing.
9.6.    The Master’s prepared nurse is expected to identify factors to mitigate risks in the practice setting.
9.7.    The Master’s prepared nurse uses epidemiological, social, and environmental data for drawing inferences regarding the health status of patient populations and interventions to promote and preserve health and healthy lifestyles.

 9.1.   The PhD nurse systematically investigates a clinically focused area of nursing to advance health care in culturally diverse populations.

Purpose

Point Person

Frequency of Administration

Frequency of Review

Results Reviewed by

Comments/Notes

Course Evaluations

Summative Evaluation of students perceptions about meeting course objectives and course delivery

Evaluation Specialist

Every semester

Every semester

Academic Team*, Department Chair, Faculty Member, Undergraduate & Graduate Curriculum & Evaluation Committees (CEC)

Process: Online distribution directly to students enrolled in each course about 1 week prior to the end of the semester (with 3 follow up email reminders) for all courses except those that require a HESI/Kaplan. For HESI/Kaplan courses, evaluations are done online prior to HESI/Kaplan testing. Evaluation specialist creates reports and distributes to Dean/ADAA (first review) and Department Chairs, Faculty Member and CEC. CEC provides recommendations based on these evaluations to Department Chairs. Department Chairs follow up on recommendations.
Expected Outcome Benchmark: ≥  90% of the student responses to the end of course evaluation questions meet minimum expectations (at least 3.5 on a 5-point Likert scale for all items and total mean scores).

Student Experience Survey

Formative Evaluation re: Experiences as a School of Nursing  student

Evaluation Specialist

Annual,
Spring semester

Annual

Academic Team*, Director Student Services, Director of Technology, Director of IT, Director of MEPN (MEPN responses only), Directors for each Graduate Programs (graduate responses only), PhD Director (PhD responses only), Students (In a summary format)

Process: Online distribution to all levels of students by Evaluation Specialist in March with a 4 week response rate time (with 3 email reminders). Data summarized by total responses and also by type of student (BS, MEPN, MS, Post-MS, and PhD) and Master of Science Specialties (Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Dual NP (FNP or PNP) with Advanced Public Health Nursing, Advanced Public Health Nursing, Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist , Nursing Administration). Executive reports compiled for Department of Dental Hygiene and Department of Nursing to include qualitative analysis of open-ended responses, recommendations and considerations. Reports distributed in May distributes to Dean/ADAA (first review) and Department Chairs with responses for action related to data due to the ADAA by July.
Expected Outcome Benchmark: ≥  90% of the student responses to the satisfaction questions meet minimum expectations (at least 3.5 on a 5-point Likert scale for all items and total mean scores).