v. 1/30/21 - university of massachusetts boston
TRANSCRIPT
1
1
University of Massachusetts Boston
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Master of Science Program in Nursing
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Primary Care
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Primary care
Graduate Student Handbook
AY 2020- 2021
Policies and Procedures
v. 1/30/21
2
2
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 4
Purpose of this Handbook .................................................................................................. 5
Section 1: Mission, Values, Vision, and Goals ......................................................................... 6
Mission, Values, Vision and Goals.................................................................................... 6-8
Program Goals ................................................................................................................ 9-10
Program Objectives ...................................................................................................... 10-11
Program Learning Outcomes ....................................................................................... 11-12
Program Clinical Competencies ........................................................................................ 12
Organization of CNHS................................................................................................... 13-14
Student Signature Verification of Understanding and Adherence ................................... 15
Section 2: Graduate Requirements ...................................................................................... 16
Admission .................................................................................................................... 16-19
Academic Progression ....................................................................................................... 20
Grading System ............................................................................................................ 21-22
Staute of Limitations .................................................................................................... 22-23
Request for Extending Five Year Limitation ..................................................................... 23
Courses ......................................................................................................................... 23-25
Clinical Immersion Hours ............................................................................................. 26-28
Capstone Experience ................................................................................................... 29-30
Section 3: Policies and Procedures ....................................................................................... 31
University Policy on Non-Discrimination .......................................................................... 31
Disability-Related Accommodations ............................................................................ 31-33
University Academic Policies ....................................................................................... 33-39
Right to Review University and CNHS Records ............................................................ 40-41
Academic Honesty & Academic Misconduct ............................................................... 41-44
Communications Policies .................................................................................................. 44
Ethical Conduct ............................................................................................................ 44-46
Mandatory Use of UMB Student Email Accounts ............................................................. 46
Requirements for Writing Papers ................................................................................ 46-47
Filing for Graduation ......................................................................................................... 47
3
3
Withdrawals ................................................................................................................. 47-48
Policy Exception Requests ........................................................................................... 48-49
Progressive Discipline System ...................................................................................... 49-50
Student Concerns and Complaints .............................................................................. 50-54
Section 4: Student Services, Advising, and Student Life ........................................................ 55
CNHS Office of Student Success & Engagement (OSSE) ................................................... 55
Advising by CNHS Faculty .................................................................................................. 55
Awards & Honors .............................................................................................................. 56
CNHS Grants and Scholarships .......................................................................................... 56
Student Representation .................................................................................................... 56
Section 5: University Resources ........................................................................................... 57
Career Services and Internships .................................................................................. 57-58
Financial Aid Services ........................................................................................................ 58
Graduate Assistantship ..................................................................................................... 59
IT Service Desk ............................................................................................................. 59-60
Library & Computer Resources ......................................................................................... 60
Registrar ....................................................................................................................... 60-61
Wiser ................................................................................................................................. 61
University Health Services ........................................................................................... 61-62
Appendix ...................................................................................................................... 63-71
4
4
Introduction Welcome to the Department of Nursing! UMass Boston nursing graduates are prepared to work with individuals, families, and groups in homes and neighborhoods, as well as in a wide variety of community and hospital settings to foster, maintain, and restore health. They are also prepared for further study at the graduate level. Graduates of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences are prepared to take the national examination for national certification (ANCC or AANP) as a certified Advance Practice Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP or FNP).
At the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, students work with faculty members distinguished for their achievements as educators, scholars, and practitioners -- dedicated men and women involved in the continual development of their own and their students' professional and intellectual interests. Many are conducting research or practice improvement projects in such areas as quality of life, health promotion, health policy, and health care issues addressing urban populations. Faculty also are actively involved in educational/service projects at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels.
Enhancing Health Equity and Quality: Populations and Policies.
The fastest-growing college on UMass Boston's vibrant harbor campus, the College of Nursing and Health Sciences is known for its academic rigor, rich clinical experiences and research, and development in best practices in health and clinical care. We offer the only publicly supported programs in nursing and exercise and health sciences in the Greater Boston area.
A pioneer in innovative post-graduate nurse education, our MS in Nursing program offers Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner and Acute/Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist concentrations. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program interweaves coursework in health systems leadership, policy development, and interdisciplinary collaboration to prepare advanced practice nurses with transformational leadership skills in program development and policy change that builds on the masters essentials. The Ph.D. Program in Nursing, with concentrations in Health Policy and Population Health, prepares graduates for leadership positions as policy analysts, researchers, and educators.
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences is home to the state-of-the-art Center for Clinical Education and Research (CCER), where students can treat lifelike simulated patients in surroundings that duplicate primary car clinical exam rooms as well as actual hospital settings simulating actual emergency room/hospital conditions, and their performances can be recorded for later review and discussion with faculty members.
5
5
Purpose of this Handbook
Welcome to the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS) of the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMB). The faculty, administrators, and staff of CNHS hope that you will find your experience as a graduate student to be professionally and personally rewarding. We have published this handbook in order to provide you with important information about the Master of Science in Nursing programs which include the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Primary Care and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Primary care.
Handbook Overview (needs to be aligned)
This Handbook is designed to provide graduate students, staff, faculty, and administrators associated with the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Primary Care and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Primary Care programs of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS) of the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMB) an overview of the mission, vision, values, and elements of the curriculum of the Master’s Degree Nursing Programs.
The Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Primary Care and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) in Primary Care handbook is divided into six (6) sections.
Section 1 of this handbook provides an overview of the College of Nursing and Health Science’s- including the mission, goals and values of the University, College and Department that are aligned to each other in addition to available resources for graduate students .In addition, this section describes the requirements for admission, academic progression and general education requirements for the nurse practitioner student to graduate. This section includes a description of the programs’ overall learning objectives and the courses that comprise the curriculum/ plan of study. Section 2 details the AGNP and FNP program policies and procedures. Included are policies that address non-discrimination, disability accommodations, academic honesty, ethical conduct, grading, transfer credits, waivers, disciplinary system and management of students concerns. Section 3 describes university and CNHS policies and procedures. Section 4 lists important university and CNHS resources related to student services, advising, and student lie.
Section 5 lists important university resources that may be helpful to your success
6
6
Section 1: Mission, Values, Vision, and Goals
Mission, Values, Vision, and Goal of University of Massachusetts Boston
UMB is a public research university with a dynamic culture of teaching, learning, and a special commitment to urban and global engagement. The university promotes a culture of lifelong learning and serves as a catalyst for intellectual interactions with scholarly communities, students, alumni, and the public (https://www.umb.edu/the_university/mission_values) The values of UMB are: • Inquiry • Creativity • Discovery • Transformation • Diversity and Inclusion • Engagement • Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability • Economic and Cultural Development • An Urban Commitment
College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS)
Department of Nursing
University of Massachusetts-Boston
Our Values: Integrity, Transformation, Respect, Accountability, Collaboration, Excellence Vision: CNHS will be recognized as a premier leader in the education of health innovators committed to achieving optimal population health equity in local and global urban communities. Mission Statement: The CNHS provides an intellectually rich and inclusive environment that fosters innovation in teaching, research, and service, for students, faculty, and staff, advancing systemic solutions
Enhancing Health Equity and Quality: Populations and Policies MISSION: The Mission of the Department of Nursing is to create an inclusive, student-centered learning environment that fosters innovation in research, scholarship, education, and service and prepares graduates to promote health equity and quality as professionals working in complex systems.
Mission: The University of Massachusetts Boston is a public research university with a dynamic culture of teaching and learning, and a special commitment to urban and global engagement. Our vibrant, multi-cultural educational environment encourages our broadly diverse campus community to thrive and succeed. Our distinguished scholarship, dedicated teaching, and engaged public service are mutually reinforcing, creating new knowledge while serving the public good of our city, our
7
7
for health across the lifespan and equity across populations.
VISION: To be the premier leader in educating innovative nursing professionals committed to advancing health equity and achieving optimal population health in local, global and urban communities by the development and evaluation of health policies. VALUES: Integrity, Inclusion, Diversity, Transparency, Transformation, Resilience, Relationships, Accountability, Collaboration, Equity, and Excellence. GOALS: • Support the
implementation of department bylaws.
• Advance initiatives that align with the CNHS strategic plan.
• Promote a culture of civility, self-care, and professional excellence.
• Engage with University and community stakeholders across all missions of the Department of Nursing.
commonwealth, our nation, and our world.
Values Inquiry, Creativity, and Discovery: The University of Massachusetts Boston is an educational institution dedicated to rigorous, open, critical inquiry—a gateway to intellectual discovery in all branches of knowledge, and a crucible for artistic expression. Our campus culture fosters imagination, creativity, and intellectual vitality. Responsive to the call of diverse disciplines, schools of thought, and public constituencies, we expect and welcome divergent views, honoring our shared commitment to expanding, creating, and disseminating knowledge. We celebrate our research culture, with its diversity of methods, commitments, and outcomes. We promote a culture of lifelong learning, and serve as a catalyst for intellectual interactions with scholarly communities, students, alumni, and the public.
8
8
The Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Primary Care and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Primary Care programs adhere to the mission, vision and values of UMB, the CNHS and the Department of Nursing. The AGNP and FNP concentrations within the Master of Science programs at the CNHS is a degree granting program leading toward eligibility to be licensed and certified as a nurse practitioner (MS-NP). Nurse practitioner students are encouraged to analyze and inform health policy and to lead the way to the future of advance practice nursing. Preparing MS-NP graduates for leadership in health care involves incorporating curricular opportunities for public service and innovation, community engagement and policy transformation. The Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Primary Care and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Primary Care programs share core goal and values aimed at the improvement of patient care and systems outcomes by increasing graduates knowledge through the application of theory, applied evidenced based research, and leadership skills in the advanced clinical practice role. Graduates will learn to develop solutions to consumer barriers to health care access, how to utilize and implement practice guidelines and the analysis of health policy and clinical care delivery at the state, local, and organizational levels.
9
9
The Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Primary Care and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Primary Care Master’s Degree Programs
The University of Massachusetts Boston Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Primary Care and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Primary Care programs are modeled after the recommendations for the Master of Science in Nursing Practice Programs and papers from national organizations including the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF,2017). As an accredited program of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the UMB Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Primary Care and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Primary care programs uses the American Association of College of Nursing (AACN) The Essentials of Masters Education in Nursing (2011) as the foundation of the curriculum. For more information on the Essentials of Masters Programs, use the following link: https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/Publications/MastersEssentials11.pdf
Program Goals
1. Assuring an appropriate supply, diversity, and distribution of advanced practice nurses to meet emerging health care system needs in the Commonwealth and Boston urban and suburban community.
1. Preparing advanced practice nurses with the highest level of knowledge and competence to successfully pass the national certification exams in their specialty and obtain employment in their specialty area.
2. Developing advanced practice nurses with competence in health systems leadership, policy development, and interdisciplinary collaboration to improve health care quality and increase health care access for all populations.
3. Preparing graduates with transformational leadership skills in policy change in order to overcome disparities in health care for those population groups bearing a disproportionate share of disease and disability
Masters of Nursing Essentials
The nine essentials addressed in this document delineate the knowledge and skills that all nurses prepared in masters nursing programs acquire. These essentials guide the preparation of graduates for diverse areas of practice in any healthcare setting
• Essential I: Background for Practice from Sciences and Humanities
• Essential II: Organizational and Systems Leadership
• Essential III: Quality Improvement and Safety
• Essential IV: Translating and Integrating Scholarship into Practice
• Essential V: Informatics and Healthcare Technologies
10
10
• Essential VI: Health Policy and Advocacy
• Essential VII: Interprofessional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes
• Essential VIII: Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving Health
• Essential IX: Masters-Level Nursing Practice
Professional Standards that guide the Master’s Programs include:
• The American Nurses Association Standards of Clinical Practice
• The American Nurses Association Nursing Code of Ethics
• The American Nurses Association Social Policy Statement
• The American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials of Master’s Education for Advanced Practice Nursing
• The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Domains and Competencies of • Nurse Practitioner Practice
• Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs (National Task Force on Quality NP Education)
Program Objectives • Demonstrate competence in the advanced nursing practice and management of health and
illness for individuals, family, and aggregate populations using critical thinking and evidenced-based clinical decision making.
• Promote individual/family relationships that facilitate positive health care outcomes for diverse populations.
• Design, implement, and evaluate educational programs for individuals, professionals, and communities.
• Plan comprehensive continuous care through interdisciplinary collaboration across health care settings with an emphasis on diverse and urban populations.
• Monitor and ensure the quality of nursing and health care practices utilizing advocacy and ethical decision-making.
