Department of Nursing Graduate Program Policy Manual
Index
1.
Department of Nursing Faculty............................................................................................... 4
2.
Department of Nursing Philosophy......................................................................................... 6
3.
Department of Nursing Organizational Framework................................................................. 8
4.
Department of Nursing: Graduate Education Beliefs.............................................................. 10
5.
Department of Nursing Program Outcomes.......................................................................... 12
6.
General Information............................................................................................................. 13
a. Admission Requirements MSN................................................................................... 13
b. Admission Requirements MS (HSAD)........................................................................ 13
c. Advisement................................................................................................................ 13
d. Communication .......................................................................................................... 14
e. Registration ............................................................................................................... 14
f. Course Sequence Plan ............................................................................................... 14
g.
Thesis or Scholarly Project Advisor............................................................................. 15
h.
Theses/Projects ......................................................................................................... 15
i.
Clinical Courses.......................................................................................................... 15
j. Name Tags ................................................................................................................ 15
k. Student ID Cards....................................................................................................... 15
l. Parking Permits........................................................................................................... 15
m.
Writing Center............................................................................................................ 15
n. Financial Support........................................................................................................ 15
o.
Full-Time and Part-time Status.................................................................................... 16
p.
Grade Reporting......................................................................................................... 16
q.
Safety......................................................................................................................... 16
7. Degree
Offerings................................................................................................................. 17
8. Requirements
for the MSN Degree...................................................................................... 17
a. CNS & NP Core Courses........................................................................................ 17 b. HSAD Core Courses...................................................................................................................... 17
9. Requirements for the MS Degree......................................................................................... 18
a. HSAD Core Courses................................................................................................ 18
10. Requirements for Clinical/Practicum Courses........................................................................ 18
11. Fulfillment of Research Requirement for NP & CNS............................................................ 19
a. Thesis
Option............................................................................................................. 19
b. Scholarly
Project Option............................................................................................. 19
c. Nursing
Science: Research Application....................................................................... 20
12. Fulfillment
of Research Requirement for HSAD.................................................................... 20
13. All
Master’s Students.......................................................................................................... 21
a. Change of Thesis/Project Advisor............................................................................... 21
b. Grades
for Thesis or Project....................................................................................... 21
14. Sustaining Status.................................................................................................................. 21
15. Change of Program Option.................................................................................................. 21
16. Progression in the Program - MSN...................................................................................... 22
a. Monitoring of Progress - MSN.................................................................................. 22
17. Progression in the Program - MS......................................................................................... 22
a. Monitoring of Progress - MS..................................................................................... 22
18. Transfer of Credit................................................................................................................ 23
a.
b. Another
Institution...................................................................................................... 23
19. Petition for Variance............................................................................................................ 24
20. Waiver
Policy...................................................................................................................... 24
