Assessment Details
Academic Year: 2020-2021 Level: Graduate
Campus Department: Connell School of Nursing [UG and Grad]
Program Type: Major [UG] / Program [Grad]
Program Name: Nursing MS (Link)
Description of Data Collection:
A variety of data sources are used to determine whether graduates have achieved program outcomes. These include: (a) feedback from graduating students on annual EBI exit surveys; (c) student evaluations of courses and faculty; (c) first-time pass rates on national licensing examination (NCLEX-RN); and employer survey results (evert three years).
Course work is based upon the Master’s Program objectives and informed by the national organization AACN’s guidelines, “Master’s Essentials”, for MS programs in Nursing. EBI exit surveys are directly derived from the AACN’s “Master’s Essentials”. EBI exit survey questions assess attainment of each of the Master’s Essentials as well as student satisfaction with the overall program, curriculum, administration, support, and other aspects of the program. Programs are able to track their EBI survey results over time and in comparison to peer schools. In addition, the graduate program office also assesses (e) retention and on-time completion rates.
Review Process:
Data are collected and reviewed by the graduate program office and graduate associate dean and shared with the faculty at the program evaluation day and in the CSON annual report. The data are discussed in detail with the Connell Leadership Group, the Master’s Program Committee (MPC) and the faculty teaching in prelicense and core MS courses. Recommendations are made and implemented by MPC and course Teachers of Record (TORs).
Resulting Program Changes:
In response to EBI results, student evaluations and consultation with or community stakeholders (Chief Nursing Officers [CNOs] and in accordance with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) recommendation that preparation for entry into the NP role should move to a seamless, integrated DNP curriculum without a master’s exit (NONPF, 2016, 2018), the CSON faculty voted to develop and implement a post-baccalaureate DNP program for NP and
CRNA preparation, a post-master’s DNP program and a new Direct Entry to AGM and/or DNP program.
Since September 2019 all new NP students (Family NP, Pediatric NP, Women’s Health NP, Adult-
Gerontology NP, Psychiatric-Mental Health NP) are admitted to the DNP program. Our first cohort of
post-baccalaureate DNP students began in September, 2019. Our first cohort of Direct Entry to AGM and/or DNP began course work in Summer 2020. All current master’s NP students will complete their planned programs of study and receive master’s degrees by May 2022. At that time, all MS students will be enrolled in the AGM program.
The AGM program is designed as a full-time program for the direct entry student who holds a bachelor’s
degree in a field other than nursing and is completed in a minimum of 18 months. The AGM curriculum was developed based on the BC CSON mission and philosophy, CSON MS program objectives, and AACN Master’s Essentials (AACN, 2006).
The Advanced Generalist Masters (AGM) curriculum consists of 56 credits and can be conceptualized as two integrated groups of courses. The core courses consist of the following courses: Nursing Leadership for Complex Healthcare Settings (3cr), Examining Diversity in Nursing and Healthcare (2cr), Healthcare Policy for Nursing Practice Leaders (3cr), Healthcare Quality Management (4cr), Healthcare Information Technology Management (4cr), Foundations of Evidence Based Advanced Nursing Practice (3cr), Program Planning and
Evaluations for Population Health (3cr), and Epidemiology (3cr).
The prelicense nursing courses consist of the following courses: Pharmacology and Nutrition (3cr),
Direct Entry (DE) Adult Health Nursing I (4cr), DE Adult Health II (3cr), DE Adult Health Clinical and
Advanced Skills (3cr), DE Psych-Mental Health Nursing Theory (3cr), DE Psych-Mental Health Nursing
Clinical (2cr), DE Child Health Nursing Theory (3cr), DE Child Health Clinical (2cr), DE Childbearing
Nursing Theory (3cr), DE Childbearing Nursing Clinical (2cr), DE Nursing Synthesis Practicum (3cr),
and DE Population Health Clinical (2cr).
Upon completion of this coursework and conferral of a Master’s Degree in Nursing, the direct entry
student who is continuing on to the DNP program and NP specialization completes additional course
work to fulfill the requirements of the DNP program.
Date of Most Recent Program Review:
In response to EBI results, student evaluations and consultation with or community stakeholders (Chief Nursing Officers [CNOs] and in accordance with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) recommendation that preparation for entry into the NP role should move to a seamless, integrated DNP curriculum without a master’s exit (NONPF, 2016, 2018), the CSON faculty voted to develop and implement a post-baccalaureate DNP program for NP and
CRNA preparation, a post-master’s DNP program and a new Direct Entry to AGM and/or DNP program.
Since September 2019 all new NP students (Family NP, Pediatric NP, Women’s Health NP, Adult-
Gerontology NP, Psychiatric-Mental Health NP) are admitted to the DNP program. Our first cohort of
post-baccalaureate DNP students began in September, 2019. Our first cohort of Direct Entry to AGM and/or DNP began course work in Summer 2020. All current master’s NP students will complete their planned programs of study and receive master’s degrees by May 2022. At that time, all MS students will be enrolled in the AGM program.
The AGM program is designed as a full-time program for the direct entry student who holds a bachelor’s
degree in a field other than nursing and is completed in a minimum of 18 months. The AGM curriculum was developed based on the BC CSON mission and philosophy, CSON MS program objectives, and AACN Master’s Essentials (AACN, 2006).
The Advanced Generalist Masters (AGM) curriculum consists of 56 credits and can be conceptualized as two integrated groups of courses. The core courses consist of the following courses: Nursing Leadership for Complex Healthcare Settings (3cr), Examining Diversity in Nursing and Healthcare (2cr), Healthcare Policy for Nursing Practice Leaders (3cr), Healthcare Quality Management (4cr), Healthcare Information Technology Management (4cr), Foundations of Evidence Based Advanced Nursing Practice (3cr), Program Planning and
Evaluations for Population Health (3cr), and Epidemiology (3cr).
The prelicense nursing courses consist of the following courses: Pharmacology and Nutrition (3cr),
Direct Entry (DE) Adult Health Nursing I (4cr), DE Adult Health II (3cr), DE Adult Health Clinical and
Advanced Skills (3cr), DE Psych-Mental Health Nursing Theory (3cr), DE Psych-Mental Health Nursing
Clinical (2cr), DE Child Health Nursing Theory (3cr), DE Child Health Clinical (2cr), DE Childbearing
Nursing Theory (3cr), DE Childbearing Nursing Clinical (2cr), DE Nursing Synthesis Practicum (3cr),
and DE Population Health Clinical (2cr).
Upon completion of this coursework and conferral of a Master’s Degree in Nursing, the direct entry
student who is continuing on to the DNP program and NP specialization completes additional course
work to fulfill the requirements of the DNP program.
Attachments (if available)