phd and dnp handbook
TRANSCRIPT
UMSL COLLEGE OF NURSING
PhD and DNP Handbook
Contents
Overview
o Introduction
o History
The University
The College
o Mission
o Core Values
o Vision 2012
o College of Nursing Philosophy
o College Governance
o College Committees
o Student Participation
o Missouri Nurse Practice Act
Missouri Revised Statutes Section 335.346
Missouri Revised Statutes Section 335.066
Student Policies
o Non-discrimination
o Center for Student Success
o Academic Dishonesty
o College of Nursing Statement on Academic Integrity
o Grading and Grading Scale
o Grade Appeal
o Grievance Concerning Discrimination
o Grievance Concerning Other Issues
o Students with Special Needs
General Student Information
o Change of Name, Address or Telephone
o Communications
o Computer Technology/Student Laboratories
o E-Mail/Internet Access/Password
o Faculty Offices and Mailboxes
o Identification Card
o Library
o Parking
o Transportation
Student Organizations
o UMSL Alumni Association
o Sigma Theta Tau
Scholarships and Awards
o Student Financial Aid
o Graduation Awards
o HRSA Traineeships
o Nurse Faculty Loan Program
o Missouri Nurse Loan Program
o National Health Services Corps
UMSL Graduate School
Doctoral Degrees in Nursing
Graduate Nursing Faculty
Admission to Candidacy
Candidacy to 'Hood'
Senior Student Advisor
o Graduate School Policies
o Doctoral Student Forms
o Graduate Assistantships
o Residency Requirement
o Continuous Enrollment
Doctor of Nursing Practice
o DNP Program Objectives
o DNP Aggregate Student Outcomes
o DNP Curriculum
Sample Plan of Study
Course Descriptions
o DNP Student Academic Committees
Comprehensive Examination Committee
Clinical Scholarship Project Committee
DNP Clinical Scholarship Policy
Clinical Scholarship Project Outline
o DNP Comprehensive Exam Guidelines
o DNP Clinical Scholarship Project Guidelines
PhD in Nursing
o PhD in Nursing Program Objectives
o PhD in Nursing Aggregate Student Outcomes
o PhD in Nursing Curriculum
Sample Plan of Study
Course Descriptions
o PhD Student Academic Committees
Comprehensive Examination Committee
Dissertation Committee
o PhD Comprehensive Exam
o Dissertation Guidelines
UMSL Institutional Research Board (IRB)
o College of Nursing IRB Policies
National Guidelines in Nursing
Overview
Introduction
Your doctoral education is guided by policies of the UMSL Graduate School. Graduate School
policies must be followed because the UMSL Graduate School awards your doctoral degree.
Many of these policies and procedures are tailored to meet the need of doctoral students in
College of Nursing. This Doctoral Student Handbook provides links to these policies and
includes additional college-related guidelines. All doctoral students in nursing first complete
their program-specific coursework. This is followed by a comprehensive examination that is
designed to assess your readiness to complete your doctoral research project. You will prepare a
written proposal and present it to your peers and faculty. Your proposal, after IRB approval, is
implemented and your findings are also presented to your peers and faculty. Your doctoral
studies are completed after the dissertation is approved and published. For PhD students, this
culminating project is referred to as the student's dissertation and for DNP students it is referred
to as the clinical scholarship project. The focus of these degree-specific documents is specified
under the headings for each of our doctoral programs.
History
The University of Missouri System
The University of Missouri is a public university system (System) consisting of four campuses :
the University of Missouri-Columbia (UMC), the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC),
Missouri University of Science and Technology at Rolla, and the University of Missouri-St.
Louis (University). The System was established in 1839 and today enrolls more than 64,000
students on the four campuses. It is considered a public, land grant, Research University whose
mission focuses on education, research, service, and economic development to serve people
throughout the state and beyond.
The University of Missouri St. Louis
The University, established in 1963, is the newest of the four campuses. In addition to its mission
to advance knowledge as part of a comprehensive research university, this University has a
special mission determined by its urban location and shared land-grant tradition. The University
works in partnership with other community institutions to help the St. Louis region progress and
prosper. Through its eight schools and colleges, the campus provides opportunities for people of
the metropolitan area, including the economically disadvantaged, to receive high quality and
accessible liberal arts, career, professional, and graduate education. More than 15,500 students
are enrolled at the University, and over 1,400 full- and part- time faculty members are employed.
The campus includes over 70 buildings on 350 acres. Bifurcated by Natural Bridge Road, north
campus includes the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Fine Arts and Communications, Business,
the Graduate School, and the Division of Continuing Education. South campus includes the
Colleges of Nursing, Education, Optometry, and the School of Social Work. It is important to
note that the University is the only public doctoral degree granting research four-year institution
in the St. Louis metropolitan area. More specifically, it is the only public four-year institution
offering baccalaureate, masters and doctoral education in nursing.
The University of Missouri St. Louis College of Nursing
Founded in 1981, the College of Nursing (College) is one of eight academic colleges and schools
at the University. The administration, faculty, and staff of the College hold themselves
responsible for promoting the University’s mission of excellence in teaching, research, and
service. The College also has a long history of cooperative relationships with the two other
schools of nursing in the System and with clinical and community health agencies in the St.
Louis metropolitan area. The Colleges first degree program was the RN-BSN program. This
program provided registered nurses with diploma or associate degrees an opportunity to
complete the coursework necessary to earn a Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing degree.
In 1993, the University received independent degree granting authority for the Masters of
Science in Nursing degree program following several years of participation in a cooperative
MSN program with the UMKC School of Nursing. The current MSN degree program maintains
a cooperative relationship with UMKC and UMC; however, the University awards the MSN
degree to students enrolled in its own program. Currently, MSN students can enroll in the nurse
educator option which includes a focus on advanced nursing practice; or students may choose to
enroll in a nurse practitioner option which includes emphases on family, adult, pediatric,
neonatal, or women’s health. In spring 2007, the College had undergone an internal five year
review in which one of the recommendations was to reduce the number of programs offered to
better utilize faculty time and expertise. Although the College is currently approved for a clinical
nurse specialist emphasis area and a nurse leader (administration) emphasis area, admissions
have been suspended for these two areas in response to this recommendation. Graduate faculty
members plan to reassess these emphasis areas in the near future to determine if demand is
sufficient.
In 1993, a proposal was made for a merger between Barnes College of Nursing and the
University. Barnes College (BC), a single purpose degree-granting institution associated with
Barnes Hospital, offered a generic baccalaureate nursing degree. The merger was approved by
the Missouri State Board of Nursing and the Missouri Coordinating Board of Higher Education.
Student policies, records, and admission procedures were transferred to University services. BC
faculty members were offered University faculty appointments. Both faculties of the two college
programs combined to form cooperative committees to address organizational and procedural
issues related to the merger.
In 1994, the merger was completed and the new program was named the Barnes College of
Nursing at UM- St. Louis. For the 1994-95 academic year, operations and location of the pre-
licensure BSN program continued on the BC campus. Students were officially enrolled at UMSL
and received access to all services offered by the University. Students took nursing courses at the
BC facilities and general education courses on the UMSL campus. In fall 1995, all aspects of the
pre-licensure program were relocated to the University’s campus. By that time, the Barnes
College of Nursing had begun offering a cooperative PhD program with the UMC and UMKC
schools of nursing. Each awarded individual degrees but had a common curriculum, making it
easier to share courses. Although the curricula now differ, collaborative efforts have been
maintained through selected shared courses and faculty member’s participation on doctoral
student committees across the campuses.