• Design, implement, and evaluate evidenced-based care in relation to ethno-cultural and spiritual beliefs within diverse populations.
11
11
• Apply theories from nursing and other disciplines to advance nursing practice in individuals and families from diverse populations.
• Identify researchable healthcare problems and continually appraise relevant literature.
• Communicate and consult with health care providers and others to influence policy change.
• Demonstrate competency in professional oral and written communication.
Program Learning Outcomes
The scope of knowledge addressed in the UMass Boston CNHS core and specialty courses in the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Primary Care and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Primary care programs reflect the student outcome competencies cited in The Essentials of Masters Education for Advanced Practice Nursing (2011), and the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification and Education (LACE) that was initiated in 2008 for the new standards for national certification
Upon completion of the Master of Science in Nursing programs, each AGNP or FNP student will
be able to (also found on our webpage):
1. Demonstrate competence in the advanced nursing practice and management of health
and illness for individuals, families, and aggregate populations using critical thinking and
evidence-based clinical decision making as evidenced by their clinical preceptors
awarding them a level 3 scoring in all domains of NP practice.
2. Promote individual/family relationships that facilitate positive health care outcomes for
diverse populations, as evidenced by their case papers in the NU637 course, Mental
health of the Urban Family, and as evidenced by study presentations in clinical seminars
where they demonstrate achievement of desired outcomes in the follow-up encounters
among a broad spectrum of patients/families in their specialty population.
3. Design, implement and evaluate educational programs for individuals, professionals,
and communities as evidenced by their group projects for health promotion in NU640,
and service-learning projects or project proposals in NU672 for AGNPs/NU682 for FNPs.
4. Plan comprehensive continuous care through interdisciplinary collaboration across
health care settings with an emphasis on diverse and urban populations as evidenced by
12
12
preceptor feedback as to their achieving competence in interprofessional work during
their clinical placements.
5. Monitor and ensure the quality of nursing and health care practices utilizing advocacy
and ethical decision- making as discussed in their competency-based capstone case
study.
6. Design, implement and evaluate evidence-based care in relation to ethno-cultural and
spiritual beliefs within diverse populations as evidenced by their discussing how they
addressed/incorporated patients’ ethno-cultural and spiritual beliefs and in case study
papers and presentations.
7. Apply theories from nursing and other disciplines to the advanced nursing practice for
individuals and families from diverse populations as evidenced in their meeting this
competency in case presentations in clinical seminar as well as in their capstone case
study.
8. Identify researchable health care problems and continually appraise relevant literature
as evidenced by their citing relevant evidence from the literature and grading the level
of evidence in their clinical case studies and capstone case paper.
9. Communicate and consult with health care providers and others to influence policy
change as evidenced by their term papers in the Health Care Policy, Finance and Ethics
course.
10. Demonstrate competency in professional oral and written communication as evidenced
by their writing APA style papers and case studies that satisfy the professional level
rubric, and by making oral presentations on these topics in their core seminars.
Program Clinical Competencies
The AGNP and FNP concentrations in the Master of Science in Nursing program at UMB require not only that students engage with clinical preceptors for a minimum of 600 hours of face to face clinical time, but that they meet clinical as well as academic competencies. The Adult Primary Care clinical practicum competencies used for both AGNP and FNP students are found in the NONPF clinical evaluation form, shown in appendix A.
13
13
Organization of CNHS
COLLEGE OF NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCES
Main Phone Number: (617) 287-7600
Fax Number: (617) 287-7527
14
14
Chain of command (communication sequence) for students report of concern or grievance chart
OFFICE LOCATIONS
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences administrative offices are located Quinn Administration Building, First Floor.
Office of Student Success & Engagement (OSSE)
Quinn Administration Building, Second Floor (Catwalk Level) 617-287-7600 [email protected] 617-287-7527
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Primary Care and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Primary care Program Administration:
Clinical Track Coordinators Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Track Coordinator Dr. Jessica Bardina, Jessica.Bardina @umb.edu Phone: 617.287. 7898 Quinn Administration Building, Second Floor (Room 0039) Family Nurse Practitioner Track Coordinator Dr. Leah Gordon, [email protected] Phone: 617.287.7607 Quinn Administration Building, Second Floor (Suite 93, Room 90) Program Assistant for MS Students Liz Malone, [email protected]
Faculty and/or OSSSE
Track Coordinators
Dept of Nursing Chair
Associate Dean of
Academic Affairs
15
15
Student Signature Verification of Understanding and Adherence
Name
Date
A signed copy will be placed in you file located with your Track Coordinator/Graduate Program Director.
16
16
Section 2: Graduate Requirements Admission
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Primary Care and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Primary care programs must meet the entrance requirements of BOTH the University of Massachusetts Graduate Programs and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
Applicants should indicate in their statement of interest and intent whether they are applying to the Master of Science (MS) Adult-Gerontological Primary Care or Family Nurse Practitioner Primary Care program of study. Applicants should also express if they are interested in Full-Time or Part-Time enrollment status. A complete application package should include documentation of the following:
1. Evidence of Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Nursing from an NLNAC or CCNE-accredited nursing program
2. Provide sealed/official transcripts of the undergraduate or other colleges attended
3. Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.3 or above is preferred, but acceptations may be made if achievement in clinical practice are demonstrated or if grading system differs from standard US GPA system.
4. Unencumbered and current registered nurse license in Massachusetts. 5. Applicants must have at least one year of clinical/direct patient care nursing
experience before applying to the MS Nursing programs. 6. Letter supporting the applicant’s clinical expertise for at least one year’s
clinical/direct patient care nursing experience. 7. At least two letters of recommendation from health professionals supporting the
applicant’s professional nursing experience which can include leadership activities and/or scholarly achievements and indicating their readiness for APRN education
8. Transfer of two, 3-credit courses can be recognized as filling course requirements within the curriculum with faculty approval; note courses need to be reviewed by the track coordinator or program director with syllabi evidence provided by candidate and must be within the five-year limit and meet all requirements (3-credit allocation and a grade of B or better achieved) to be considered for transfer;
9. Syllabi for transfer courses may be requested by the Program Director/Track Coordinator for review and approval following admission but prior to the official plan of study before applicant can assume, they meet the same objectives and are transferrable.
17
17
10. Completion of a college-level course in health assessment within 5 years is recommended to ready students for advanced health assessment course in curriculum.
11. All students are sent a program of study upon admission at orientation or prior to the start of their first semester of study; changes in the plan of study can be made in collaboration with the Track Coordinator.
12. Matriculated students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment in the program consistent with their program plan unless they have an approved leave of absence.
13. If students choose to postpone their time the program, during a Fall or Spring semester, they need to arrange this their Track Coordinator and enrolled in CAS600 (there is an associated Registrar’s fee). This will prevent the student from being withdrawn from the program.
14. Students who decide to discontinue enrollment in the program for any reason should meet with their Track Coordinator to discuss and if able submit a written letter
15. If a former student, who discontinues enrollment in the program, should again become interested in resuming matriculation into the program of study, the students will need to reapply for admission incurring admission fees for processing.
Full and Part-time Status
The Master of Science (MS) Adult/Gerontological Primary Care or Family Nurse Practitioner Primary Care curricula have been designed to accommodate full and part-time study. Full time students carry a minimum of 6 or more credits and part time students carry a minimum of 3 credits per semester in the Fall and Spring semesters. (note: this is the minimum number of credits required to qualify for federal financial aid where applicable). To maintain full and part time status while working, students may elect to take courses (but not clinical practicum courses) in the summer months.
Credit Load
A full or part-time graduate student may register for up to 12 credits during the Fall and Spring semesters and nine credits during the summer to complete their course requirements. Any student wishing to take less than the required credits as full-or part-time student (6 and 3 credits respectively) must petition in writing the Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator for an exception during the advising process. Transferring between these two understandings is subject to approval by the Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator and note again financial aid considerations need to be considered in these exception requests and reviews. Students who wish to register for more than the maximum credit load (12 credits) must seek advisement and an exception for the Track Coordinator. Approval of all exceptions need to be put in writing by the Track Coordinator
18
18
Admissions Overview – UMB Graduate Admissions Office
The CNHS graduate programs work in collaboration with the OGSA (Office of Graduate Studies and Admissions).
Applicants submit the application with the application fee to the OGSA through the online application. Applicants are encouraged to include all the required credentials as possible with the application to decrease delays in assessment of the application. Transcripts received with the application from the student must be received in sealed envelopes from the institution to be considered official. Credentials (resume, statement of purpose, letters of support, transcript) may also be submitted separately from the application, either before or after the application is submitted. Credentials received before an application has been filed are held for one year.
During the OGSA Graduate Admissions evaluation process, each application is reviewed for evidence of a bachelor's degree or its equivalent. If an applicant is determined not to have either, a denial letter is sent, and no further processing occurs. In the case of international applicant's initial determination, where they maintain that their credentials are equivalent to a bachelor's degree, the student is referred to an external international documentation evaluation agency recognized by the University. If an evaluation is received from the agency recommending that the degree be considered equivalent, the application may continue to be processed. Additional questions regarding the application process should be directed to OGSA.
When the application becomes complete (or complete enough for review as specified by the program), the Profile Sheet is distributed into the Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator via email. This is the form on which the program indicates its recommended decision. Recommended decision includes the following options: full admission, provisional admission, wait list, denial, or deferral of consideration. Provisional admissions may be used in a number of different situations. If an applicant has applied while still working on the bachelor's degree, the provision of submission of the final transcript showing the award of degree is granted. If an applicant has not submitted test scores, the provision is receipt of the score report. In the case of marginal accepts, the provision may be to require grades of B or better in the student's first two courses, before full admission may be granted. The wait list option is used by programs that enroll only a limited number of students. If an accepted student declines the offer of admission, then the first student on the wait list is moved to admit status.
19
19
The Graduate Program Director (GPD), Track Coordinator, and Program or College Admissions Committee decision will be entered on each Applicant’s Profile Sheet, signed by the GPD/Track Coordinator, and conveyed to the OGSA.
Upon receipt of the Profile Sheet, OGSA mails (or emails) the official decision letter to the student. A confirmation form is sent out with acceptance letters, requiring submission of a non-refundable deposit of $250.00 along with the confirmation form. The deposit MUST be paid directly to the OGSA by check or credit card.
In some programs, students have the option of deferring their admission for one or two semesters. Students must request this option in writing; the request must be accompanied with processing fee payment confirmed.
20
20
Academic Standing and Progression Policies
The office of Graduate Studies specifies that a student must make satisfactory academic progress (SAP) toward completion of a degree within the Statute of Limitations for earning a Master’s degree. The determination of SAP is based on the student’s earned and completed GPA and credits. Failure to meet SAP requirements may result in the loss of eligibility for financial assistance. Please note that the determination of SAP is not a substitute for determining student academic standing.
Academic standing is the basis for decisions regarding student progression, probation, graduation, dismissal, and awards/recognition in the Graduate Nursing Programs. Academic standing is determined by the student's cumulative GPA, a measure of all the grades the student has earned in the University which are applied to the course requirements of the Master’s Program (note: this includes students in the BS to DNP program who are working through the MS tracks).
The following policies apply to all matriculated students in The Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Primary Care and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Primary Care Master’s Degree Programs. Policies go into effect when the student is matriculated into the program of study and will apply throughout the student’s program of study. Any changes in the policy will be communicated directly to students by email, on the graduate nursing blackboard page, and in the handbook with a date of applicability noted. Policies in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences handbook may be more stringent than those of general graduate policy as stated in the University Handbook and supersedes the OGSA policies in some cases.
21
21
GRADES
• All full and part-time students must maintain a cumulative average of 83% or alpha grade of B- to graduate:
• All full and part-time students who fail to maintain a 3.32 GPA may be subject to
academic dismissal. • Graduate students may also be given grades of NA (Not Attending), INC (Incomplete), Y
(In Progress), SAT (Satisfactory) and or AUD (Audit) that do not apply to the cumulative GPA calculation.
• Students must take all required courses for credit in the AGNP and FNP concentrations and work closely with their Track Coordinator/advisor to progress to graduation.
• Students who do not maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.32 will be referred to the CNHS Standards and Credits Committee (SCC). Students will be asked to submit a letter of appeal to the CNHS Office of Student Success & Engagement (OSSE). Based upon review of the student's record and letter of appeal, The Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator will request the Dean of Graduate Studies to place the student on Academic Probation or Dismissal.