21. Graduate
Student Grievance Procedure................................................................................ 24
22. Academic
Honesty.............................................................................................................. 24
23 Leave
of Absence................................................................................................................ 24
24. Continuous
Registration....................................................................................................... 24
25. Application
for Advanced Degree........................................................................................ 25
26. Application
for Post Master’s Certificate.............................................................................. 25
27. Graduation.......................................................................................................................... 25
28. Resignation
from the University............................................................................................ 25
29. Clinical
Course Requirements by Specialty........................................................................... 26
a. Clinical Nurse Specialist............................................................................................... 26
b. Nurse Practitioner........................................................................................................ 26
30. Health
Services Administration Specialty Courses
a. Health Services Administration – MSN........................................................................ 26
b. Health Services Administration – MS........................................................................... 26
31. Course
Descriptions............................................................................................................ 27
32. Safety
Training Outline......................................................................................................... 32
33. Department of Occupational Health and
Safety
Post-Exposure Evaluation and
Follow-Up Procedure........................................................... 36
34. Web
Sites of Interest........................................................................................................... 38
Department of Nursing Faculty
Lisa Ann
Plowfield, PhD, RN, Chairperson, 831-0655, plow@udel.edu
Karen Avino, MSN,
RN, Community Health & Administration, kavino@udel.edu
Pamela Beeman, PhD, RN, Women’s Health &
Community, pbeeman@udel.edu
Margaret Birney, PhD, RN, Cardiopulmonary, 831-8500, birney@udel.edu
Linda Bucher, DNSc, RN, Cardiopulmonary, 831-8505, lbucher@udel.edu
Christine Cannon, PhD, RN, Adult Medical-Surgical,
831-8365, ccannon@udel.edu
Sheila Cushing, MS, RN, Medical-Surgical, 831-8361, scushing@udel.edu
Cynthia Diefenbeck, MSN, RN, CS, Psychiatric Mental
Health, 831-8390, cpearson@udel.edu
Margaret Dada, MSN, RN, Pediatrics, 831-8391, mbdada@udel.edu
Pat Drake, MSN, RN, Maternity, 831-8503, patdrake@udel.edu
Sandra Elliott, MSN, CNM, Women’s Health, 831-8601, 29292@udel.edu
Bethany Hall-Long, PhD, RNC, Community Health, 831-8362, blong@udel.edu
Thomas Hardie, EdD, RN, CS, Psychiatric Mental Health,
831-8378, thardie@udel.edu
Evelyn Hayes, PhD, RN, CS-FNP, Family Nurse
Practitioner, 831-8392, erhayes@udel.edu
Judith Hendricks, MSN, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner, 831-8381,
judhen@udel.edu
Judy Herrman, MS, RNC, Pediatrics, 831-8380, jherrman@udel.edu
Amy Johnson, DNSc, RN, Maternal-Child, 831-8369, ajohnson@udel.edu
Paula Klemm, DNSc, RN, OCN, Oncology/Immune
Deficiency, 831-8501, klemmpa@udel.edu
Madeline Lambrecht, EdD, RN, Psychiatric Mental
Health, 831-4549, madeline@udel.edu
Lisa McBeth-Snyder, MSN, RN, Maternity, 831-8395, lmsnyder@udel.edu
Carol Kerrigan Moore, MS, RN, Family Nurse
Practitioner, 831-8502, ckmoore@udel.edu
Betty J. Paulanka, EdD, RN, Dean, College of Health & Nursing Sciences, 831-8370, paulanka@udel.edu
Carolee Polek, PhD, RN, Oncology, 831-1292, cpolek@udel.edu
Allen Prettyman, MSN, CRNP, Family Nurse Practitioner,
apretty@udel.edu
Ingrid Pretzer-Aboff, MA, RN, Medical-Surgical, 831-3086, iaboff@udl.edu
Larry T. Purnell, PhD, RN, FAAN, Health Services
Administration, 831-4585, lpurnell@udel.edu
Christine Reilly, PhD, RN, Psychiatric
Mental Health, 831-8394, cej@udel.edu
Kathleen Riley-Lawless, PhD, RN, Pediatric
Nurse Practitioner, 32884@udel.edu
Kathleen Schell, DNSc, RN, CCRN,
Medical-Surgical, 831-8396,
kaschell@udel.edu
Barbara L. Sheer, DNSc, FAANP, Family & Pediatric
Nurse Practitioner, 831-8364, sheer@udel.edu
Gail Wade, DNSc, RN,
Maternal-Child, 831-8719,
ghwade@udel.edu
Julie Waterhouse, PhD, RN, Medical-Surgical, 831-1592,
jkw@udel.edu
Catherine Welde, MS, RN, Medical-Surgical, 831-1064, cwelde@udel.edu
Erlinda Wheeler, DNS, RN, Medical-Surgical, 831-8375, ewheeler@udel.edu
Deborah Wilson, PhD, RN, Psychiatric Mental Health,
831-8365, wilsond@udel.edu
Joanne Marra, Senior Secretary, 831-8386, jmarra@udel.edu
Brenda Sclavos, Administrative Assistant to the Chair,
831-0655, bsclavos@udel.edu
Information subject to change
Department of Nursing
Philosophy
The Department of Nursing
derives the general principles of its philosophy from the philosophy and
functions of the
The faculty views human
beings as biopsychosociocultural systems that have all the properties of open
systems. Human beings possess universal
needs which influence their capacity for intellectual, emotional, social, and
humanistic accomplishments. As they
interact with the environment, human beings make choices and decisions that
influence need satisfaction.
A society is an organization
of individuals and groups that, through interactions, form communities of
various sizes and descriptions.
Societies are dynamic in nature and culturally diverse. Societies assure that the needs of their
members are met. Individuals, families,
and communities develop social roles, identities, and values through
opportunities provided by the society in which they live.