In 2005, Barnes-Jewish Hospital exercised the option to withdraw from the University
partnership and reclaim the name Barnes. The current nursing education program is now
designated as the College of Nursing at the University of Missouri St. Louis. In 2008, the
College offered a Doctor of Nursing Practice program supported, in part, by an Advanced Nurse
Education Training Grant from the Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources Services
Administration. The program began with six students as a post-master’s program and will be
evaluated for initial CCNE accreditation in Fall 2010.
In May 2009, the Missouri state legislature, concerned with the continuing shortage of health
professionals in the state, approved nearly $40 million dollars for use by public community
colleges and universities for one time expansions of selected health professions programs. Over
the next two years, the College will receive $1,766,000 to fund an expansion of the pre-licensure
BSN option by 16 students, the MSN program by 10 students, and the PhD program by 5
students. The initiative is known as Caring for Missourians.
The College has been continuously accredited since 1983. The College was first accredited by
the National League for Nursing. In 1998, the College sought accreditation from the Commission
for Collegiate Nursing Education and received full accreditation in 1999. In 2010, CCNE
approved the College for continuing accreditation of the baccalaureate and master’s degree
programs through 2020. The Doctor of Nursing Practice program, initiated in 2007, will be
reviewed for accreditation in Fall, 2010. The pre-licensure BSN option is fully approved by the
Missouri State Board of Nursing through 2014. The pediatric nurse practitioner emphasis area is
approved by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board through 2014. The neonatal nurse
practitioner and women’s health nurse practitioner emphasis areas are approved by the National
Certification Corporation.
Retrieved May 1, 2010 from http://www.umsystem.edu/
Retrieved May 1, 2010 from http://www.umsl.edu/about/index.html
Missouri Nurse Practice Act
The State of Missouri Nurse Practice Act governs the practice of professional nurses in Missouri.
Section 335.066 pertains to refusal to issue or revocation of license. It is important that students
become familiar with this section of the Act. In Missouri, refer to sections 335.066 and 335.046
http://www.pr.mo.gov/nursing-rules-statutes.asp
Missouri Revised Statutes
Chapter 335
Nurses
Section 335.046
August 28, 2007
License, application for--qualifications for, fee--hearing on denial of license.
335.046. 1. An applicant for a license to practice as a registered professional nurse shall submit
to the board a written application on forms furnished to the applicant. The original application
shall contain the applicant's statements showing the applicant's education and other such
pertinent information as the board may require. The applicant shall be of good moral character
and have completed at least the high school course of study, or the equivalent thereof as
determined by the state board of education, and have successfully completed the basic
professional curriculum in an accredited or approved school of nursing and earned a professional
nursing degree or diploma. Each application shall contain a statement that it is made under oath
or affirmation and that its representations are true and correct to the best knowledge and belief of
the person signing same, subject to the penalties of making a false affidavit or declaration.
Applicants from non-English-speaking lands shall be required to submit evidence of proficiency
in the English language. The applicant must be approved by the board and shall pass an
examination as required by the board. The board may require by rule as a requirement for
licensure that each applicant shall pass an oral or practical examination. Upon successfully
passing the examination, the board may issue to the applicant a license to practice nursing as a
registered professional nurse. The applicant for a license to practice registered professional
nursing shall pay a license fee in such amount as set by the board. The fee shall be uniform for
all applicants. Applicants from foreign countries shall be licensed as prescribed by rule.
2. An applicant for license to practice as a licensed practical nurse shall submit to the board a
written application on forms furnished to the applicant. The original application shall contain the
applicant's statements showing the applicant's education and other such pertinent information as
the board may require. Such applicant shall be of good moral character, and have completed at
least two years of high school, or its equivalent as established by the state board of education,
and have successfully completed a basic prescribed curriculum in a state-accredited or approved
school of nursing, earned a nursing degree, certificate or diploma and completed a course
approved by the board on the role of the practical nurse. Each application shall contain a
statement that it is made under oath or affirmation and that its representations are true and correct
to the best knowledge and belief of the person signing same, subject to the penalties of making a
false affidavit or declaration. Applicants from non-English-speaking countries shall be required
to submit evidence of their proficiency in the English language. The applicant must be approved
by the board and shall pass an examination as required by the board. The board may require by
rule as a requirement for licensure that each applicant shall pass an oral or practical examination.
Upon successfully passing the examination, the board may issue to the applicant a license to
practice as a licensed practical nurse. The applicant for a license to practice licensed practical
nursing shall pay a fee in such amount as may be set by the board. The fee shall be uniform for
all applicants. Applicants from foreign countries shall be licensed as prescribed by rule.
3. Upon refusal of the board to allow any applicant to sit for either the registered professional
nurses' examination or the licensed practical nurses' examination, as the case may be, the board
shall comply with the provisions of section 621.120, RSMo, and advise the applicant of his or
her right to have a hearing before the administrative hearing commission. The administrative
hearing commission shall hear complaints taken pursuant to section 621.120, RSMo.
4. The board shall not deny a license because of sex, religion, race, ethnic origin, age or political
affiliation.
(L. 1975 S.B. 108 8, A.L. 1981 S.B. 16, A.L. 1995 S.B. 452, A.L. 1999 H.B. 343)
Copyright Missouri General Assembly
Missouri Revised Statutes
Chapter 335
Nurses
Section 335.066
August 28, 2007
Denial, revocation, or suspension of license, grounds for, civil immunity for providing
information--complaint procedures. 335.066. 1. The board may refuse to issue or reinstate any certificate of registration or authority,
permit or license required pursuant to chapter 335 for one or any combination of causes stated in
subsection 2 of this section or the board may, as a condition to issuing or reinstating any such
permit or license, require a person to submit himself or herself for identification, intervention,
treatment, or rehabilitation by the impaired nurse program as provided in section 335.067. The
board shall notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for the refusal and shall advise the
applicant of his or her right to file a complaint with the administrative hearing commission as
provided by chapter 621, RSMo.
2. The board may cause a complaint to be filed with the administrative hearing commission as
provided by chapter 621, RSMo, against any holder of any certificate of registration or authority,
permit or license required by sections 335.011 to 335.096 or any person who has failed to renew
or has surrendered his or her certificate of registration or authority, permit or license for any one
or any combination of the following causes:
(1) Use or unlawful possession of any controlled substance, as defined in chapter 195, RSMo, or
alcoholic beverage to an extent that such use impairs a person's ability to perform the work of
any profession licensed or regulated by sections 335.011 to 335.096;
(2) The person has been finally adjudicated and found guilty, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo
contendere, in a criminal prosecution pursuant to the laws of any state or of the United States, for
any offense reasonably related to the qualifications, functions or duties of any profession
licensed or regulated pursuant to sections 335.011 to 335.096, for any offense an essential
element of which is fraud, dishonesty or an act of violence, or for any offense involving moral
turpitude, whether or not sentence is imposed;
(3) Use of fraud, deception, misrepresentation or bribery in securing any certificate of
registration or authority, permit or license issued pursuant to sections 335.011 to 335.096 or in
obtaining permission to take any examination given or required pursuant to sections 335.011 to
335.096;
(4) Obtaining or attempting to obtain any fee, charge, tuition or other compensation by fraud,
deception or misrepresentation;
(5) Incompetency, misconduct, gross negligence, fraud, misrepresentation or dishonesty in the
performance of the functions or duties of any profession licensed or regulated by sections
335.011 to 335.096;
(6) Violation of, or assisting or enabling any person to violate, any provision of sections 335.011
to 335.096, or of any lawful rule or regulation adopted pursuant to sections 335.011 to 335.096;
(7) Impersonation of any person holding a certificate of registration or authority, permit or
license or allowing any person to use his or her certificate of registration or authority, permit,
license or diploma from any school;
(8) Disciplinary action against the holder of a license or other right to practice any profession
regulated by sections 335.011 to 335.096 granted by another state, territory, federal agency or
country upon grounds for which revocation or suspension is authorized in this state;
(9) A person is finally adjudged insane or incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction;
(10) Assisting or enabling any person to practice or offer to practice any profession licensed or
regulated by sections 335.011 to 335.096 who is not registered and currently eligible to practice
pursuant to sections 335.011 to 335.096;
(11) Issuance of a certificate of registration or authority, permit or license based upon a material
mistake of fact;
(12) Violation of any professional trust or confidence;
(13) Use of any advertisement or solicitation which is false, misleading or deceptive to the
general public or persons to whom the advertisement or solicitation is primarily directed;
(14) Violation of the drug laws or rules and regulations of this state, any other state or the federal
government;
(15) Placement on an employee disqualification list or other related restriction or finding
pertaining to employment within a health-related profession issued by any state or federal
government or agency following final disposition by such state or federal government or agency;
(16) Failure to successfully complete the impaired nurse program.