• Probation & Dismissal within the CNHS, probation and dismissal are handled as follows: The Standards and Credits Committee (SACC) determines the conditions of the probation. The SACC is comprised of the program directors, the senior director of OSSE, academic advisors, and nominated nursing faculty members. The SACC meets three times per year and confidentially reviews materials related to probation, dismissal, readmissions, and policy exceptions. A report of the recommendations from the SACC is submitted to the Dean for final review. Students who are on college academic probation participate in a structured online remediation program, BeaconsConnect, which is coordinated through OSSE. Students on probation will be allowed to repeat a course on a space available basis. Students who do not meet the terms of their probation, or who fail a second time to meet criteria for Academic Progression will be dismissed from the program. Dismissed students who wish to continue at the University may apply for an Inter-College Transfer (Program Change), using forms available from the Registrar's Office. Admission/transfer is not guaranteed.
Letter Grade
Points/Grade GPA
A 93-100 4.00 A- 90-92 3.70 B+ 87-89 3.30 B- 80-83 2.70 C+ 77-79 2.30 C 74-76 2.00 C- 70-73 1.70
22
22
• Students may not enroll in any course more than twice, whether they withdrew or failed the course.
• Upon the decision of the CNHS Standards and Credits Committee (SCC) and Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator the student may petition to repeat up to two failed courses a total of one time for each course during their entire program of study. The student must receive a grade of B or better in the repeated course in order to meet the degree requirements. If a satisfactory grade (B) is not achieved when the student repeats the previously failed course, the student will be recommended by the Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator to the Dean of Graduate Studies for dismissal.
• Students admitted prior to January 2017, must earn a grade of B- (2.7) in all required courses listed on the student's program of study. Required courses include core courses, clinical concentration courses, theory courses, functional area courses, and clinical practicum’s (electives are not considered required courses). Any grade below a B- (2.7) is considered a failure.
• Student admitted on or after January 2017 must earn an alpha grade of B or better, achieving a minimum of 83% in all required courses and maintaining a GPA of 3.32 to continue.
Statute of Limitations
• Each matriculated student must complete all degree requirements in five calendar years of entering the program to Earn a The Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Primary Care and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Primary care Degree. Any semesters where a student is not enrolled in coursework requires payment of a continuation fee or the student will be removed from the program.
• University policy indicates that all graduate students must earn their degree within five years of the date of matriculation into the program of study in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
• Exceptions to credit minimum must be made in consultation with the Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator. Changes will affect the student's program of study and expected date of graduation.
• The student must petition their Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator for an exception to the minimum credit policy.
• Exceptions will be made in special circumstances and may be granted for one semester only.
• If an exception is granted by the Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator, the student will be notified in writing and requested to meet with their advisor to file a new program of study and expected date of graduation.
23
23
• Graduate students who fail to complete their program of study within five years will be placed on registration hold by the university registrar and may be subject to dismissal by the Dean of Graduate Studies.
• If students choose to postpone their time the program, they will be enrolled in CAS600 (check Registrar’s for details of payment) which will prevent them from being withdrawn from the program.
• Students who withdraw from the program should submit a written letter identifying why they are leaving the program, and if interested in resuming they will need to reapply for admission.
Request for Extending Five Year Limitation
• Graduate students may seek an extension of the five-year time limitation to complete their program of study because of extenuating circumstances one time during their program of study.
• Graduate students must be in good academic standing and not on probation to be considered for an extension.
• Graduate students must file a petition for extension on the deadline to graduate in writing to the Graduate Program Director who will forward the request to the Dean of Graduate Studies. The petition request should include all relevant information including a clear statement of the reasons for the request, the extenuating circumstances, and a revised plan of study with new date of graduation.
• A signature of the graduate student's Track Coordinator of record must accompany the petition for extension containing the revised program plan at the time of the request.
• The Dean of Graduate Studies will notify graduate student of the decision in writing.
Courses
A total of 48 credits are required for AGNP and FNP programs (PG APRN PMC curriculum has different requirements but share some of these courses below). The following represents Core Courses for all Master’s NP students and Concentration Courses that focus on specific knowledge related to AGNP and FNP practice:
NURSING 601 Introduction to Advanced Practice Nursing NURSING 614 Advanced Pathophysiology NURSING 615 Advanced Health Assessment NURSING 616 Evidence Based Practice I NURSING 618 Health Policy, Finance and Ethics NURSING 634 Advanced Pharmacology NURSING 640 Advanced Health Promotion Practicum I
Concentration Courses
NURSING 637 Mental and Psychosocial Health of the Urban Family (AGNP and FNP)
24
24
NURSING 639 Primary Care of Adults (AGNP and FNP) NURSING 670 Primary Care of the Adult / Older Adult Practicum III (AGNP and FNP) NURSING 671 Primary Care of Older Adults (AGNP) NURSING 672 Primary care of the Adult / Older Adult Practicum III (AGNP) NURSING 681 Primary Care of the Childbearing Family (FNP) NURSING 682 Primary Care of the Family Practicum III and Capstone (FNP)
25
25
The following curricula map serves as a way to view the sequencing of coursework in the AGNP and FNP areas of study. Master of Science (MS) Adult Gerontological Primary Care or Family Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Full Time Plan of Study (See appendix B for Part Time Plan of Study)
Semester Course # AGNP Track FNP Track Credits
1st
NU601 Introduction to Advanced Practice Nursing: Knowledge for Practice in the
Global Community
Introduction to Advanced Practice Nursing: Knowledge for Practice in the Global Community
3
NU616 Evidence-Based Practice I: Appraising the Strength and Significance of Evidence
Evidence-Based Practice I: Appraising the Strength and
Significance of Evidence
3
NU615 Advanced Health Assessment -65 hours clinical/simulation
Advanced Health Assessment -65 hours clinical/simulation
3
NU614 Advanced Pathophysiology Advanced Pathophysiology 3
2nd
NU715 Informatics Informatics 3
NU634 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses
Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses
3
NU640 Advanced Health Promotion: Practicum 150 direct care clinical hours
Advanced Health Promotion: Practicum 150 direct care clinical
hours
6
Summer (or one in 3rd
and 4th semesters)
NU637 Mental and Psychosocial Health of the Urban Family
Mental and Psychosocial Health of the Urban Family
3
NU618 Introduction to Health Policy, Economics & Ethics
Introduction to Health Policy, Economics & Ethics
3
3rd
NU639 Primary Care of Adults Primary Care of Adults 3
NU670 Primary Care of the Adult: Practicum 225 Direct care clinical hours *Capstone Fall
and Spring semester
Primary Care of the Adult: Practicum 225 Direct care
clinical hours
6
AGNP Primary Care of the Older Adult
3
4th
NU671
NU672 Primary Care of the Older Adult Practicum 225 Direct care clinical hours
6
Total=48 FNP
4th
NU681
Primary Care of the Childbearing Family
3
NU682
Primary Care of the Childbearing Family: Practicum 225 direct care clinical hours (80 OB/145
Pedi)
6
Total=48
26
26
Clinical Immersion Hours
*please see the Dean’s letter pertaining to X related to clinical hours during the COVID-19 pandemic appendix C
All students in the 21-credit program must complete 600 hours of documented clinical experience per CCNE and NONPF, 600 hours must be in face to face clinical practice sites in approved practicums with acceptable preceptors, and 100 hours may be in simulation depending on course requirements. All clinical practica are subject to the approval of the Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator. Preceptors may be NPs, CNSs, PAs, MDs, or DOs. UMBs programs are all in primary care; therefore, clinical practica must be done in the primary care settings.
Practicum hours are designed to allow students to demonstrate synthesis and application of expanded knowledge acquired within the Master of Science (MS) Adult Gerontological Primary Care or Family Nurse Practitioner Primary Care concentrations. The practicum hours signify the capability of the student to meet the core competencies of the MS degree as established by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), consistent with The Essentials of Master’s Education for Advanced Practice Nursing (2011). The direct care clinical hours are to be related to the student’s area of specialization.
The practicum hours may be demonstrated through a variety of methods including but not limited to:
• In-depth work/mentorship with experts from nursing, as well as other disciplines to develop the APRN competencies for advanced practice in the specialty track
• Opportunities for meaningful student engagement within practice environments • Opportunities to build and assimilate knowledge for advanced specialty practice
at a high level of complexity • An opportunity for further synthesis and expansion of learning • An opportunity to integrate and synthesize the essentials and specialty
requirements necessary to demonstrate competency in an area of specialized nursing practice
• Programmatic efforts to address a clinical practice issue • Direct care or practice experiences outside of the job description and
responsibilities of the student with goals and learning outcomes Please note: The MS-NP programs does not recommend clinical experiences take place with a first-degree family member (i.e. parent, sibling, cousins, spouses, and children) as this is a conflict of interest.
27
27
Steps for Securing Clinical immersion Placements Prior to clinical site is submission, student should begin working on clinical clearance in the COMPLIO/American Databank system which consists of health clearance (immunizations, titers, CPR, health insurance card, etc.) and background checks. • Students should secure clinical sites in collaboration with track
coordinators/clinical faculty and the CNHS clinical placement office (Clinical Internship and Placement Office (CIPO) in primary care close to home as far ahead as possible, preferably 2 to 3 semesters ahead of time.
• Once a site has agreed to precept a student, the student collects necessary information from that site and enters it into InPlace, our online current clinical tracking software used by faculty, staff, and students.
• An immediate determination is made by the CIPO staff in collaboration with clinical faculty, and Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator as to whether the site is acceptable. To reiterate, we are a primary care NP program. Therefore, all clinical practica should be arranged for primary care settings.
• Student enrolled in NU670, NU672, and NU682 may be allowed up to 40 hours in a specialty clinic, such as asthma or diabetes or dermatology, EDs, hospitals, surgery, L&D, etc. because these practica may improve a student’s knowledge base as a primary care provider. This is dependent upon the quality of the primary clinical practicum the student has secured. Please be aware that specialty clinics provide largely observational experiences while our program is designed for students to develop increasingly independent practice.
• After the student has entered their placement site information into the InPlace, the CNHS/CIPO office will immediately check to see whether a working agreement exists for the site. If not, CNHS sends a working agreement to the site, which is why it is critically important for each student to identify the legal signatory of the site. It is possible for students to enter the request as early as possible once they are registered for one of the clinical courses; NU640, NU670, NU672, NU682.
• For Massachusetts students, working agreements exist for all large hospital systems. The CIPO staff enters the student’s information into the Centralized Clinical Placement (CCP) system which is a consortium of clinical agencies and colleges in those states who agree to match students with their preceptors, thus avoiding students contacting the sites directly. This does not guarantee a placement so students should continue to identify and submit other sites.
• Students are advised by the CIPO office to avoid direct contact with potential preceptors at the following CCP organization:
o Massachusetts General Hospital o Atrius Healthcare System o Dana-Farber Cancer Institute o Boston Children’s Hospital
28
28
o Tufts Medical Center o Cambridge Health Alliance
• No students can begin clinical until they receive clinical clearance which occurs when they are copied on an email that goes to their clinical preceptor stating that the student is ready to begin. Once you receive a copy of the email to your preceptor, you may start clinical.
• Students who begin clinical placements prior to being cleared will receive a warning. However, students may meet informally with the preceptor at the site to discuss the clinical expectations of the practicum, get a tour of the clinic, and get prepared to be organized to start their practicum as soon as it begins.
• In most cases, all clinical practicum hours should be completed during the semester in which students are taking the clinical courses (NU 640, NU 670, NU 672, NU 682). Students who wish to start 1 week early may do so with the consent of the Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator in conjunction with the faculty.
• If the clinical practicum hours are not completed during the semester, and INC will be given until clinical experience is completed. Once both the minimum hours and the minimum level of clinical competency for all domains of practice are achieved (as for example is shown by receiving a score of 3 at the final preceptor evaluation on the example clinical evaluation form shown in appendix A), the faculty will replace the INC with a course grade. Students may not assume that their preceptors will continue to be available to continue the preceptorship role beyond the weeks stated in the working agreements; all clinical incompletes will require renegotiation of terms between the student, clinical site, clinical faculty and course faculty to support the student in building the competencies for the course.
• UMB provides malpractice insurance at no cost to students while they are in the clinical practicum setting.
• If a CNHS student is cleared for a clinical experience and CNHS subsequently discovers a record of violation(s) from any state or territory, the student will be immediately removed from the clinical experience pending further investigation, which may include a delay in a return to the clinical setting, probation, and/or dismissal from the College. CNHS students who receive a new violation on their record while in a clinical experience must notify the CIPO within five (5) business days of the violation, and they may be subject to disciplinary actions including, but not limited to, probation and/or dismissal from the College.
29
29
The Capstone Experience
The Capstone experience takes place in course NU670. Successful completion of the Capstone Experience is a requirement for graduation from the Master’s Degree Program. The Capstone Experience provides an opportunity to demonstrate both integration and synthesis of knowledge in the discipline.