Because humans are
integrated beings, health embodies biological, psychological, and sociocultural
dimensions. Health is a state of being
that fluctuates between varying degrees of wellness and illness. When human needs are altered, varying levels
of equilibrium within health may result.
If self-regulatory processes fail to maintain or restore wellness,
individuals may become functionally inadequate and unable to develop or
survive.
Nursing,
as a profession, is an essential component of the healthcare delivery
system. Nursing is based on a rapidly
expanding body of scientific knowledge and skills that promotes the
achievement, maintenance, or enhancement of dynamic equilibrium across the
lifespan. Through the nursing process
and nursing research, nurses use the scientific method to advance knowledge and
practice in the discipline.
The faculty of the
Department of Nursing believes that a major goal of education is to develop
socially responsible individuals who can think critically, logically, and
creatively. The educational system
promotes the intellectual, emotional, and social growth of each individual. The goal of the educational process in
nursing is students' internalization of values and beliefs consistent with the
roles of professional nurses. An
environment conducive to effective learning is one in which learners and
teachers share mutual goals, mutual effort, and
mutual respect for individual and cultural differences. Educational outcomes of the teaching/learning
process are best achieved when learners are active participants and teachers
are role models and facilitators.
Baccalaureate education in
nursing prepares learners with diverse educational backgrounds for the first
level of professional nursing, the generalist level. Through systematic and sequential
experiences, baccalaureate students learn to use critical thinking and make
independent judgments, to integrate nursing theory and nursing practice, and to
provide comprehensive nursing care to individuals and families in a variety of
settings. As professional nurses,
baccalaureate graduates evaluate current practices, define ways of improving
the quality of professional nursing practice, and use research findings in
describing, evaluating, and improving practice.
As generalists, professional nurses deliver direct nursing care and are
prepared to assume leadership responsibilities in guiding and directing others
in the provision of nursing care. In
addition, professional nurses collaborate with colleagues and other health
professionals in health care delivery.
In an ever changing society, baccalaureate nurses participate in
defining the emerging roles of professional practice.
Graduate education in
nursing builds on theories and practices acquired at the baccalaureate level
and provides the basis for doctoral study in nursing. Graduate education socializes learners to
advanced nursing roles. Nurses in
advanced roles influence the quality of nursing practice and the direction of
health care delivery. As nursing
specialists, administrators, and/or nurse practitioners, they function
independently and interdependently with peers and members of other health care
disciplines in direct and indirect care of individuals, families, and community
groups. In addition, these nurses are
capable of generating scholarly activity and of defining, developing, and
adapting to present and emerging advanced roles in nursing. They serve as leaders in professional, civic,
and/or community organizations and may be actively involved in
political/legislative arenas.
In addition to providing
opportunities for formal, degree-granting programs, the faculty of the
Department of Nursing is committed to providing ongoing education for nurses in conjunction
with the University Division of Continuing Education. The faculty believes that life-long learning
is a means for achieving a satisfying and productive life and is of paramount
importance in the delivery of safe, effective, and efficient health care.
Approved by Faculty of the
Revised: JS:sg 9/97
Organizational Framework
The curricula of the Department of
Nursing are based on the College philosophy and organizational framework. The framework was developed by the faculty as
a tool which provides a method of organizing learning experiences to promote an
understanding of clients and their interaction with their environment.
Further, this organizational framework
represents the faculty's beliefs about nursing and provides a frame of
reference for situations which lend themselves to theory testing. The ultimate goal of the organizational
framework is to assist the student to implement professional nursing practice.
The organizational framework of both
undergraduate and graduate curricula is built on four major concepts: clients,
environment, health, and nursing. These are interactive and open systems.
A system is an organized unit with a
set of components that mutually react.
The system acts as a whole.
Systems may be open or closed.
Open systems must interact through the exchange of information, energy,
and material to maintain a state of dynamic equilibrium. The client (individual, family, and
community) openly interacts with the environment. The nurse promotes client health and
environmental interaction by providing energy and feedback to the system.
Concepts and Subconcepts
Clients are individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations with
biopsychosociocultural dimensions.
Client systems are interdependent yet have definable structures,
relationships, and boundaries.