3. After the filing of such complaint, the proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the
provisions of chapter 621, RSMo. Upon a finding by the administrative hearing commission that
the grounds, provided in subsection 2 of this section, for disciplinary action are met, the board
may, singly or in combination, censure or place the person named in the complaint on probation
on such terms and conditions as the board deems appropriate for a period not to exceed five
years, or may suspend, for a period not to exceed three years, or revoke the license, certificate, or
permit.
4. For any hearing before the full board, the board shall cause the notice of the hearing to be
served upon such licensee in person or by certified mail to the licensee at the licensee's last
known address. If service cannot be accomplished in person or by certified mail, notice by
publication as described in subsection 3 of section 506.160, RSMo, shall be allowed; any
representative of the board is authorized to act as a court or judge would in that section; any
employee of the board is authorized to act as a clerk would in that section.
5. An individual whose license has been revoked shall wait one year from the date of revocation
to apply for re-licensure. Re-licensure shall be at the discretion of the board after compliance
with all the requirements of sections 335.011 to 335.096 relative to the licensing of an applicant
for the first time.
6. The board may notify the proper licensing authority of any other state concerning the final
disciplinary action determined by the board on a license in which the person whose license was
suspended or revoked was also licensed of the suspension or revocation.
7. Any person, organization, association or corporation who reports or provides information to
the board of nursing pursuant to the provisions of sections 335.011 to 335.259* and who does so
in good faith shall not be subject to an action for civil damages as a result thereof.
8. If the board concludes that a nurse has committed an act or is engaging in a course of conduct
which would be grounds for disciplinary action which constitutes a clear and present danger to
the public health and safety, the board may file a complaint before the administrative hearing
commission requesting an expedited hearing and specifying the activities which give rise to the
danger and the nature of the proposed restriction or suspension of the nurse's license. Within
fifteen days after service of the complaint on the nurse, the administrative hearing commission
shall conduct a preliminary hearing to determine whether the alleged activities of the nurse
appear to constitute a clear and present danger to the public health and safety which justify that
the nurse's license be immediately restricted or suspended. The burden of proving that a nurse is
a clear and present danger to the public health and safety shall be upon the state board of nursing.
The administrative hearing commission shall issue its decision immediately after the hearing and
shall either grant to the board the authority to suspend or restrict the license or dismiss the action.
9. If the administrative hearing commission grants temporary authority to the board to restrict or
suspend the nurse's license, such temporary authority of the board shall become final authority if
there is no request by the nurse for a full hearing within thirty days of the preliminary hearing.
The administrative hearing commission shall, if requested by the nurse named in the complaint,
set a date to hold a full hearing under the provisions of chapter 621, RSMo, regarding the
activities alleged in the initial complaint filed by the board.
10. If the administrative hearing commission refuses to grant temporary authority to the board or
restrict or suspend the nurse's license under subsection 8 of this section, such dismissal shall not
bar the board from initiating a subsequent disciplinary action on the same grounds.
(L. 1975 S.B. 108 12, A.L. 1981 S.B. 16, A.L. 1995 S.B. 452, A.L. 1999 H.B. 343, A.L. 2007
H.B. 780 merged with S.B. 308)
*Section 335.259 was repealed by S.B. 52 A, 1993.
(2000) Allegation of violation of drug laws requires State Board of Nursing to prove by a
preponderance of the evidence that a nurse knowingly and intentionally possessed controlled
substances. State Board of Nursing v. Berry, 32 S.W.3d 638 (Mo.App.W.D.).
(2001) Statements made in incident report by hospital to State Board of Nursing about nurse
were not, in absence of actual proceedings pending against that nurse, entitled to absolute
immunity from nurse's libel claim. Haynes-Wilkinson v. Barnes-Jewish Hospital, 131 F.Supp.2d
1140 (E.D.Mo.).
Copyright
Missouri General Assembly
Student Participation
The UMSL College of Nursing welcomes your participation in the governance of our college.
There are several committees that include students as committee members. These include the
Colleges committees that manage our Curriculum, the Students Affairs, Evaluation and the
Deans Student Advisory committee. Students in our programs have opportunities to identify
students to represent them and their interests and concerns as part of the work of these
committees. Additionally, we routinely seek feedback from students regarding their academic
and other experiences in the collage both during that program and following program completion
as we evaluate our effectiveness and outcomes.
Student Policies
Non-Discrimination
It is the policy of the University of Missouri to provide equal opportunity for all enrolled students and
applicants for admission to the University on the basis of merit without discrimination on the basis of
their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age or disability, or Vietnam era veteran
status. Sexual harassment shall be considered discrimination because of sex. This policy shall not be
interpreted in such a way as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or military organizations
associated with the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
Academic Integrity
Strict adherence to the principles of intellectual honesty is expected from all students in the completion of
assigned work in nursing courses. Failure to do so will result in:
1. an academic assessment by course faculty of a 0% grade for the work in question
(Test or assignment), and
2. Submission of relevant information to the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, who may
apply sanctions such as probation, suspension, or dismissal.
Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to the following:
1. Copying the work of another student;
2. Copying material verbatim from a published source without placing it in quotation marks and
citing the source;
3. Failing to cite the source of material paraphrased from a published source;
4. Cheating of any kind during a quiz or exam;
5. Copying exam questions during test reviews and/or distributing or sharing exam questions with
other students in any form;
6. Using non-faculty approved electronic or communication devices during examinations or class
assignments.
Course faculty reserves the right to use software for assistance with plagiarism detection.
Failure to detect a violation of academic integrity on one assignment/examination does not excuse
subsequent violations.
Critical behaviors that students must demonstrate in order to earn a satisfactory clinical grade include
expectations of honesty and professional integrity in ALL clinical settings. Dishonest behaviors such as
withholding information about errors or falsifying reports are obvious violations. Refer to the N (course
number) Clinical Evaluation Tool for statements of critical behaviors that must be clearly demonstrated in
each clinical experience.
Grading Scale
The College of Nursing and the Graduate School uses the following grading scale:
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
D
F
95-100%
93-94%
91-92%
87-90%
85-86%
82-84%
76-81%
70-75%
69% or less
Grade Appeal Procedure
On each campus of the University of Missouri it is the Chancellor who is ultimately responsible to the
President and the Board of Curators for all campus programs, policies and activities. On the University of
Missouri-St. Louis campus, the Chancellor has delegated responsibility for overseeing the grade appeal
process to the Provost. The Provost is therefore responsible for assuring that grade appeals are handled in
a fair and timely manner. More specifically, that officer is responsible for seeing that the procedures
outlined below are appropriately followed.
Grievance Concerning Discrimination
Any grievance or complaint (informal grievance) that alleges discrimination based on race, color,
religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability - especially concerning admission to and retention
within the College of Nursing shall be treated according to policy of the board of Curators
entitled "Discrimination Grievance Procedure for Students".