• Acceptable formats include scholarly papers of publishable quality, posters and presentations at professional conferences, the development of clinical protocols and guidelines in conjunction with preceptors, case studies, evidence-based practice implementation projects, and quality improvement (QI) projects that address outcomes in the clinical setting.
• The Master’s Curriculum Committee will set the requirements for the capstone project. The GPD or track coordinator may exempt a student from the required capstone project in cases where the student published a paper or can show evidence of substantial work on a faculty project, QI project, or other scholarly work, that is verifiable. Other possibilities may be the completion of an elective course, such as NU 716 EBP II, that results in a synthesis or state of the science paper that meets an established course rubric. Exemptions should be requested and granted in advance of the capstone semesters.
• In 2019, a new capstone format was. The capstone is currently a competency-based case study in NU 670.
• The case studies will be due according to the class syllabus. • A grading rubric will be provided ahead of time and subsequently used by course faculty
to grade the case study. • Students will submit to the course faculty the case study once for which the final grade
will be given. • Students will be required to correct the faculty’s edits to the case study and submit the
corrected copy to the faculty without any changes in grade. In other words, the original submission earns the grade, but the final, corrected version is required because the capstone is a polished, scholarly work in the student’s graduate program which will be uploaded to Scholarworks which is housed in the University Library and goes in their portfolio with their resume/CV.
• At the annual research and Scholarship Day during May just prior to graduation, students in the MS program will be offered the chance to do a poster presentation. They may do their posters on (1) the capstone case study, (2) their state of science paper from NU616, (3) a proposal for innovatively addressing a population-based health problem, (such as may be done through a service learning project or state of the science paper) including what the desired outcome would be of the proposed innovation, what method would be employed, and what evaluative approach would be employed to ascertain whether or not outcomes were achieved.
30
30
• Failure to complete the capstone experience and graduation application process in a timely manner will interfere with the awarding of the degree.
• Information regarding University Library Scholarworks submission is as follows: o SCHOLARWORKS SUBMISSION AGREEMENT (updated 2020-11-06) o By uploading my work to the Nursing MS Capstones publication series on
ScholarWorks, I grant ScholarWorks at UMass Boston and the Joseph P. Healey Library, on behalf of the University of Massachusetts Boston, the non-exclusive right to distribute my work over the Internet and make it part of the ScholarWorks at UMass Boston.
o I warrant as follows: that I have the full power and authority to make this agreement; that the Work does not infringe any copyright, nor violate any proprietary
rights, nor contain any libelous matter, nor invade the privacy of any person or third party;
that the Work has not been published elsewhere with the same content or in the same format; and
that no right in the Work has in any way been sold, mortgaged, or otherwise disposed of, and that the Work is free from all liens and claims.
I understand that once my work is deposited in the repository, it may not be removed.
• Upon upload, please choose an Access Type for your capstone: o Open Access: Work will be openly available to researchers
around the world o Campus Access: Work will be available only to members of
the UMass Boston community with appropriate credentials
31
31
Section 3: Policies and Procedures Academic Policies, Procedures, and Requirements
All graduate nursing students should familiarize themselves with the University’s Graduate Academic Policies available at http://www.umb.edu/registrar/academic_policies
The following policies apply to all matriculated students in the Graduate Program. Polices in effect when the student is matriculated into the program of study will apply throughout the student’s program of study. Policies in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences handbook may be more stringent than those of general graduate academic polices found https://www.umb.edu/registrar/academic_policies. All graduate nursing students are required to comply with the policies included in this document.
All graduate nursing students should familiarize themselves with the University’s Graduate Academic Regulations available at https://www.umb.edu/life_on_campus/policies/academics and https://www.umb.edu/registrar/academic_policies. Please be aware that a breach of academic policies may result in written warning and/or dismissal from the CNHS.
University Policy on Non-Discrimination
The University of Massachusetts complies with applicable state and federal laws on non-discrimination, harassment, and retaliation including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, and the Massachusetts anti-discrimination law. This policy states the University’s commitment to assure compliance. Access the full policy here. The Administrative Standards for the Non-Discrimination and Harassment Policy can be found here.
Disability-Related Accommodations
Ross Center for Disability Services
The Ross Center for Disability Services is the entity that approves and coordinates academic accommodations.
If you are a student at UMass Boston and have a disability, you may be eligible for accommodations available through the Ross Center. We also provide connections to services in our office, and both on-and off-campus. The Ross Center invites you to call 617.287.7430, email [email protected], or visit the office in Campus Center, UL Room 211, and inquire about eligibility and procedures.
Eligibility for Services and Documentation Guideline:
32
32
By law, a student does not have to self-disclose or register with the Ross Center for Disability Services, although we encourage them to do so. However, if the student seeks academic accommodations or adjustments, they must contact and register with our office to request them. The Ross Center for Disability Services is the entity that approves and coordinates academic accommodations.
If a student is enrolled in one or more courses at UMass Boston and has a disability that affects academic achievement, the student may be eligible for academic accommodations.
Step one: The student must initially complete a Registration Request on my RCDS and meet with a Ross Center staff member. Eligibility is based on information gathered during this initial meeting, past educational experiences and accommodations, and disability documentation. The documentation must be current, provide a clear diagnosis by the appropriate medical professional, and specify the functional limitations in an academic setting related to the disability.
Step two: The student can identify the specific accommodations requested for each course from available accommodations and can schedule a meeting with a Ross Center staff person to review syllabi for classes.
The student must request accommodations for each semester in attendance at UMass Boston.
Documentation Guidelines:
Students who request academic accommodations from the Ross Center must provide diagnostic information regarding their disability. The information is useful in determining accommodations. We ask students to provide the most current documentation of their disability, which should include some or all the below listed items:
• A letter from a treatment provider that identifies the diagnosis and current treatment plan • A psychological or neuropsychological evaluation conducted by a licensed professional • Completion of a Medical Information form that the Ross Center provides
Other treatment reports and evaluations related to the disability may help to assess the accommodation requirements. The Ross Center reserves the right to request reassessment or additional updated documentation when questions arise regarding previous assessment or previous service provision
Please understand that IEPs and 504 Plans are not adequate documentation for a college because both are required under laws that do not apply to attending college. Although college students are covered under Section 504, they are covered under Subpart E, a different section of the law. However, IEP or 504 plans can be a supportive part of your documentation and can
33
33
be included. The key point to remember is that the purpose of the IDEA is to ensure that students are successful in the K-12 system, whereas the ADA and Section 504 ensure access because success in college is up to the student.
IDEA stand for Individual with Disabilities Education Act. ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The ADA is a federal civil rights law designed to provide equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities. The ADA ensures equal access and opportunity and also protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination. The ADAA stands for The American with Disabilities Act Amendments of 2008, which retains the ADA's basic definition of "disability" as an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such an impairment or being regarded as having such an impairment.
Office Location
Ross Center for Disability Services Campus Center, UL Room 211 University of Massachusetts Boston 100 Morrissey Blvd. Boston, MA 02125-3393 Phone: 617.287.7430 Fax: 617.287.7466
https://www.umb.edu/academics/vpass/disability
Office Hours
Office hours are Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
University and CNHS Academic Policies
From determining your academic standing to the proper method for completing a withdrawal
from a course, the Office of the Registrar is the keeper of the university's academic policies.
Check on the left for more information on policies that affect you as a student.
34
34
Course Policies
• It is an expectation that students will demonstrate the ability to meet the course objectives as stated in the course syllabus.
• In Graduate nursing courses that have two components, didactic and practicum, both components must be successfully completed in order to pass the course. If the theory or practicum portion is failed, both components must be repeated.
o Courses such as NU615, NU640, NU 670 and NU682 are examples of courses with both a didactic component and a simulation/practicum component.
• At the mid-term point, students in practicum courses must demonstrate that they are meeting course objectives as demonstrated by a satisfactory mid-term clinical evaluation and a sufficient number of clinical logs (approximately one-half of the expected number of logs for the semester) in order for faculty to assess their performance. Students with insufficient numbers of clinical logs will receive an academic warning. If at any time during a course, a faculty member deems that a graduate student's academic and/or clinical performance is unsatisfactory, or if demonstrated work indicates that a student is in jeopardy of failing, an academic warning will be given to the student. Students must contact the course faculty within 48 hours of receiving an academic warning to develop a plan for meeting the course objectives.
• If at any time during a course, a faculty member in collaboration with an agency facilitator deems that a student’s academic and/or practicum performance is unsatisfactory, or unsafe, a conference will be held with the student in order to identify the problem clearly and to develop a plan for resolving the student’s performance ability.
Registration and Leave of Absence (LOA) Policies and Procedures
The Office of Graduate Studies and Admissions (OGSA) requires that a student seeking a leave of absence (LOA) must petition the Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator who provides justification for the request to the Dean of Graduate Studies. The University requires that each matriculated graduate student must maintain continuous registration for Fall and Spring terms until the degree has been formally awarded. If the student does not register for courses during Fall or Spring semester, the student must pay a continuation fee to maintain continuous registration. The course number for continuous registration is CAS 600 which can be seen in the student’s Wiser course listing.
• The student and track coordinator/advisor must complete a Change in Program Plan. The faculty advisor must forward the General Use Petition Form and the revised program to the Dean of Graduate Studies.
35
35
• The student will receive a letter from Dean of Graduate Studies concerning the requested LOA. A copy of Graduate Dean's permission letter will be placed in the student's file.
• An LOA approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies extends the time limit to graduate by the length of the leave and will be reflected in the student's revised program plan.
• In general, graduate students who withdraw from the program of study in good standing may resume their studies by completing a readmission form obtained from the Registrar's Office.
• Students who have been out of the clinical setting for two consecutive semesters or more must meet with their track advisor to develop an individual plan to assess their readiness for clinical. This plan will address the need for the student to demonstrate clinical competence in areas such as physical assessment, management of common health problems, and documentation.
• Applicants will be notified in writing of their request for readmission status. • Graduate students are referred to the Office of the Registrar website,
https://www.umb.edu/registrar/academic_policies/readmission_policy concerning all policies related to graduate student readmission.
• Graduate students who have been out of the program for an extended time may be required to retake pre-requisite or other courses to ensure current knowledge. This decision will be made by the Graduate Program Director who is responsible for readmitting all students who have been out for extended periods of time (typically years).
Professional Policies, Dismissals, and Appeals
• Graduate nursing students must comply with the conditions of academic probation as recommended by the Standards and Credits Committee (SCC) to the Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator. These recommendations will be forwarded to the Dean of Graduate Studies.
• Dismissal Policies: Academic dismissal is an action that is taken by the Graduate Dean upon recommendation of Department Chair and Department Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator. Refer to Academic Policies Office of the Registrar and University policies and student rights Office of the Dean of Students.
• Graduate students will be notified in writing by the Dean of Graduate Studies of their impending dismissal and the reasons for the dismissal.
• Appeal Policies: Graduate students have the opportunity to appeal the decisions of the CNHS Standards and Credits Committee (SCC):
o Submit a letter of appeal to the CNHS Standards and Credits Committee (SCC). The appeal letter should include the policy exception request, or a plan to prevent any further need for policy exceptions.
36
36
o Graduate students may request to appear before the CNHS Standards and Credits Committee (SCC) to clarify and/or to answer questions regarding their appeal. In addition, the student may bring someone with them to the meeting to lend support. The support person can only submit written materials or a letter of support and may not disrupt committee proceedings or serve as legal counsel.
o Graduate students will be notified in writing of the decision of the CNHS Standards and Credits Committee (SCC).
o If dissatisfied with the decision of the CNHS Standards and Credits Committee (SCC) students may grieve the decision.
Readmission of Students Who Voluntarily Withdraw
In general, graduate students who withdraw from the program of study in good standing may resume their studies by completing a readmission form obtained from the Registrar's Office.
Students who have been out of the clinical setting for two consecutive semesters or more must meet with their Track Coordinator to develop an individual plan to assess their readiness for clinical. This plan will address the need for the student to demonstrate clinical competence in areas such as physical assessment, management of common health problems, and documentation.
• Applicants will be notified in writing of their request for readmission status. • Graduate students are referred to the Office of the Registrar website,
https://www.umb.edu/registrar/academic_policies/readmission_policy concerning all policies related to graduate student readmission.
• Graduate students who have been out of the program for an extended time may be required to retake pre-requisite or other courses to ensure current knowledge. This decision will be made by the Graduate Program Director who is responsible for readmitting all students who have been out for extended periods of time (typically years).
