Nursing 696

NURS 696: Master’s Capstone Project

Prerequisites: Completion of NURS 620, NURS 628, NURS 629, NURS 650, NURS 651

Credit Hours: (1)

The master’s capstone project provides an opportunity for the student to synthesize knowledge and skills acquired from the core courses as well as from the specialized clinical concentration, resulting in the completion of an evidence-based project. If a student has not elected to complete a Thesis, the student will register for one credit of this course in each of the last two semesters of her/his program of study.

Note(s): This course receives a letter grade.

Detailed Description of Content of Course

MSN students will select a project in conjunction with the Capstone advisor and selected Capstone faculty readers.  The project will focus on the development of a scholarly project that enables the student to design a leadership or change project.  Projects may include, but are not limited to, evaluation of practice or outcomes research projects, a clinical portfolio, a decision tree, or a clinical protocol.  Institutional Review Board approval for projects will be secured as necessary. 

The student will select a graduate faculty member as advisor for her/his Master’s Capstone project, most often a faculty member with nursing expertise in the student’s identified area of study.  Two other faculty members will also serve as readers of the student’s final project.

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

The student will select a graduate faculty member as advisor for her/his Master’s Capstone project, most often a faculty member with nursing expertise in the student’s identified area of study.  Two other faculty members will also serve as readers of the student’s final project.

Goals and Objectives of the Course

Upon completion of the course the student will:

1.  Critically appraise published evidence used for clinical decision-making.

2.  Develop an evidence-based project proposal appropriate to a selected population.

3.  Demonstrate integrity in the protection of human rights for those who participate in the project.

4.  Critically evaluate project implementation and evaluation results.

5.  Disseminate project results through the completion of a written document and/or oral presentation

Assessment Measures

May include but are not limited to oral presentations and a publishable paper.

Other Course Information

None

Review and Approval  

April 2010