Students claiming a grievance under this policy are referred to the Office of the Vice Chancellor
for Student Affairs for the specific procedures to be followed in the event of such a grievance.
Grievance Concerning Other Issues (see University Bulletin)
While the problem resolution procedure is in process, the student may remain enrolled in the
undergraduate program.
General Student Information
The College of Nursing is committed to integrating technology into your academic experience.
All information relative to the use of MyGateway, a course management package, and your
student emails will be outlined in Student Technology Guides prepared each Fall by Information
Technology Services (ITS) (http://www.umsl.edu/technology/).You can obtain these booklets in
the College of Nursing or at any of the 5 computer labs located on campus. If you do not attend
class on campus, we will be mailing one these booklets to your home. You can contact the
computer help desk at 314-516-6034. The hours of operation for the help desk are Monday –
Thursday 7:30 am - 7:00 pm and Friday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm. The help desk is closed weekends
and holidays. If the help desk is unable to resolve your problem, please call the Software Support
Expert for the College of Nursing at (314) 516-6755.
Change of Name, Address or Telephone
Any change of address or telephone number should be submitted to the Office of Student
Services as soon as possible. A change of name requires submitting a notarized form to the
University's Registrar.
Communications
Course faculty and the College of Nursing communicate with students in a variety of ways,
including the use of bulletin boards, E-mail, student mailboxes, and other means of personal
communication. Students are responsible for all communication regarding program
information/changes relayed through the campus mail systems.
Computer Technology/Student Laboratories
A number of student computer laboratories are available on campus. See the University Student
Guide and Academic Planner for further information.
E-Mail/Internet Access/Password
As part of the computing fee, all students are provided with a free e-mail account automatically
upon enrollment. No additional registration is necessary. E-mail can be accessed at any computer
lab on campus. Student e-mail addresses are in the following format:
[email protected]. Where yourgatewayid is your own Gateway ID. Default
passwords for Gateway Ids have been created using a combination of birth date and social
security number*. The format of the new password is yydd9999 where:
yy = year of birth; dd = date of birth; 9999 = last 4 digits of SSN . For access to email accounts
at home, students need Internet access to connect their computers to the campus computers.
Faculty Offices and Mailboxes
Nursing faculty offices and mailboxes are located in the College of Nursing Administrative
Building. The building is open Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. Students are urged to make
arrangements to submit papers directly to the instructor as much as possible. A receiving box for
faculty is located in the Office of Student Services (South Campus, Nursing Administration
Building, first floor). Non-nursing faculty offices are located on the North Campus. Students are
urged to identify location of faculty offices for all courses in which enrolled.
Identification Card
A student identification card is required to use University services including library checkout
privileges. This card is obtained in the Office of Admissions located on the first floor of Woods
Hall Administration Building. Evidence of current enrollment (fee card) is required.
Library
The University has two library centers--Thomas Jefferson, located on the main campus and the
Ward E. Library on the South Campus, which houses the Education and Health Sciences
Libraries. While students may have the need to use resources from any of the three centers, the
Health Sciences Library will be most frequently utilized. Information regarding each library may
be found in the UM-St. Louis Student Handbook.
Parking
Student parking is allowed only in designated areas. Illegally parked cars will be ticketed and
may be towed at the owner's expense. Grades and transcripts will be held until tickets are paid.
Transportation
All undergraduate nursing students must have ACCESS to an automobile for clinical practice
experiences. Students must furnish their own transportation to and from clinical agencies, which
may be scheduled throughout the metropolitan area, including Jefferson county and Illinois.
Students are reminded that if they transport other classmates, they are assuming personal liability
in the event of an accident.
Scholarships and Awards
Graduation Awards
Shirley A. Martin Distinguished Nurse Award
Student from BSN program (pre- and post-licensure) and a graduate student
Student has demonstrated outstanding personal and professional growth
Growth is reflected in voluntary participation in or contribution to CON programs
Excellence in College Leadership Award
Student in any program who has actively participated in student government, the SNA or
the BSNA; participated in community service activities above and beyond course
requirements; volunteered service to promote CON in community
Excellence in Professional Nursing Award
Graduating senior in BSN program who has consistently demonstrated excellence in
clinical nursing practice
Innovations in Clinical Practice Award
Individual in post-licensure BSN program or graduate program who is breaking new
ground in nursing science and practice
Visualizes and actively pursues a non-traditional nursing role; by his/her professional
activity, is expanding professional horizons and advancing the nursing profession
Mary Reardon Castles Award
Graduate student who has expressed interest and involvement in a research effort
Individual will have contributed substantially to a research effort, showing growth toward
and interest in personal research activity
Nancy Sue Claypool Award
Graduate student who will be or has been involved in research or projects involving some
aspect (breast cancer-related activities preferred) or other chronic disease (prevention of
or intervention for chronic or terminal disease health condition).
UMSL Graduate School
Overview
Your doctoral education is guided by policies of the UMSL Graduate School. Graduate School
policies must be followed because the UMSL Graduate School awards your doctoral degree.
Many of these policies and procedures are tailored to meet the need of doctoral students in
College of Nursing. This Doctoral Student Handbook provides links to these policies and
includes additional college-related guidelines. All doctoral students in nursing first complete
their program-specific coursework. This is followed by a comprehensive examination that is
designed to assess your readiness to complete your doctoral research project. You will prepare a
written proposal and present it to your peers and faculty. Your proposal, after IRB approval, is
implemented and your findings are also presented to your peers and faculty. Your doctoral
studies are completed after the dissertation is approved and published. For PhD students, this
culminating project is referred to as the student's dissertation and for DNP students it is referred
to as the clinical scholarship project. The focus of these degree-specific documents is specified
under the headings for each of our doctoral programs.
From Admission to Candidacy
As a new student, you will be assigned an 'initial' faculty advisor. This advisor is assigned based
upon and information that you included in your essay about your plans that was part of your
admission process. At the time you enter the program, we realize that you are not familiar with
the graduate nursing faculty. As you get to know these faculty members, you may identify
someone who you would like to work with to complete your doctoral education. At that point,
you should make an appointment with that faculty member to discuss whether that individual is
also willing to work with you. Please understand that faculty can only advise 3-4 students at a
time. If the faculty member is agrees to become your advisor, you should complete doctoral form
D-2 and send it to the Director of Graduate Studies for approval. Following that, this form is
routed to the Dean of the Graduate School for signature. Sometime students research interests
change as the program progresses. Should this occur and should you want a different faculty
member to serve as your advisor, please discuss this transition with your current advisor and with
the person you want to be your advisor and then complete a new D-2 form (Appointment of
Advisor). Generally, your faculty advisor will chair both your comprehensive examination and
dissertation committees. You will appoint these committees after consultation with your advisor.
Advisors and committee chairs must be members of the UMSL Graduate Faculty.
Listing of Graduate Faculty Members
Listing of Professional Special Appointment Faculty
During the period of time between your admission and completion of your comprehensive
examination, you will work with your advisor to prepare for the comprehensive examination and
to begin the preparation of your dissertation (PhD dissertation or Clinical Scholarship Project).
After you have successfully completed your comprehensive exam and the Graduate Dean has
signed doctoral form D-3, you become an official candidate for your degree. Congratulations!!
This is a significant milestone in completion of your doctorate!