Readmission of Students who are Dismissed
• All requests for readmission by dismissed students must be submitted to the Standards and Credits Committee (SCC). The letter requesting readmission should contain:
• New, different, and pertinent information not previously presented to the Standards and Credits Committee (SCC) that will assist the Committee in re-evaluating the dismissal. Students should make an appointment with the Graduate Program Director to discuss the appropriateness of an appeal.
General Use Petition Form
37
37
• Masters students must complete a General Use Petition hereafter known as the (GUP) form for all formal requests that pertain to their program of study. Such requests include, but not limited to a one-time only reduction to 3 credits/semester, withdrawal from the program, change from part-time to full time study (or vice versa), a change in program concentration, permission to transfer credits, a leave of absence, and so on. The GUP form is available in the graduate student mail room at the CNHS or from your faculty advisor.
• Guidelines for use of the GUP form are as follows: The student should discuss the proposed request with their faculty advisor and then formalize their request by completing the GUP. Check the appropriate category of request on the GUP and write a brief narrative explaining the request in the space available. The request is reviewed by the faculty advisor who makes a recommendation to approve or deny and signs the form. The student then submits the signed GUP form to the Graduate Program Director. The Graduate Program Director approves or denies the request after due consideration. If the faculty advisor recommends denial of the request, the student has the right to dispute the recommendation with the Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator. The final determination on GUP requests is based primarily on the Master’s in Nursing Program Academic and Progression Policies. A copy of the finalized GUP form is placed in the in an email to the student, forwarded to the faculty and academic advisors, and entered to the student’s file.
• Matriculated students wishing to change concentrations within the MS program must first contact their Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator to complete a petition form which will then be submitted to the Graduate Program Director for review. Permission to change concentrations will be granted on a space available basis for students who are in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Generally, all requests should be submitted by October 1st during the semester matriculated students are in Advanced Health Assessment, but students can discuss their transfer requests with their advisors at any time. The Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinators will do their best to work with requests for changes but reserve the right to deny requests for a change in the program of study
• If the request to change concentrations is approved, the student is expected to meet with their new advisor as soon as possible following acceptance into the new program of study to file a revised program plan that must be approved by the Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator. Graduate students cannot register for courses until a new program plan has been filed.
Incomplete
A grade of “Incomplete” (INC) for course work may be granted in certain circumstances. It is only granted to a student in good academic standing and the request must be for substantive
38
38
reasons. Incomplete grades are awarded only when satisfactory work has been accomplished in the majority of the course (75% completed) and the student is unable to complete course requirements due to extenuating life circumstances beyond his or her control. For clinical courses, 75 of the direct care clinical hours must be completed at the time the Incomplete is requested.
The course instructor will determine if an incomplete will be granted, the timeframe of the incomplete and specific coursework to be completed during that time. Clinical practica must be completed within the time frame set by the instructor. The instructor will then complete the Incomplete Grade Form and submit to the Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator for final approval. The student is required to sign the form and is asked to retain a copy for future records. A copy is placed in the student’s file. The Registrar is the only person who can enter Incomplete into Wiser as of December 2018. Therefore, students must understand that all the discussion and negotiations around getting an incomplete must be done BEFORE the final week of the semester, as the forms for the incomplete grade need to be forwarded to the registrar’s office at the same time as the course grades are filed; If student has not proactively negotiated the incomplete with the course faculty at that time, the student risks failing the course.
University policy allows that a student obtain credit for INC by completing all of the required course work before the end of the semester one year from the time of enrollment in said course. However, students may be required to finish the INC during a shorter time frame if it is a pre-requisite for subsequent courses. The student is responsible for communicating their progress in completing the course material to the faculty of record and submitting it according to the agreed upon timeframe. After the completion of the required coursework, the faculty of record will complete a Change Grade Form and submit it to the Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator to ensure the final course grade is updated in Wiser. At the end of this 12-month period, if a grade is not submitted, an F for failure will automatically be recorded by the registrar. This grade cannot be reversed and will remain in the student’s permanent record.
Graduate students with an Incomplete in a pre-requisite theory course cannot progress to active enrollment in a course requiring that pre-requisite while an INC grade remains on their transcript. (For instance, students cannot take NU639 Primary Care of the Adult without first taking Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Health Assessment, and Advanced Pharmacology.)
Similarly, graduate students who have an INC in a clinical course may not progress to the next clinical course.
Audit/Pass/Fail
39
39
• Audit: Graduate students may audit a course on a space available basis and with permission of the instructor. An audit course cannot be used to meet degree requirements.
• Pass /Fail: There is no pass/fail option for graduate students.
Transfer Credit Policy
Applicants who have completed graduate course work at other accredited institutions may transfer coursework toward the completion of a UMass Boston graduate degree. Transfer credits are restricted to up to 6 credits from such courses in which the applicant received a grade of B or higher. Please note, the CNHS policy for minimum passing grades applies to all transfer courses regardless of the transferring school’s policy for minimum passing grades.
Applicants who have completed graduate course work at UMass Boston as non-degree students may transfer that coursework toward the completion of a UMass Boston graduate degree with approval of the Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator. This type of transfer credit is restricted to a maximum of 6 credits from such courses in which the applicant received a grade of B or higher. These courses may be accepted for transfer provided that they have not been used to fulfill requirements for another degree and were earned no more than five years before matriculation in the program. Transfer credits will require the approval of the Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator for transfer. The Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator and the Master’s Program Committee determine what credits are eligible for transfer based on a review of the official transcript at the time of or prior to admission to the program and a review of the course description or syllabus if requested. Requests should be made to the Graduate Program Director/Track Coordinator and include a copy of the student’s transcript and a copy of the course syllabus. Transfer credit decisions for either core or elective courses are made on a course-by-course basis. Courses accepted for transfer will show in student Wiser accounts but will not be included in the student’s grade point average.
40
40
Right to Review University and CNHS Records
Student Right to Review University Records
(The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974)
In accordance with Public Law 93-98, the University wishes to inform all UMass Boston students
of their rights to review their educational records on file at the University.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 sets forth requirements
designed to protect the privacy of parents and students with regard to access, review, or
release of records maintained by educational institutions.
The Act permits current or former students to review and seek to amend the following
documents: permanent academic record, admissions, financial, placement, veteran’s
counseling, advising and disciplinary records.
Access to these records may also be granted to faculty and staff, parents of a student listed as a
dependent on current Federal Income Tax returns, authorized federal or state officials auditing
educational programs, and accreditation associations and records created or maintained by
campus law enforcement units for law enforcement purposes.
The following records may not be examined: parent’s financial records; medical, psychiatric, or
psychological records; personal files of faculty or administrative personnel; law enforcement
records held by law enforcement officials. However, if criminal background checks for clinical
placement raises concerns, there is no obligation for UMB to work toward clinical placement for
the student as the student cannot be “cleared” to begin a practicum depending on the
violation.
Directory information may be released to third parties without the written consent of the
student, provided the student has been given the opportunity to withhold all such disclosure.
Directory information may include the student’s name, address, telephone listing, date and
place of birth, major field of study, dates of attendance, most previous school attended, class
schedule, class rosters, participation in recognized activities or athletics, height and weight of
athletes and degrees and awards conferred.
41
41
Procedure for gaining access to records: a request by a student for access to a record is made
in writing to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Within 45 days the office must inform the
student when the record will be available. Every office is also obliged to tell students, at their
request, who else has had access to the record and why.
The academic record is the only permanent record and is maintained in perpetuity. The
University Health Service retains medical records for 30 years. Admissions records for all
applicants must be held for three years.
If a student requests a copy of any part of his or her education record, either for personal use
or for release to a third party, the student shall incur the cost of copying not to exceed $5.00.
See Also
• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Academic Honesty & Academic Misconduct
Student Code of Conduct.
Academic Honesty It is the expressed policy of the University of Massachusetts Boston that every aspect of academic life—including formal coursework situations as well as all relationships and interactions connected to the educational process—shall be conducted in an absolutely and uncompromisingly honest manner. The university presupposes that any work submitted by a student for academic credit indicates that the work is the student’s own and complies with university policies. In cases where academic dishonesty is discovered after completion of a course or degree program, sanctions may be imposed retroactively up to and including revocation of the degree. Any student who reasonably believes another student has committed an act of academic dishonesty should inform the course instructor of the alleged violation.
Section I. Academic Honesty Violations
The university defines violations to include but not be limited to the following:
1. Submitting an authors published or unpublished work (e.g., material from a journal, Internet site, newspaper, or encyclopedia) as one’s own in whole, in part, or in paraphrase without fully and properly crediting the author.
2. Submitting materials or work obtained from another student, individual, or agency as one’s own without full and proper attribution.
3. Submitting material produced through unacknowledged or unauthorized collaboration with others as one’s own.
42
42
4. Submitting substantially the same work to more than one course without prior approval from all instructors involved: i.e., dual, or multiple submission.
5. Using any unauthorized material during an examination, such as notes, tests, calculators, cell phones, PDAs, or other electronic or mechanical communication devices. Abuse of cellular devices with photographic capabilities and use of devices for purposes of photographing test questions or other notes and materials are also prohibited.
6. Obtaining answers to examination questions from another person with or without that person’s knowledge, furnishing answers to examination questions to another student, or using or distributing unauthorized copies of an examination or notes from an examination.
7. Submitting an examination taken by another person as one’s own or taking an examination in another person’s place.
8. Gaining or seeking to gain unauthorized access to or altering or destroying the paper or electronic files of a student, faculty member, or staff member for the purpose of gaining better academic standing and success. 39
9. Failing to adhere to professional standards or ethics of a discipline and/or violating the rules of an agency in the course of completing fieldwork, internship, practicum, student teaching, or clinical placement.
10. Interfering with an instructor’s ability to evaluate accurately a student’s competence or performance; misleading any person in connection with one’s academic work.
Section II. Academic Dishonesty Procedures
1. Before reporting a suspicion of academic dishonesty, the faculty member may discuss the matter with the student and/or the faculty member’s chair (in cases involving undergraduate students) or graduate program director (in cases involving graduate students), or otherwise investigate the circumstances of the alleged violation. If the faculty member determines after such consultation and investigation that academic dishonesty did not in fact occur, no formal charge of academic dishonesty will be made.
2. To initiate formal proceedings, a faculty member who suspects a student of academic dishonesty must inform the student in writing of that fact within ten (10) business days of the discovery of the alleged violation. Such written notice should inform the student of the factual basis for the charge and the specific sanctions the faculty member proposes to impose and any university sanctions he/she may recommend to the Associate Vice Provost of Undergraduate Studies (AVP) or the Dean of Graduate Studies (Dean), as appropriate. The letter should also inform the student that s/he may be subject to university sanctions imposed directly by the AVP/Dean beyond those recommended by the faculty member. The faculty member shall offer to meet with the student and the faculty member’s chair (in cases involving undergraduate students) or graduate program director (in cases involving graduate students) to discuss the case. No more than ten (10) business days after meeting (or offering to meet) with the student, the faculty member may impose penalties within his/her purview and so inform the AVP/Dean. If the faculty member, after meeting with the student, determines that the student did not commit academic dishonesty, s/he will so inform the student and AVP/Dean in writing. If no
43
43
penalty has been imposed within the specified timeframe, the charges shall be considered dropped. All correspondence concerning an allegation of academic dishonesty should be copied to the faculty member’s department chair (for undergraduates) or the faculty member’s graduate program director (for graduate students), the faculty member’s college dean, the Associate Vice Provost of Undergraduate Studies (for undergraduate students) or the Dean of Graduate Studies (for graduate students), and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. The chair/graduate program director and/or relevant college dean(s) may, at their option, consult with the faculty member and/or student, review the case, and make separate recommendations to the AVP/Dean regarding university sanctions.
3. Academic dishonesty by graduate students lies primarily within the purview of the Dean of Graduate Studies, who will determine whether to apply university sanctions in a particular case. The Dean’s decision will be informed by any recommendations made by the student’s graduate program director and/or college dean. Academic dishonesty by undergraduate students lies primarily within the purview of the college deans. For the purposes of these procedures, the 40 college deans delegate responsibility for determining whether to apply university sanctions in a particular case to the AVP. The AVP’s decision will be informed by any recommendation made by the faculty member’s chair and will be made in consultation with the college dean(s) involved; it is further subject to review and revision by the faculty member’s college dean. Within (10) ten business days of the notification of the faculty member’s imposition of sanctions, the AVP/Dean will review the case. In doing so, s/he may choose to interview or question the parties involved or otherwise investigate the case. The purpose of this review is to consider the imposition of university sanctions. At the end of this review, the AVP/Dean may impose additional university sanctions, including but not limited to those listed in Part IV. F. 8 and 9 of the Student Code of Conduct. University sanctions will normally be imposed for violations of an especially serious nature or in cases of repeat offense.