From Candidacy to Doctoral 'Hood'
Now that you are a candidate, your remaining education and the time to degree completion is
largely in your hands. Working with your advisor you need to finalize your dissertation
committee by submitting doctoral form D-4. And, working with your dissertation committee, it is
time to finalize your proposal using the degree specific guidelines found in this handbook. When
all of your committee members have agreed to the plans in your proposal, you need to seek IRB
approval using the guidelines in this handbook. You are required to be continuously enrolled in
the Graduate School between candidacy and graduation. When you have received IRB
approval(s), it is time for the Graduate Dean to approve your proposal. To do this, you submit
doctoral form D-5 along with the proposal that your committee approved and the IRB approval
memo. When this approval is completed, you may begin your work. At this point, you will be
working closely with your dissertation committee to complete the work and write the final
dissertation.
At this phase of doctoral study, students often feel somewhat lonely because they are no longer
routinely seeing their faculty and student colleagues. But, it is important to continue to progress
toward completion of your degree. Some students arrange to have regular contact with their
advisor during this period as they find it helps them to sustain the energy to complete their
doctorate. And, other students arrange for regular contact with their student colleagues. You
should do whatever keeps you energized!
When your committee is satisfied with the completed document, doctoral form D-6 is signed and
sent to the Graduate Dean along with your nearly done written dissertation. You will also plan a
date and place for your dissertation presentation, including your project abstract and submit these
to the Graduate Dean. The Graduate School will invite the entire campus community to your
dissertation presentation but it is unusual for there to be more than a dozen or so nursing faculty
and students in attendance. Following your presentation, the audience has the opportunity to ask
questions. The audience is then excused and you continue to meet with your committee who will
also vote their approval that your doctorate is now complete. It is important to abide by the
graduation schedule for the term in which you plan to graduate as these deadlines are strictly
enforced. At this point, you may need to make some changes to your dissertation and when those
are completed, you will present your dissertation to the Graduate School and it will be published
either electronically or as a document.
Generally, graduates who are being awarded doctoral degrees are introduced individually at the
graduation ceremony and are hooded by their dissertation advisor. The hood is an academic
tradition that indicates the colors of your school and discipline and signifies completion of the
highest academic degree.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ACHIEVEMENT, DOCTOR!
Student Services Advisor and D-Forms
The Senior Academic Advisor for doctoral students is Ronni Hayes, who can be reached via e-
mail at [email protected], or via phone at 314-516-7028. Her office is in the Student Services
part of the College of Nursing, on the first floor. Ms. Hayes will assist you in registering for your
courses after you and your PhD advisor develop a plan of study, including cognates. The plan of
study is filed in your student record in Student Services and may be changed by mutual
agreement with your faculty advisor.
It is essential that you communicate with Ms. Hayes in a timely manner about enrollment in
courses. You are responsible for processing the important doctoral progression forms, also
known in the university as the D-Forms Doctoral Level Forms (D1 - D10). Copies of these forms
are filed in your student file in the Student Services office.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
DNP Program Outcomes
At the completion of the program, the DNP graduate will:
Integrate nursing science, informatics, research, and ethical/legal principles to provide
excellence in advanced clinical nursing practice.
Translate research science to improve healthcare delivery and health outcomes.
Provide multidisciplinary leadership through analysis of critical indicators and/or
healthcare delivery systems to optimize patient care and safety.
Influence health policy-making to improve health outcomes, shape healthcare delivery,
and remove barriers to healthcare.
Develop and evaluate strategies to establish best practices tailored to a specific setting.
Approved Doctoral Faculty 5/2010
DNP Aggregate Student Outcomes
80% of students will complete part time program in 3 years.
75% of students will complete their clinical scholarly project during the clinical
scholarship courses.
90% of graduates' practice focus will shift from individual to aggregate or population
levels.
75% of graduates will report increased participation in institutional, local, state, national
or professional policy development.
90% of graduates will report satisfaction with the DNP program.
90% of alumni will report satisfaction with the DNP program.
90% of employers will report satisfaction with the DNP program.
Course Descriptions
N7200 Nursing Science (3) Pre/Co-requisite(s): Admission to a doctoral study in nursing
Course Description: This course examines the state of scientific knowledge in nursing research
and advanced clinical practice. Students will analyze the development of major streams of
scientific development in nursing and gaps that remain in understanding critical nursing and
health-related phenomena, interventions, and outcomes. The course will address the
interrelationships between nursing science and scientific developments in other disciplines from
the perspectives of health outcomes, population health indices, and policy implications of
scientific progress. Students will evaluate advances in biophysiological, psychosocial,
sociocultural, health systems, and health economics research and their implications for nursing
care and outcomes. They will collaborate in identifying gaps in the state of the science in high
priority topical areas and gaps between recommended best practices and current clinical practice
and health policy, and in determining next steps to improve nursing care and outcomes based on
science.
N7220 Leadership in Practice (3) Prerequisites: None
Course Description: This course provides students with the opportunity to develop and refine
critical leadership skills. Emphasis is on using models and theories that facilitate
interprofessional collaboration to achieve optimal health outcomes. The focus is effective
communication and leadership methods necessary to establish successful inter-professional
teams. Students will enhance skills in verbal, written and electronic communication; team
leadership; and creating and sustaining health related initiatives. Through advanced
understanding of the inter-professional dimension of health care, students will facilitate
collaboration and remove barriers to providing safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable and
patient centered care in a complex environment.
N7230 Epidemiology (3) Prerequisite: NURSE 6000 or equivalent within the last 5 years or
consent of instructor
Course Description: This course introduces the fundamental principles and methods of
epidemiology. Topics to be covered include the historical perspective of epidemiology, measures
of disease occurrence and of association, clinical epidemiology, disease screening, causal
inference, and analytic study design. Students will design epidemiologic studies, and utilize
common statistical tests. Emphasis will be placed on case control studies, cohort studies, clinical
epidemiology, and infectious disease epidemiology.
N7240 Health Informatics (3) Prerequisite: Consent of instructor
Course Description: This course explores information systems and computer technologies that
can improve the health of individuals, families, communities and populations by optimizing
information management and communication. Focus areas include the electronic medical record,
technologies to improve patient safety, standards for privacy and security, tele-health systems to
improve healthcare access to underserved populations, use of web-enhanced technologies for
research translation, and strategies to provide data for decision making and evidence based
databases. Emphasis is placed on developing competence in technology use for the purpose of
program evaluation, establishing healthcare quality, and improving healthcare delivery to diverse
populations in complex healthcare settings.
N7250 Frameworks for Health Care Delivery and Policy (3) Pre/Co-requisites: none
Course Description: This course is designed to provide students with a framework to
understand the system through which health care is delivered and financed. The cultural and
psychosocial contributors to health care and policy are discussed. The focus is to provide
students with knowledge about complex health care systems, government and private
reimbursement structures, quality and patient safety initiatives, legal mandates and policy issues
affecting health care delivery.
N7260 Program and Practice Evaluation (3) Prerequisite: N7230 or consent of instructor.
Course Description: Includes principles and procedures for assessing the quality and
effectiveness of programs, projects and materials related to planned interventions and systems
changes in health settings. Using a logic model, practice and programs will be evaluated and
presented to agencies. Values, ethical and political issues, particularly those relevant to
race/ethnicity and gender will be emphasized.
N7270 Policy Application for Improved Health Outcomes (3) Pre/Co-Requisites: none
Course Description: Students learn how to effectively translate and disseminate knowledge
from nursing and other health sciences to policy makers and stakeholders in order to form
collaborations to affect change at various levels of the policy process. Topics to be covered
include policy analysis, policy development, collaboration and negotiation specific to the policy
process, building social and political capitol and garnering resources to assure effective policy
implementation. Students will utilize population health data, policy analysis, and policy
development skills to define, shape and implement culturally competent health policy.
N7291 Clinical Scholarship 1 (3) Prerequisite: All DNP coursework or consent of instructor
Course Description: This experience provides additional opportunities for practice expertise
development to create change in a targeted population and complex healthcare environments.
Students will develop skills to assess and diagnose healthcare systems and identify evidenced-
based strategies to improve health outcomes. Included in this experience is 150 hours of
immersion in their population-focused scholarly project.
N7292 Clinical Scholarship 2 (3) Prerequisite: N7291
Course Description: This experience provides additional opportunities for practice expertise
development to create change in a targeted population and complex healthcare environments.
Students will develop strategies to implement evidenced-based strategies to improve health
outcomes. Included in this experience is 200 hours of immersion in their population-focused
scholarly project.
N7293 Clinical Scholarship 3 (3) Prerequisite: N7202
Course Description: This experience provides additional opportunities for practice expertise
development with a targeted population in a complex healthcare environment. Students will
evaluate evidenced-based clinical projects and health outcomes. Included in this experience is
200 hours of immersion in their population-focused scholarly project.
N7299 DNP Seminar (1-3) Prerequisite: All DNP required courses or consent of instructor.
Course Description: This DNP Seminar provides opportunity to synthesize and analyze
knowledge within the context of the emerging DNP role. Analysis of practice issues may include
reflective practice, collaboration health system technology ethics and policy
(Note: Continuous registration is required until DNP is completed.)
N7401 Research Institute 1 (2) Prerequisites: Admission to a doctoral study in nursing
Course Description: This course provides an introduction to the process of becoming a research
scientist or a translational investigator. Content will include the ethical and responsible conduct
of research or clinical project, core elements, the emerging guidelines, relevant policies and
procedures, and the impact to the researcher in day-to-day activities. This course also includes
literature reviews, scholarly writing, technology in the research process, developing a program of
scholarship and effective time management.
6/29/2010
DNP Student Academic Committees
DNP Comprehensive Examination Committee
This committee oversees the administration of the DNP comprehensive examination. The UMSL
Graduate School policy indicates that ‘The Comprehensive Examination Committee will consist
of no fewer than three members of the UM-St. Louis graduate faculty appointed by the Graduate
Dean upon recommendation of the unit.’
Working with your advisor, identify at least three members of the graduate nursing faculty to
serve on this committee and ask the faculty members to agree to serve. This committee is
formalized using the doctoral form D-1 which must be approved by the Dean of the Graduate
School.
DNP Clinical Scholarship (Dissertation) Committee
This committee oversees the implementation and completion of the clinical scholarship project
(dissertation). The UMSL Graduate School policy indicates that 'The Doctoral Dissertation
Committee shall consist of at least four members of the Graduate Faculty who can contribute
their expertise to the dissertation study: the committee chair, and at least one other member from
the unit. A recognized scholar from outside the university may serve as a member upon the
recommendation of the unit and approval of the Graduate Dean. The Graduate Dean shall
approve the committee membership and changes in the committee membership. This committee
should include a practice mentor, preferably who works in the environment where the student's
project will be completed. This committee is appointed by submitting doctoral form D-4 and the
resume or curriculum vitae of the community member must be included at the time this form is
submitted.
DNP Clinical Scholarship Policy
DNP Scholarship Committee Constitution
The DNP clinical scholarship project should involve an issue related to the assessment and/or
implementation of a practice-focused problem or issue with the goal of improving health
outcomes and health delivery. The relationship between the DNP student and their Clinical
Scholarship Project Committee is designed to provide mentoring by this committee. This is quite
different from the role of preceptors in the development of APN skills in providing care to
individuals. The Clinical Scholarship Project Committee is composed of the chair, who is a
member of the College of Nursing doctoral faculty, an advanced practice nurse, and two
additional members. At least two members must be College of Nursing faculty and one may be
external to the University. One committee member should be the student's practice mentor. This
individual serves as the student's Practice Mentor and provides coaching, linkages, and
facilitation related to the project. The UMSL Graduate School approves the committee. The
Clinical Scholarship Project is developed by the student collaborating with members of the
committee to define a specific project that addresses issues in the practice organization or in the
care of groups of people.
DNP Clinical Scholarship Hours/Time
Each course in the clinical scholarship sequence includes estimates of the time required to
complete the practice immersion activities in the course. Rather than describing these hours as
'precepted' clinical, they represent an immersion in practice to clarify that the focus is on a
population, aggregate nursing practice, or an organizational issue rather than on one to one
patient care.
DNP Clinical Scholarship Projects
The DNP clinical scholarship project should focus on a goal of practice inquiry or quality
enhancement. It is an opportunity to partner with an organization to improve nursing care. Or the
DNP clinical scholarship project might involve developing a protocol and deciding how to
implement and evaluate it. The project may consist of a pilot study, program evaluation, QA/QI
project, practice evaluation, a research utilization project, substantive involvement in a larger
project, or other project involvement. In general, students are encouraged not to implement their
projects at their sites of employment, although there may be times when the student and Clinical
Scholarship Committee feel this is acceptable or even optimal under individual circumstances.
The following are examples of potential projects:
1. A student works at an institution and they want to begin an "Ask a Nurse" line. The DNP
student develops the protocol for this project, implements the program, and evaluates
how the program works.
2. A CNS works in an emergency department and wants to know why screening for
domestic violence is not being done. She identifies the barriers to implementing the
policy and develops a program to improve screening rates.
3. A nurse anesthetist conducts a chart audit to determine compliance with clinical practice
guidelines and develops a mechanism to improve compliance rates.
4. A primary care NP notices that many in her practice do not adhere to the current
guidelines regarding watchful waiting for otitis media cases. She determines why some
providers don't comply with the guidelines and implements a practice-wide initiative to
ensure consistency between providers.
5. A student develops a policy to solve a practice's issues surrounding coverage on call
when there are only two providers in the practice. This policy is implemented and
evaluated.
12/15/10
DNP Clinical Scholarship Project Outline
The purpose of the DNP Clinical Scholarship Project is to provide tangible evidence of the
student's academic growth, derived from the immersion experience, which demonstrates the
student's growth in knowledge and expertise. The final project will provide a forum to assess the
student's ability to systematically analyze current evidence, develop or support a project, evaluate
practice models, and disseminate information.
Projects may vary, depending on the student's area of interest. The project may consist of a pilot
study, program evaluation, QA/QI project, practice evaluation, a research utilization project,
substantive involvement in a larger project, or other project involvement. The following criteria
are designed to provide a framework for the project deliverables, but project details will be
finalized in collaboration with the student's faculty advisor.
1. Project proposal
1. Identify the project purpose
1. Identify the issue and rationale for the project
2. Provide baseline data to support the issue
3. Describe the importance/significance of the issue to health care and
nursing practice
4. Epidemiologic relevance to population health outcomes
2. Comprehensive review of the current literature
3. Describe your project design
1. What do you intend to do
2. Are others involved? Stakeholders, team members?
3. Anticipated barriers/challenges to plan
4. Identify any potential ethical issues/concerns
5. Prepare for IRB approval and HIPAA compliance
4. Define your outcomes, including identification of evaluation tools
5. Identify necessary resources
1. Time, money, materials
2. Who needs to know about/approve your plan and how will you obtain
approval?
3. Project timeline
6. Plans for application in practice
2. Final evidence of project completion
1. Update of the literature review to integrate new and emerging evidence
2. Describe your project activities/methods
1. Deviations from the proposed plan and rationale
2. Identify barriers and challenges
1. How did they impact your project?
2. How did you address these barriers and challenges?
3. Discuss project outcomes
1. Data
2. Cost/benefit analysis
3. Ethical concerns?
4. Application to practice
1. Can this project be integrated into practice on a larger scale?
2. Discuss the project's target population/demographic
1. Are results applicable to the larger population?
2. What, if any, adjustments would be needed for the project to be
implemented successfully with other populations?