4. The student may submit an appeal in writing to the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, copying the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, within (10) ten business days of the AVP/Dean’s imposition of university sanctions or (10) ten business days of the expiration of the period of time available to the AVP/Dean to impose such sanctions, whichever comes first. The Provost/Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs will convene an Appeal Panel, consisting of 3 to 4 faculty members and 2 students from the standing membership of the Joint Discipline and Grievance Committee, and instruct the panel to review the case by convening a hearing. At this hearing the panel will, at minimum, interview and question the student and faculty member. The Provost/Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs will appoint a member of the panel to serve as the Chair. 5. Within (10) ten business days after completion of its hearing and review, the panel will make a report of its findings and recommendations to the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Within (5) five business days of receiving this report, the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will uphold, reverse, or modify the faculty member’s and AVP/Dean’s decisions. Modifications may include any of the sanctions listed in Part IV. F. 8 and 9 of the Student Code of Conduct. The decision of the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs is the final university disposition of the matter and is not subject to further appeal except in cases of expulsion. Students may appeal an expulsion to the Chancellor within 10 business days of the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs’ decision to expel.
44
44
Section III. Academic Dishonesty Sanctions
1. Faculty members may impose one or more of the following sanctions:
• A failing grade in the assignment in which the infraction occurred.
• Forced withdrawal: the student is required to withdraw from the course. A grade of W will appear on the transcript and there will be no refunds of tuition, fees, or other charges.
• A failing grade in the course or competency in which the infraction occurred.
• Recommendation of additional sanctions: The faculty member, in cases of an especially serious nature, may recommend to the AVP/Dean the imposition of additional penalties, including those listed in this Code for misconduct.
2. Sanctions to be imposed by the Associate Vice Provost of Undergraduate Studies and/or the Dean of Graduate Studies are university sanctions and are described in detail in Part IV. F. 8 and 9 of the Student Code of Conduct.
Communications Policies
Students are expected to perform email using UMB email and answer emails observing etiquette within 24 hours. (see mandatory email accounts in next section) In cases where the student needs more time to meet course requirements, the student shall communicate such needs to the course faculty prior to the due date for the assignments in order to discuss alternative options. Similarly, where graduate students must change the contract with preceptors, the student will communicate the change in plans with not only the preceptor, but also the clinical instructor who visits the site and the seminar faculty.
Communication with faculty and preceptors is expected to be maintained at the highest level of professionalism.
Professional & Ethical Conduct
Honesty- see Academic Conduct section regarding honesty (above)
Confidentiality- students shall protect the privacy of all patient information at all times, both at the clinical site, abiding by HIPPA guidelines, and when using the patient’s health information for case presentations in class. All information about the patient shall be changed so that the person’s identity is protected. For instance, instead of saying the patient is “an art student at UMass Boston” the graduate student would refer to the patient as “an undergraduate student at an urban university in Massachusetts.”
Similarly student confidentiality is protected under the FERPA guidelines, as described elsewhere.
45
45
Maintaining Professional Standards of Conduct The College bases its definition of professional conduct upon the American Nursing Association: www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ThePracticeofProfessionalNursing/NursingStandards. Further, the University expects all discourse to be conducted with civility. As representatives of the College and University, CNHS students must: 1. Accept responsibility for one's actions and attitudes, 2. Develop and maintain appropriate personal and professional relationships and boundaries, 3. Demonstrate a respectful, sensitive, and non-judgmental manner with others, e.g., peers, faculty and staff members, clients, families, and the public, regardless of race, culture, ethnicity, religion, work experience, gender, age, difference of ability, and sexual orientation, 4. Demonstrate personal and professional honesty and integrity, 5. Complete assignments as required and scheduled, providing prior notification to faculty of any emergencies which might interfere with this completion, 6. Participate in classroom, lab, and group/team activities, arriving on time and prepared, 7. Display professional appearance and presentation in all CNHS-related activities, 8. Use good judgment in all decision-making and provide sound rationale for actions, 9. Respect others during classroom and lab activities, i.e., no talking while others are talking, silencing cell phones, and avoiding inappropriate use of computers, 10. Maintain confidentiality of client information in conversation, electronic, and written means. Breaches of Ethical Conduct Should a member of CNHS faculty or administration suspect a nursing student of a breach of ethical conduct, as defined in either the UMB Code of Conduct, that person will notify the student of the alleged breach in writing (email/letter/phone call) describing the concern in full using data that led them to the conclusion being alleged and will meet with the student within ten (10) school days of the date of the alleged occurrence. The student can and is encouraged to seek out guidance and support from the Senior Director of the Office for Student Success, and Engagement (OSSE) and allowed to invite them or a designee to the meeting. Likewise, the faculty member can invite the Program Director or the Department Chair to the meeting. If the issue is not resolved at this meeting, the faculty member will notify the nursing student in writing within ten (10) days of the meeting identifying the alleged violation and the recommended sanction that should be imposed or not imposed with circumstances identified. A copy of this notification will be sent to the Graduate Studies Director, Dean of Students, Senior Director of Student Success & Engagement (OSSE), Undergraduate Program Director, Department Chair, and Dean. Sanctions for breaches of ethical conduct may include, but are not limited to, a zero (0) for the assignment, course failure or other sanctions up to dismissal from the nursing program, per University policy. Often these sanctions are stipulated in the course syllabus but at times may not be syllabus bound in the case of professional behaviors. In determining the finality of a sanction, a designated University Hearing Officer or Community Review Board may consider the student's present demeanor and past disciplinary record, the nature of the offense, the severity of any damage, injury, or harm incurred, and other factors, including aggravating and mitigating circumstances. The University has a special concern for incidents in which persons are subject to harassment
46
46
because of membership in a protected class (see the University’s policy on intolerance at https://www.umb.edu/life_on_campus/policies/community/intolerance ). Such incidents damage not only individuals but also the free and open academic environment of the University. More severe sanctions are appropriate for such conduct. The list above is not inclusive or complete, and other sanctions may be imposed at the discretion of the Hearing Officer or the Hearing Board. If no sanction is imposed, the charges are considered dismissed and all material related to the alleged incident are expunged. At all times, the process described above will be kept private. Faculty and administrators should not share the event and process with anybody outside of those adjudicating the situation. The student will be notified regarding next steps in the process by the Office of Graduate studies.
Program Communication Policies for Students and Faculty
All communications with the University must be conducted through student UMB emails and this includes communication with the DNP Program. Students are expected to check their University e-mail on a frequent and consistent basis to ensure that they are staying current with all official communications generated by not only the MS programs, but by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and the University at large. Students can find their email address by logging into WISER and selecting the link to their "Personal Portfolio" and then viewing "Email Addresses". All students receive a default email account. The link to access UMB email and “how to’s” regarding email are found at https://www.umb.edu/it/email.
Timely responses to emails is a professional expectation. All students need to create an email signature on their Outlook accounts which includes name, student ID #, and the program they are enrolled in. Students can go to Outlook and type signature in the “Tell me what to do” box and follow the prompts
Example of student signature: Jane Doe UMB ID # 12345678 MS-AGNP Track/MS-FNP Track
This signature provides staff/faculty the information they need to be efficiently help you or resolve concerns.
Requirements for Writing Papers
Assistance With Writing Papers
Writing House (WHO) is CNHS’s dedicated academic writing support center, serving all CNHS students, in any class, from first year through graduate level. Students and faculty
47
47
have access to writing, learning, and teaching resources on the Writing House Online Blackboard site. All written paper
Schedule a live tutoring session (on-campus or online) or request asynchronous written feedback on your paper via WHO’s scheduling system: http://www.mywco.com/WHO. Writing House is located in Wheatley Hall, Third Floor, Room 154/06. For more information, please email [email protected], or call Julie Baer at (617) 287-7372. Please also visit their web page for further information https://www.umb.edu/academics/cnhs/sass/who
Filing for Graduation
Graduation Requirements and Procedures
The College recognizes graduate students eligible for graduation in December and June.
Graduate students must consult the individual program descriptions in the Graduate Student Bulletin for complete information regarding graduation requirements.
In general, graduate students are eligible for graduation if they complete the following:
• The required number of credits as designated in their program of study and all clinical practicum requirements as designated in their program of study.
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all required UMass Boston courses excluding electives.
Complete a Capstone Experience prior to graduation from the Master’s Degree Program in
Withdrawals
Withdrawal Grade (W)
• The W grade is given to a graduate student who withdraws from a course after the add/drop period.
• Graduate students are advised to comply with the time limitations for withdrawal from a course as listed in the academic calendar. Students who wish to retain the option to re-enroll in the course are to meet with the course faculty and their faculty advisor at the time of withdrawal.
• Refer to the Academic Policies Office of the Registrar at https://www.umb.edu/registrar/academic_policies/course_withdrawal_option for complete information on how to withdraw from a course and policies that apply to the withdrawal grade. Students may re-enroll in a course from which they have withdrawn
48
48
one time only. Students that withdraw from a course a second time cannot re-enroll in the same course a third time. Students may not enroll in any course more than twice, whether they withdrew or failed the course.
• A maximum of two withdrawals are allowed while in the program additional withdrawals may result in dismissal from the program.
Policy Exception Requests
Approved through University Governance March 2016:
Course Repeat Policy
The university has established the following policy for undergraduate students regarding the
repeating of courses.
• You may repeat up to four different courses taken at the university, regardless of the
original grade earned in these courses. Please review the Course Sequencing Policy for
additional information.
• You may repeat a course only once.
• If you choose to repeat a course, both grades for the course will be posted on your
transcript but only the second grade will be counted toward your grade point average and
you will only receive graduation credit for the second course. The first course will be noted
on your transcript as an “excluded repeat”.
• If you take a course at the university that is equivalent to a course you transferred in to the
university, you will lose credit for the transfer course.
• The course repeated must be identical to the first course taken (same department, same
course number and title, same number of credits).
• You may not repeat a course after graduation. Exceptions:
• Certain courses (such as Special Topics and Independent Study courses, among others) are
designated as “repeatable for credit”. A grade earned in such a course cannot be replaced
by a grade from a later retake of the course. This means that each grade will count toward
the student’s cumulative average, and each time the student passes such a course s/he will
earn credits.
49
49
• Certain colleges and/or majors may have additional limitations on which or how many
courses may be retaken. Students are advised to check with their major departments
before repeating any course. Please Be Aware That:
• The grade for the repeated course is used for your GPA, even if that grade is lower than the
grade you received the first time you took the course.
• Repeating a previously passed course may affect your financial aid. You should consult with
your financial aid counselor if you are considering repeating a course that you have
previously passed.
• It is your responsibility to be aware of the course repeat policy. Although WISER will not
prohibit you from registering for an illegal repeat, any illegal repeats will be removed from
your transcript.
• You may lose credit if you take courses out of sequence. Please review Course Sequencing
Policy if you are considering repeating a course that is part of a sequence.
• If you have a previous bachelor’s degree from UMass Boston, you may not repeat any
courses that were part of your first undergraduate degree.
Progressive Discipline System
Maintenance of Disciplinary Records
The Office of the Dean of Students shall maintain the official disciplinary records and a
disciplinary tracking system, which shall include, but not be limited to, the student's name and
related identifying information, description of the incident and other parties involved,
sanction(s), expiration dates, agreements or restrictions, and any other data deemed relevant.
Disciplinary records and related information shall be made available to hearing boards and
University personnel designated in the Code, as necessary.
Students may arrange to review their own disciplinary records and related information by
contacting the Office of the Dean of Students. Disciplinary records maintained by the University
are bound by the confidentiality set forth by FERPA regulations (see
https://www.umb.edu/life_on_campus/policies/regulations/student_right_to_review_universit
y_recors ) Except as detailed in the Student Code of Conduct, the University shall not
communicate a student's disciplinary record and related information to any person or agency
50
50
without the prior written consent of the student, except as required by law. Disciplinary
proceedings under the Student Code of Conduct shall be confidential to University officials
outside of the Student Conduct Process
Removal of Notation of Expulsion on Transcript
A student may petition the Dean of Students five years or more after the imposition of
the sanction to have the notation of expulsion removed from his or her transcript. Under
no circumstances will the record of the expulsion be removed from the student’s
disciplinary record maintained by the Office of the Dean of Students.
Record Retention
The Massachusetts Statewide Records Retention Schedule 01-11 (2011 Edition) details the
following record-retention period:
• Expulsion records: Retain 25 years
• All other records: Retain 3 years after separation
Any question as to the interpretation or application of this Code shall be referred to the Dean of
Students or his/her designee for final determination.