5. Discuss what you learned about the role of the DNP in developing, implementing
and evaluation of the project
6. Describe how this project, and your DNP education, has influenced practice
June 2009
DNP Comprehensive Examination Policy/Guideline
For the DNP program, the purpose of comprehensive examination is to provide a mechanism for
the student's comprehensive examination committee to appraise the students 'readiness' to
complete the clinical scholarship project. The clinical scholarship project is described in the
Clinical Scholarship Project Policy/Guideline.
After discussing with a faculty member the students' interest in having the faculty serve as their
advisor, students' complete the UMSL Graduate School form D-2 to formally appoint their
advisor. Students then confer with their advisor to determine who should be asked to serve on
their comprehensive examination committee. The student completes the UMSL Graduate School
form D-1 to formalize this agreement. Comprehensive examination committees must be
comprised by a minimum of three graduate faculty members (including the advisor), preferably
College of Nursing faculty.
Students work with their advisor and comprehensive examination committee members to write
section 1 of the College of Nursing DNP program document 'Clinical Scholarship Project.' This
section of the project outline provides a framework for the clinical scholarship project plan and it
is available in the UMSL College of Nursing Doctoral Student Handbook.
When the advisor and student are satisfied that the objectives of that assignment are complete,
the student emails the written section 1 to all members of the comprehensive examination
committee. Once all members of the comprehensive examination committee have approved of
the proposed project, the student prepares a power point presentation summarizing the students'
plans and rationale for the project. The student schedules a comprehensive examination
committee meeting and invites other College of Nursing faculty and students (especially doctoral
students) to attend. Following the presentation of the proposal, those in the audience are invited
to ask questions and the student responds to these questions.
The public is then excused and the student meets with the comprehensive examination
committee to respond to other questions and to discuss the next steps. The student is then
excused and the committee meets to determine whether the project is ready for implementation
or whether additional work needs to be completed. Additional work may include revisions to the
clinical scholarship proposal and/or additional formal coursework.
If the comprehensive examination committee determines that the student is ready to proceed with
implementation of their project, the student completes UMSL Graduate School form D-3,
application for candidacy. When the Graduate School Dean approves the application for
candidacy, the student may now use the title DNP(c).
The comprehensive examination may be repeated only once within the following six months.
DRAFT 6222010
DNP Clinical Scholarship Project
The purpose of the DNP Clinical Scholarship Project is to provide tangible evidence of the
student's academic growth, derived from the immersion experience, which demonstrates the
student's growth in knowledge and expertise. The final project will provide a forum to assess the
student's ability to systematically analyze current evidence, develop or support a project, evaluate
practice models, and disseminate information.
Projects may vary, depending on the student's area of interest. The project may consist of a pilot
study, program evaluation, QA/QI project, practice evaluation, a research utilization project,
substantive involvement in a larger project, or other project involvement. The following criteria
are designed to provide a framework for the project deliverables, but project details will be
finalized in collaboration with the student's faculty advisor.
1. Project proposal
1. Identify the project purpose
1. Identify the issue and rationale for the project
2. Provide baseline data to support the issue
3. Describe the importance/significance of the issue to health care and
nursing practice
4. Epidemiologic relevance to population health outcomes
2. Comprehensive review of the current literature
3. Describe your project design
1. What do you intend to do
2. Are others involved? Stakeholders, team members?
3. Anticipated barriers/challenges to plan
4. Identify any potential ethical issues/concerns
5. Prepare for IRB approval and HIPAA compliance
4. Define your outcomes, including identification of evaluation tools.
5. Identify necessary resources
1. Time, money, materials
2. Who needs to know about/approve your plan and how will you obtain
approval?
3. Project timeline
6. Plans for application in practice
2. Final evidence of project completion
1. Update of the literature review to integrate new and emerging evidence
2. Describe your project activities/methods
1. Deviations from the proposed plan and rationale
2. Identify barriers and challenges
1. How did they impact your project?
2. How did you address these barriers and challenges?
3. Discuss project outcomes.
1. Data
2. Cost/benefit analysis
3. Ethical concerns?
4. Application to practice
1. Can this project be integrated into practice on a larger scale?
1. Discuss the project's target population/demographic. Are results
applicable to the larger population?
2. What, if any, adjustments would be needed for the project to be
implemented successfully with other populations?
5. Discuss what you learned about the role of the DNP in developing, implementing
and evaluation a project
6. Describe how this project, and our DNP education, has influenced your practice.
June 2009
PhD in Nursing
Objectives of the PhD Program
Develop skills and knowledge to establish a program of research and scholarship.
Design, conduct, and disseminate a dissertation that contributes to nursing knowledge.
Translate nursing research into practice and policy.
Assume leadership roles in healthcare by collaborations and partnerships with institutions
in the greater St. Louis region.
Improve the health care quality of life of individuals/families /communities regionally,
nationally, and internationally.
Approved by the PhD committee 12/11/06
Outcomes of the PhD Program
Integrate professional values and ethics into the nurse scientist role.
Advance the discipline of nursing through the generation of new knowledge and theory.
o Publishing
o Presenting
Demonstrate excellence as a clinical researcher in the health sciences in a focal area of
nursing.
o Identified area of clinical practice expertise
o Identified program of research
o Plan for continued funding to support program of research
o Publications
o Abstracts
Synthesize theories from nursing, natural, or behavioral sciences for application to a
specific area of nursing.
o Program of research
Advance theory and evidence-based clinical practice.
o Publications
o Presentations
o Teaching
o Influencing practice
Assume nurse scientist roles in health sciences centers, educational institutions, and other
settings.
o Program of research
o Influencing practice
o Influencing policy
Proficiencies/competencies to be accomplished during doctoral program:
o Critical analysis of philosophical and ethical underpinnings of various theoretical
and methodological approaches to research problem areas
o Development of logical and consistent argument to support need for study of
problem area
o Concept clarification/synthesis
o Oral presentation, poster presentation
o Research question, design, data analysis techniques and interpretation of findings
o Critique of research articles
o Publication
o Meta-analysis
o IRB, HIPPAA
o Integrative review
o State of science paper
o Pilot studies
Completion of IRB approval for pilot studies, proposed study
PhD Student Academic Committees
PhD Comprehensive Examination Committee
Graduate School policies for 9.7. Doctoral Comprehensive Examinations. This committee
oversees the administration of the PhD comprehensive examination. The UMSL Graduate
School policy indicates that 'The Comprehensive Examination Committee will consist of no
fewer than three members of the UM-St. Louis graduate faculty appointed by the Graduate Dean
upon recommendation of the unit.
Working with your advisor, identify at least three members of the graduate nursing faculty to
serve on this committee and ask the faculty members to agree to serve. This committee is
formalized using the doctoral form D-1 which must be approved by the Dean of the Graduate
School.
PhD Dissertation Committee
This committee oversees the implementation and completion of the dissertation. The UMSL
Graduate School policy indicates that 'The Doctoral Dissertation Committee shall consist of at
least four members of the Graduate Faculty who can contribute their expertise to the dissertation
study: the committee chair, and at least one other member from the unit. A recognized scholar
from outside the university may serve as a member upon the recommendation of the unit and
approval of the Graduate Dean. The Graduate Dean shall approve the committee membership
and changes in the committee membership. This committee is appointed by submitting doctoral
form D-4. If an outside member is proposed, the curriculum vitae of this individual must be
included at the time the D-4 form is submitted.
Doctoral Comprehensive Exam
Graduate School policies for 9.7. Doctoral Comprehensive Examinations.
The College of Nursing has additional policies on PhD in Nursing Comprehensive Examination.
PhD in Nursing Comprehensive Examination Policy.
This document contains recommendations for the minimum standards for the doctoral
comprehensive examination. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing's Indicators of
Quality in Research-Focused Doctoral Programs in Nursing (2001) states that, "advancement to
candidacy requires faculty's satisfactory evaluation (e.g. comprehensive exam) of the student's
basic knowledge of elements I-A through I-E", (Indicator III-A) where these elements are:
1. Historical and philosophical foundations to the development of nursing knowledge;
2. Existing and evolving substantive nursing knowledge;
3. Methods and processes of theory/knowledge development;
4. Research methods and scholarship appropriate to inquiry; and
5. Development related to roles in academic, research, practice or policy environments"
(AACN, 2001).
Given that the College of Nursing adopted these standards as the foundation for our
doctoral program, the policy and procedure for the College of Nursing doctoral
comprehensive examination is as follows:
1. The comprehensive examinations may be scheduled after successful completion
of the doctoral program core courses: 7481 Development of Nursing Science and
Theory; 7491 Advanced Nursing Theory Development and Validation; 7482
Health Promotion and Protection or 7483 Health Restoration and Support or 7484
Health Care Systems; 7485 Quantitative Design and Methods in Nursing
Research; 7490 Advanced Quantitative Design, Methods and, Analysis of
Nursing Data; 7492 Advanced Quantitative Measurement and Analysis of
Nursing Data; 7488 Qualitative Methods in Nursing Research; four research
intensive courses (N7401 through N7404), Biostatistics I and II (N7211 and
N7212_, 6-12 hours external to the College of Nursing, such as advanced
statistics, research design, computer applications, or philosophical foundations of
science; 3 credits of elective coursework; and 9 credits of cognate courses.
2. The student must receive Graduate Program approval on the submitted D1
(Appointment of the Comprehensive Examination Committee).
3. Following initial approval by the comprehensive examination committee chair,
the student will provide committee members with documentation of an
understanding of their area of inquiry. This documentation may consist of a) a
state of the science paper, b) a dissertation proposal, or c) the methods chapter
from their dissertation proposal.
4. After receipt of the student's documentation, and within a two week period,
committee members will submit one to two questions to the committee chair for
consideration for inclusion in the comprehensive examination.
5. The committee chair will select final items for the comprehensive examination
and schedule the examination date with the student and committee. The
comprehensive examination must include questions from each of the AACN
elements I-A through I-E. In addition, the student must answer at least one
question from each committee member.
6. The student will have at least one week to complete the comprehensive written
exam. Reference materials may be used for the examination. Reponses may be
submitted via paper or electronically according to the direction of the committee
chair.
7. Examination item responses will be evaluated/graded by the committee member
within one week.
8. Successful completion of the written comprehensive examination occurs if the
committee unanimously agrees that the student has a doctoral level understanding
of the AACN elements I-A through I-E. Students will then file the D2
(Appointment of the Doctoral Dissertation Advisor) and D3 (Application for
Candidacy) forms with the Graduate School.
9. If there is not unanimous agreement that the student has sufficient mastery of the
knowledge, a reappraisal examination is necessary. The committee will meet to
determine how to address area(s) of concern. The faculty will provide to the
student a written or oral reappraisal of the area(s) of concern within a two-week
time period. At that point, the student will have one week to complete the
reappraisal examination; the format (written or oral) to be determined by the
chair. Failure to achieve unanimous committee endorsement following the
reappraisal examination will result in comprehensive examination failure.
10. The student who fails the first comprehensive examination will work with their
committee chair to develop a program of study to address areas of concern
identified during the comprehensive examination. A second comprehensive
examination may be scheduled once the student's learning needs have been
addressed, and the examination will follow the procedures outlined above. A
maximum time period of 6 months will be allowed between the first and the
second (final) comprehensive examination.
11. If the student does not successfully complete the second (final) comprehensive
examination, the student will be dismissed from the program. This policy
precludes any comprehensive exam beyond the second comprehensive exam.
Approved 3/16/07 PhD Program Committee
PhD in Nursing Dissertation Proposal Policies
This document is the policy for the minimum standards for the doctoral dissertation proposal. It
intended to supplement and not replace the UMSL Graduate School guidelines. The AACN's
1. Students are responsible for obtaining graduate school approval of the dissertation
committee prior to preparing their dissertation proposal (Form D4).
2. Following successful completion of the comprehensive examination, students will work
with their dissertation committee chair to develop a dissertation research proposal to
address a gap in the research in the student's area of inquiry.
3. Students are responsible for following the Graduate School's guidelines regarding
dissertation preparation and proposal defense
(http://www.umsl.edu/divisions/graduate/dissertation/index.html)
4. Following initial approval by the dissertation committee chair, students will submit their
proposal to the dissertation committee members. The dissertation proposal defense
should be scheduled at least two to three weeks following submission of the proposal to
the committee members to provide an opportunity for committee members to read the
proposal.
5. All committee members must participate in the proposal defense, preferably in person.
Technology (e.g. telephone, polycom) may be used to facilitate participation by
committee members who cannot be present for the proposal defense.
6. Dissertation proposals should be prepared using the dissertation outline policy in the PhD
student handbook.
7. One to four weeks prior to the dissertation proposal defense to the dissertation committee,
students will publicly present their proposed study to the Con faculty and current doctoral
students. There will not be a public question and answers session following the
presentation. Comments or suggestions from non-dissertation committee members about
the proposed study should be sent, in writing, to the student and dissertation chair within
one week of the proposal defense.
8. One or more weeks following this, the dissertation committee will vote on the proposal in
a closed session.
9. Successful defense of the dissertation proposal will be announced to the College
community by the dissertation chair.
Approved by PhD Program Committee 5/6/07
UMSL Institutional Research Board (IRB)
College of Nursing IRB Policies
UMSL Institutional Review Board (IRB) review is required of students who are investigators in
human subject research conducted on or off-campus especially when the findings will be
presented or published. Human subject research includes data bases with human subjects
information. Students proposing to engage in human subject research must have a faculty
member as a sponsor (usually your faculty advisor or dissertation chair) under whose supervision
the research will be conducted.
The IRB process is an electronic process through IRBnet. The information for electronic IRB
submission is located on the College of Nursing home page. Click on the Research Tab and then
click on EIRB.
Important IRB Deadlines:
Full Review: It is VERY important to complete the electronic IRB submission 10 days (NO
EXCEPTIONS) before the scheduled meeting. Dates of the meetings are found at
http://www.umsl.edu/services/ora/compliance/human.html If you miss the deadline, your IRB
review will be delayed one month.
Expedited or Exempt Reviews: The electronic IRB submission may be completed at any time.
There are no deadlines. The review process is normally completed in from 1-2 weeks.
Each year anniversary of your study project approval, UMSLs eIRB will notify you that you
must complete the Human Subjects Annual Report/Modification or Final Report form.
Annual report is submitted each year
Final report is submitted when the research project is completed.
Modification is at any time that you modify your study. It is VERY important to
complete the electronic IRB submission 10 days (NO EXCEPTIONS) before the
scheduled meeting.
Updated J. Bachman 10/2011
National Guidelines in Nursing
AACN (2006) Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/DNP/pdf/Essentials.pdf
AACN (2001) Indicators of Quality in Research-Focused Doctoral Education in Nursing
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Publications/positions/qualityindicators.htm
AACN (2008) The Preferred Vision of the Professoriate in Baccalaureate and Graduate
Nursing Programs http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Publications/positions/preferredvision.htm
AACN (2006) Position Statement on Nursing Research
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Publications/positions/NsgRes.htm
NONPF (2008) Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation,
Certification, & Education http://www.nonpf.com/associations/10789/files/
APRNConsensusModelFinal09.pdf
NONPF: NTF (2008) Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs
http://www.nonpf.com/associations/10789/files/NTFEvalCriteria2008Final.pdf