Student Concerns and Complaints
SARA Compliance and Dispute Resolution
About SARA
51
51
UMass Boston is approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization
Reciprocity Agreements (SARA). SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of
postsecondary distance education. States apply to their relevant regional education compact
for membership in SARA, and they agree to deal with the distance education offerings of out-
of-state SARA-participating institutions in accord with SARA’s national policies, rather than
applying the state-specific policies they used prior to joining SARA – policies may still apply to
out-of-state institutions that do not participate in SARA.
Student Complaints
The University of Massachusetts Boston endeavors to address student concerns and issues in a
fair and professional manner. We understand that during the academic year, issues may arise
that an online student may want to address. The following list describes different types of
concerns and associated resources.
• Refund requests: The University of Massachusetts Boston maintains a webpage which
details the university’s refund policy for online courses. Any student wishing to file a formal
refund request should contact [email protected].
• Grade appeals: Students who have questions about their grades should discuss the matter
first with their course instructor. In some circumstances, students may opt to file a formal
grade appeal. The process for pursuing a grade appeal is described on the Grade
Submission Policy FAQ page of the UMass Boston Registrar’s Office.
• (Undergraduate) Withdrawal and (Graduate Student) Leave of Absence from the
University: Undergraduate students who wish to withdraw from the university must
complete and submit the undergraduate Withdrawal Form. Graduate students seeking to
arrange a leave of absence must complete and submit Leave of Absence Request form.
• Student Conduct & Dispute Resolution: UMass Boston’s Dean of Students handles
complaints for violations of the Student Code of Conduct or other laws and
regulations. Students are advised also to reference the webpage describing
the Instructional Setting Conduct Policy. The Dean of Students maintains a web page
providing information about and access to Reporting/Complaint Forms.
• Equal Opportunity, Diversity, and Outreach: The Office of Diversity, Equity and
Inclusion (ODEI) deals with equal opportunity and sexual assault/harassment complaints,
and provides the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Complaint Form “used to report
52
52
information necessary to initiate an investigation of alleged discrimination, harassment,
sexual or gender-harassment, domestic or dating violence, stalking or retaliation pursuant
to university polices such as the Non-Discrimination and Harassment Policy, Sexual
Harassment Policy, and/or the Student Code of Conduct.” Reports specifically related to
issues of accessibility should be filed with ODEI using the ADA/Section 504 Grievance Form.
• UMass Boston Student Rights & Responsibilities: The rights and responsibilities of
UMass Boston students, including students’ rights under the Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act (FERPA) are described at the Registrar’s webpage on Rights as a Student and
FERPA Guidelines for Staff. Separate webpages maintained by the office of Life on Campus
describe Academic Policies and Rights and Community Standards and Rights.
Other Complaints
Students with concerns that do not fall within any of the previously described categories should
submit a written complaint to [email protected]. Your concern will be forwarded to the
appropriate department and you will be notified via email that the issue is being reviewed.
Appealing the University’s Resolution Processes
The University of Massachusetts Boston has been authorized to participate in the State
Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) system. The Massachusetts Department of Higher
Education (DHE), as the acting SARA portal entity for Massachusetts, does review and evaluate
student complaints regarding online/distance learning programs offered by institutions based
in Massachusetts that are SARA members. Note: Complaints about student grades and student
conduct violations are specifically excluded from SARA review. Furthermore, students are
required to first attempt to resolve their complaint according to the University of
Massachusetts Boston’s internal complaint and dispute resolution processes, outlined above.
After the conclusion of the University’s resolution processes outlined above, students enrolled
in online programs and/or courses may appeal the University’s decision to the Massachusetts
Department of Higher Education, which provides complaint forms of two varieties, one for use
by online students located in Massachusetts or other non-SARA states and territories (e.g.
California or Guam), (Consumer Complaints), and another for online students located in SARA
member states and territories outside Massachusetts (SARA Complaints).
53
53
Students who reside outside Massachusetts who wish to lodge a complaint with the MA DHE
regarding online study originating from UMass Boston should use the appropriate form below
based on the student’s location.
For Massachusetts Residents and Online Students in Non-SARA Member States and
Territories
After the student has exhausted the complaint procedures made available by UMass Boston, if
the student’s complaint has not been resolved, they may file a complaint with the
Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) by using the general complaint form.
The DHE general complaint form should be used by students who are located in:
• Massachusetts
• Non-SARA Member States or Territories (e.g., California, Guam, etc.)
For Online Students Located in SARA Member States and Territories
After the student has exhausted the complaint procedures made available by UMass Boston, if
the student’s complaint has not been resolved, they may file a complaint with the DHE by using
the SARA complaint form. The DHE SARA complaint form should be used by students who are
located in SARA member states and territories. This includes all students who are located in
SARA member states and territories for the purposes of completing out-of-state learning
placements, such as internships, practica, clinical experiences, etc. in SARA member states and
territories outside Massachusetts.
Additional information from the DHE’s SARA complaint website is below:
The SARA complaint process is as follows:
1. Students must first attempt to resolve their complaint using internal
administrative procedures offered by the SARA institution.
2. After all administrative remedies have been exhausted with the MA-SARA
institution, the student may submit a SARA Complaint via the URL below.
3. The Department shall send a copy of the complaint to the institution that is the
subject of the complaint.
4. Within 30 days of the date that the Department sends a copy of the complaint to
the institution, the institution must provide a written response to the student
and the Department.
54
54
More information about DHE’s complaint processes can be found here.
55
55
Section 4: Student Services, Advising, and Student Life Office of Student Success & Engagement (OSSE)
Quinn Administration Building, Second Floor (Catwalk Level) 617-287-7600 [email protected]
Office of Graduate Studies 617.287.6400
Campus Center 2nd Floor, Suite 2100
Advising by CNHS Faculty and Registration
The Graduate Program Track Coordinator/Track Coordinators serves as an academic advisor to all students. They are available to discuss any issue of interest, including advising, to the student by appointment. It is best to email the Program Assistant to arrange an appointment.
• The Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Primary Care and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Primary care Track Coordinators serves as an academic advisor to all students. Following admission, each student will develop an individualized plan of study, which is co- signed by the student and the academic advisor. Students are expected to follow this plan of study and if changes are needed, then the student must request a change of program plan and meet with the program director. The Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Primary Care and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Primary care program courses are subject to registration through the graduate program assistant. Any holds on the student Wiser account will prevent the program assistant from registering the student in a timely manner and late registration may lead to an added fee. Students will see their registration reflected in their Wiser account.
• Once registered for a course, information on required texts are posted at the UMass Boston Campus Store. Students may refer to their website at https://www.bkstr.com/massachusetts-bostonstore/home/en
• Information on dates related to drop, add, withdrawal, UMB holidays/breaks can be found posted online. The Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Primary Care and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Primary care Program follows the CAPS calendar, which is found at http://www.umb.edu/academics/caps
56
56
Awards & Honors
Please see our website for informaiton and recognitions https://www.umb.edu/academics/cnhs/beacons_of_achievement_2020_awards
CNHS Grants and Scholarships
Notices of scholarships available from public and private sources are posted on the College website. Scholarships opportunities are also posted to the Blackboard Graduate Nursing Center.
Student Representation
GRADUATE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
The Graduate Curriculum Committee is a committee of the Department of Nursing that oversees all matters pertinent to the MS and Post Masters programs, including curriculum and graduate admissions. There is at least one graduate student member who serves with full voting rights during each academic year.
Student Involvement in the University The Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) is comprised of representatives from the graduate student body, acts as the voice of UMB students and is dedicated to enhancing the academic and professional development of graduate students. The GSA provides information about resources available to graduate students such as graduate traineeships, assistantships, funding sources, and student services. See information at https://gsaumb.wordpress.com. DNP students who may wish to become a student representative should contact the office of student activities and leadership. To learn more contact the GSA at:https://umb.edu/life_on_campus/student_involvement/activities.
57
57
Section 5: University Resources Career Services and Internships
Students/Alumni: If you are a student or an alumnus, please read below about how we are
prepared to assist you and find links to helpful resources:
Appointments: Please call 617-287-5519 or email [email protected] to schedule an
appointment with a Career Services staff member. Please indicate three, 2-hour blocks that
work for you for your 30-minute appointment (or 1-hour mock interview). Please type
“Appointment Request” in the subject line of your email.
If you are emailing our office to request an appointment, please include the following
information: Your phone number, the reason for the appointment, your major, the days and
times that work for you, and if you prefer the appointment by telephone or by Zoom.
You can make an appointment for any type of career counseling need that you have. The
Career Specialist will call you at your scheduled appointment time (or you will be provided a
Zoom link to use) so make sure to provide a phone number when you call or email. Please
refer to our Resume and Cover Letter guides to assist you. Documents can be reviewed
electronically and sent back to you.
Jobs/Virtual Events/Interviews: Please continue to monitor Handshake for up to date job
opportunities. Please Monitor the “Events” section of your handshake as employers’
transition to virtual information sessions and career-related events.
Many employers are also transitioning their recruitment methods to remote interviews.
Please refer to Indeed’s “Video Interview Guide: Tips for a Successful Interview” for video
interview tips or their Phone Interview Tips online resource.
Career Resources: Please visit the Office of Career Services website or Handshake (under
Career Center tab) for resources relating to resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn guides and all
other career topics.
Employers: If you are an employer, please go to our employer’s section of our
website: https://www.umb.edu/academics/vpass/career_services/employers to review a
list of on-campus suspended services and ways you can partner with our office remotely. If
you are looking to post opportunities please visit Handshake our jobs database
58
58
at: https://joinhandshake.com/employers. Remember to select “University of
Massachusetts Boston – Career Services and Internships” as your partner school.
Social Media: Stay Connected with the Office of Career Services and Internships
through Linkedin, Instagram, and Twitter for updates and announcements.
University updates are also being made regularly and we strongly encourage you to stay
informed.
Please do not hesitate to contact us during normal business hours (8:30 AM-5:00 PM) with
any concerns you might have.
Welcome
Students: If you're a current UMass Boston student, this is where you'll find information on
career planning, as well as internships and co-ops for that all-important work experience.
Check out Handshake!
Alumni: Whether you're a recent graduate or have been "out there" for a while, and are
looking for a new beginning or a change in direction, this is the section for you.
Faculty: When students come to you for advice and guidance, we encourage you to collaborate
with Career Services on their behalf. We include procedures for connecting your students with
internship opportunities.
Employers: Find the talent you seek at all levels of experience. Learn how to post your job and
internship openings or sign up for on-campus interviewing and job fairs. Note: Please see
our Employers page for updated information regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic affects
recruiting opportunities on-campus.
Financial Aid Services/Graduate Student Aid
UMB graduate students may apply for assistantships, grants, loans, and federal work-study jobs. Please see our web site for the most up to date information, including how to apply, at: https://finaid.umb.edu/graduate-student-aid
Students can also check umb.edu/mymoment to check on your status.
The number of credits you take, your residency status, and grade level are used to determine your aid eligibility and affect your offer. Notify Financial Aid Services if this information is not correct on your award letter.
59
59
Be sure to read the Terms and Conditions for receiving financial aid. One Stop Student Administrative Service Center Campus Center, Upper Level Walk In Service Office Hours 8 a.m.–6 p.m. (Mon-Thurs) 8 a.m.–4 p.m. (Friday) Email:[email protected]
Graduate Assistantships
The University offers a limited number of graduate assistantships in teaching or research to qualified students. Applicants for admission to graduate programs and currently enrolled students should consider applying. These graduate assistantships, which range from ¼ to 1.0 FTE require weekly service in the areas of teaching, research, or administrative support. In return, the University pays a stipend and provides a tuition waiver and a waiver of a certain percentage of the fees. Students may obtain more information about assistantships by contacting the Graduate Program Director. General information about assistantships is also available from the Office of Graduate Studies.
Information Technology Services
At IT Services, our goal is to provide the best service and support to our faculty, students, and staff. With a little more than 100 dedicated staff and more than 60 student employees, we support a wide variety of services listed under five departments: • Application Services • Client Services • Communications and Infrastructure • Educational Technology • Research Computing If you have any questions, a great place to start is the IT Service Desk, located on the 3rd floor of the Healey Library. You may also call 617.287.5220 or email [email protected] Contact Information
IT Service Desk
3rd floor, Healey Library 617.287.5220 [email protected] Change your password or reset a forgotten password 24/7 Hours of Operation
Fall and Spring semesters: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Summer, winter, and spring break: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
60
60
Note that we are closed most holidays and when the Healey Library is closed. Library & Computer Resources. Library Services The Healey Library is committed to providing library materials and services to all users. If you are an individual with a disability and need accommodation, please inform the library staff via e-mail: [email protected]. The library provides location and retrieval of library materials; photocopy services; and research assistance. My Library Account
Sign into UMBrella to view your items, holds, fines/fees, and personal information. • Loans are materials you have borrowed, including items from other libraries. You may
renew items owned by Healey Library by logging into your account from UMBrella. Note: Renewal instructions and privileges for items not owned by Healey Library (e.g. items borrowed through InterLibrary Loan or UMass Boston WorldCat) can be found on the paper band wrapped around the cover of the book.
• Holds Pending will tell you the title and expiration date of your holds. • Items Available will tell you the title, expiration date and pickup location of items you
requested which are now available. Hours
• Summer Hours | All Hours • Mon. 7:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m. • Tue. 7:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m. • Wed. 7:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m. • Thu. 7:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m. • Fri. 7:30 a.m.–6 p.m. • Sat. CLOSED • Sun. CLOSED
Registrar Whether you take one course at UMass Boston or a full-time course load, the Office of the Registrar keeps track of your progress. Each semester, we record your courses, your grades, and update your transcript.
Services provided by the registrar’s office include:
61
61
Office of the Registrar Campus Center, 4th Floor University of Massachusetts Boston 100 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, MA 02125
Phone: 617.287.6200 Fax: 617.287.6242
https://www.umb.edu/registrar
WISER
WISER is the student information system used by UMass Boston students, staff, and faculty to manage courses, grades, and student records.
How to Log into and Navigate WISER
University Health Services
University Health Services is committed to providing quality medical services and education to enhance and promote the health and well-being of the university community. As part of this commitment there are certain requirements for all new students. For your convenience, a detailed checklist of these requirements is available here. Our multidisciplinary health care team is composed of nurse practitioners, consulting physicians, psychologists, social workers, registered nurses, laboratory technicians, and health educators supported by clinical and administrative support staff.
We provide onsite health care and mental health services for the UMass Boston community.
62
62
Medical Services UHS General Medicine provides preventive care such as immunization updates, tuberculosis screenings, women's/men's health and sports physicals, gynecological care, contraception management, sexually transmitted infection screening and treatment, urgent care for minor illness and injuries, international travel vaccinations and services, infection control and evaluations, and flu shots. Click here to learn more. Mental Health Services The UHS Counseling Center provides consultation, assessment, crisis intervention, focused therapy, education/outreach, and referral assistance for mental health symptoms and concerns. Click here to learn more. Health Education and Outreach The UHS Health Education and Wellness program provides health information and outreach campaigns and programs focused on high risk areas that impact college aged populations such as alcohol and other drugs, stress management, mental health problems including depression, stress and anxiety, mental health prevention strategies, HIV and STI prevention and tobacco cessation. We also offer a comprehensive selection of online resources including screening tools, resource links and more. Click here to learn more. Contact University Health Services All departmental services are located in the Quinn Administration Building, 2nd floor. Fax: 617-287-3977 Medical Appointments: 617-287-5660 Counseling Center Appointments: 617-287-5690 Health Education & Outreach Services: 617-287-5680
63
63
Appendix
Appendix A:
UMB AGNP/FNP Student Clinical Competency Evaluation Form (Landscape view for comments)
UMass Boston CNHS FNP/AGNP NP Program
CLINICAL EVALUATION TOOL Primary Care of the Adult Practicum NU670
Domains and Core Competencies of Nurse Practitioner Practice*
Student Name: _____________________________ Agency: ________________________________
Preceptor: __________________________________
Faculty Name: ____________________Faculty Signature MidTerm___________________________
Faculty Signature Final_____________________________
Midterm Date: ____________Final Evaluation Date _______ Preceptor Signature: ________________________________ Initial MT ______ Final: _______
Student Signature mid-term: ________________________________
Student Signature Final ________________________________________________
Score Criteria: 0 = Unsatisfactory; 1 = Novice; 2 = Advanced Beginner; 3 = Competent; 4 = Proficient; 5 = Expert; or n/o = not observed. It is expected that students will be evaluated at a score of 1-4. Please use criteria 5 for exceptional performance and advanced level students ( see end note***)
End of Semester Expectation is competency (score of 3) if not proficiency across all categories in this practicum
MT-S
MT
P
Fin
S
Fin
P
Student and preceptor evaluates the NP student’s ability Place values from 1-5 in the columns to the left; comments may follow each objective. 0: less than novice ability; 1: novice skills; 2: advanced beginner; 3: competent; 4: proficient 5: Expert or N/0 not observed see guidelines above.
DOMAIN 1: MANAGEMENT OF CLIENT HEALTH / ILLNESS STATUS Health Promotion /Health Protection, and Disease Prevention Activities
APPROPRIATE TO HEALTH CONDITION, AGE, DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE, FAMILY HISTORY AND ETHNICITY
64
64
INCLUDES SCREENING, ANTICIPATORY GUIDANCE, COUNSELING, AND PROMOTION OF HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS FOR ADULTS AND FAMILIES
DETERMINES PATIENT/FAMILY HEALTH RISKS: ANALYZES SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE DATA
Management of Patient Illness
HISTORY-TAKING SKILLS ARE COMPREHENSIVE, PROBLEM FOCUSED & ACCURATE
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION SKILLS ARE COMPREHENSIVE, PROBLEM FOCUSED & ACCURATE
DEVELOPS APPROPRIATE DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES BASED ON SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVES DATA
MANAGEMENT PLAN: DEMONSTRATES CRITICAL THINKING AND DIAGNOSTIC REASONING SKILLS:
SELECTS APPROPRIATE DIAGNOSTICS BASED ON RISK HISTORY,
PHYSICALS, MEDICATIONS AND LABS
SELECTS APPROPRIATE PATIENT EDUCATION
MAKES APPROPRIATE CONSULTATIONS & REFERRALS
PERFORMS APPROPRIATE FOLLOW-UP CARE
RECOGNIZES EMERGENT, ACUTE SITUATIONS
SELECTS APPROPRIATE THERAPEUTICS: MEDICATIONS INCLUDING OVER
THE COUNTER REMEDIES
***0-. Absent or poorly developed skills 1: Novice: concentration on facts, principles, concepts and adherence to rules for obtaining assessment data
2. Advanced Beginner: is able obtain and describe assessment data and reference guidelines for practice related to a differential diagnosis 3. Competent: beginning ability to prioritize assessment data and management guidelines to
65
65
form a plan of care; 4- Proficient: is able to assess, diagnose, and manage patients in a comprehensive manner including health promotion, prevention, and disease management. 5-Expert: Reflects independent safe management of complex poorly differentiated patients including skills reflected by the proficient student. * This model reflects achievement of skills from the simple to the complex and Benner’ novice to expert model of skill acquisition.
66
66
MT
S- MT P
Fin S
Fin P
Domain 2: The Nurse Practitioner - Patient Relationship
ADDRESSES THE IMPACT OF ILLNESS ON ADULT AND FAMILIES LIFESTYLE AND WORK
INDIVIDUALIZES CARE FOR PATIENTS AGE AND FAMILY SUPPORTS
WORKS TO EMPOWER PROMOTING JOINT DECISION-MAKING AND APPROPRIATE DECISION MAKING WITHIN FAMILIES
Domain 3: The Teaching-Coaching Function
TIMES EDUCATION / COUNSELING APPROPRIATELY
INDIVIDUALIZES TEACHING TO READINESS & MOTIVATION RELATED TO HIGH RISK LIFESTYLE FACTORS: SMOKING, EXERCISE, SLEEP, STRESS, DIET
DEMONSTRATES SOCIO-CULTURAL SENSITIVITY
DELIVERS HEALTH EDUCATION / COUNSELING ACCURATELY
DEMONSTRATES MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING SKILLS
EVALUATES EFFECTIVENESS OF TEACHING
Domain 4: Professional Role
Uses scientific foundations, evidence-based standards and practice guidelines to plan care
Able to set priorities in clinical practice
Advocates for clients
Maintains confidentiality, privacy
Domain 5: Managing and Negotiating Health Care Delivery Systems
Verbal skills-
Delivers organized oral case presentations
Works effectively with peers, staff
67
67
Learns from corrections
Communicates schedule and plans for clinical with preceptor
Written communication skills, record-keeping
Written documentation demonstrates appropriate descriptors
Is Logical
Is Accurate
Is Comprehensive
Domain 6: Monitoring and Ensuring the Quality of Health Care Practice
Identifies own strengths and weaknesses
Accountable for own actions
Practices according to ethical principles
Demonstrates collaboration in practice
Accountable for learning, is self directed; references texts /articles to assure safe care
*Adapted from the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty (NONPF): Domains and core competencies Reviewed MMM 1.10.11
Page 2 for Student: last name, first printed:____________________________ Semester _________________with preceptor(print name) ___________________________
Appendix B:
Master of Science (MS) Adult/Gerontological Primary Care or Family Nurse Practitioner Primary Care:
Three Year (Part-Time) Option
Fall Semester I
NURSNG 601 3 credits
NURSNG 616 3 credits
Spring Semester II
NURSNG 614 3 credits
NURSNG 634 3 credits
68
68
Fall Semester III
NURSNG 615 3 credits
NURSNG 637 3 credits
NURSING 715 3 credits
Spring Semester IV
NURSNG 618 or 639 3 credits
NURSNG 640 6 credits
Fall Semester V
NURSNG 639 or 618 3 credits
NURSNG 670 6 credits
Spring Semester VI
AGNP Primary Care Students take:
NURSNG 671 3 credits
NURSNG 672 6 credits
FNP Students take:
NURSNG 681 3 credits
NURSNG 682 6 credits
69
69
Appendix C:
Clinical Experiences Assumption of Risk
Clinical experiences (practicum, clinical rotations, supervised practice, internships, or observations) are a required component of academic programs in the Oxley College of Health Sciences. These experiences allow students to practice skills and techniques learned in didactic and lab courses as well as develop critical thinking skills that are important for health care providers. Clinical experiences occur in hospitals, clinics, schools, community organizations, and other appropriate settings where students can interact with patients and clients. Students may have the opportunity to be placed in a different setting, but alternative site options are not always available, and changes may delay the completion of the student’s degree.
Sites selected for students’ clinical experiences are required to take reasonable and appropriate measures to protect students’ health and safety in the clinical setting. Faculty will develop appropriate policies and procedures relating to student safety and prevention of exposure to disease. Students will have access to appropriate PPE during their clinical experiences. Students will receive training related to potential hazards and prevention techniques. Students have the responsibility to report any potential exposures to the supervisor at their site as well as their TU faculty member.
However, even with such measures, there are risks inherent to clinical experiences. Potential risks of completing clinical experiences include, but are not limited to: Exposure to infectious diseases through blood or other body fluids via skin, mucus membranes or parenteral contact Exposure to infectious diseases through droplet or air-borne transmission Hazardous chemical exposure Radiation exposure Environmental hazards, including slippery floors and electrical hazards Physical injuries, including back injuries Psychosocial hazards Offensive, inappropriate, or dangerous conduct by patients or clients, including violence, harassment, and sexual harassment
These risks can lead to serious complications, trauma, bodily injury or death.
SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING COVID-19
COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, is a highly contagious disease that causes symptoms that can range from mild (or no) symptoms to severe illness. COVID-19 can cause severe and lasting health complications, including death. Everyone is at risk of COVID-19. There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19.
Although anyone who contracts COVID-19 may experience severe complications, the CDC has found that individuals with certain underlying health conditions are at higher risk of developing
70
70
severe complications from COVID-19. These medical conditions include: chronic lung disease, asthma, conditions that cause a person to be immunocompromised, obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and liver disease.
COVID-19 is believed to spread primarily by coming into close contact with a person who has COVID-19 and may also spread by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it, and then touching one’s mouth, nose or eyes.
Much remains unknown about COVID-19. Further research may reveal additional information regarding the disease, including how it spreads and what health complications, including long-term complications, can result from contracting it.
Participating in clinical experiences, even when wearing recommended PPE, may increase the risk of contracting COVID-19, and these risks cannot be eliminated.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISK
I certify that I have carefully read and understand this document. I acknowledge and understand that, as explained in this document, my degree program requires the participation in in clinical experiences, and that such participation carries risks that cannot be eliminated. I fully understand these risks.
I understand that it is my responsibility to follow all instructor and supervisor instructions and take all available precautions so that the risk of exposure is minimized. I will follow all program specific information relating to prevention of diseases.
Knowing these risks, I certify that I desire to pursue my chosen degree program, including the participation in clinical experiences. I expressly agree and promise to accept and assume all risks associated with doing so. I am voluntarily agreeing to be bound by this document’s terms.
Student Signature Date
__________________________ _____________
__________________________
Student (print name)
71
71