Biopsychosociocultural dimensions
refer to clients biological, psychological, and sociocultural components of
health across the lifespan.
Environment is the setting in which nursing occurs and the dynamic
surroundings of the client, including the physical, psychological, social,
ecological, and cultural contexts.
Health is a state of being that fluctuates between varying degrees of wellness
and illness. Health embodies the
subconcepts of promotion, prevention, restoration, and maintenance.
Health Promotion: Is the process of assisting clients
to enhance well-being through behaviors that promote health and maximize
potential.
Disease Prevention: Is the process of protecting clients
from disease, illness, and injury. The
specific levels are classified as: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary prevention involves stopping the
development or occurrence of disease, illness, or injury. Secondary prevention focuses on the early
detection and treatment of disease or illness.
Tertiary prevention involves rehabilitation to limit excess disability,
complications, and/or death.
Health Restoration: The process of assisting clients to
return to an optimal state of health.
Health Maintenance: The process of preserving an optimal
level of health.
Nursing is a profession that promotes health with clients. Nursing includes the following roles:
caregiver, critical thinker/problem solver, researcher, advocate, teacher,
collaborator, and leader.
Caregiver: In this role, the bachelor’s
prepared nurse provides safe, competent, culturally sensitive care.
The master’s prepared caregiver is an
expert clinician who provides, guides, directs and evaluates the nursing care
delivered to the individual, family and community.
Critical thinker/problem solver: The nurse as a critical thinker
engages in a deliberative process of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of
facts, theories, principles, and interpretations. In this role, the nurse organizes
experiences, creatively approaches problems, and gives explanations.
Researcher: The bachelor’s prepared nurse is a
research consumer. In this role, the
content, method, and applicability of research findings are applied to practice.
The master’s prepared researcher
identifies current reasearchable problems, collaborates in research, and
evaluates and implements research findings that have an impact on nursing and
health care.
Advocate: The nurse provides for the
protection of client rights. The nurse
also secures care for all clients based on the belief that clients have the
right to make informed decisions about their own health.
Teacher: The nurse as teacher promotes
health-related learning through formal and informal activities/interaction with
clients.
Collaborator: Establishes relationships with
clients, families, healthcare providers, and members of other disciplines. In this role, the nurse coordinates services
to facilitate health.
The master’s prepared nurse collaborates
in interdisciplinary efforts to provide health care and improve healthcare
delivery systems at local, state, and/or national levels.
Leader: The bachelor’s prepared nurse as a
leader guides change, strategically manages, employs vision, and provides
motivation both for clients and staff in all environments, including health
systems, communities, and the political arena.
The master’s prepared nurse leader
defines, develops, and implements current and emerging nursing roles and
interprets and promotes professional nursing and health care to members of the
professions, other disciplines consumers and legislators.
KS:sg 10/25/96 Approved by Faculty 3/18/97 Revised:
LMS:BHL/sg 6/24/97 DNS\ORGFRAME.FNL
DEPARTMENT OF NURSING:
GRADUATE EDUCATION BELIEFS
The Department faculty
believes that the program leading to a master of science in nursing:
1.
Builds on the
theories and practices acquired in the educational program leading to the first
professional degree in nursing and provides a basis for doctoral study in
nursing.
2.
Prepares clinical
nurse specialist, nurse administrators, and nurse practitioners who accept
accountability for actions as leaders in influencing the quality of nursing
practice and the direction of the health care delivery system.
3.
Focuses on
concepts of advanced nursing practice specific to chosen area of specialization
as well as key concepts applicable to all of nursing.
4.
Emphasizes the
independent functions of nursing while recognizing the appropriateness and need
for collaboration in achieving the health goals of individuals, families, and
communities.
5.
Promotes
conceptualization, hypothesis formation, theory testing, operationalization of
theory in practice, and communication of findings both within and outside the
nursing profession.
6.
Prepares
graduates to practice in a variety of roles and settings with particular focus
on expanding roles.
The
Department faculty believes that graduate students in nursing who have diverse
educational backgrounds and experiences:
1.
Are highly
motivated to pursue advanced study in a chosen area of specialization.
2.
Are self-directed
and capable of formulating their objectives to meet required goals, of
functioning independently and interdependently, and of monitoring their own
progress.
3.
Are prepared to
learn to analyze, synthesize, and integrate concepts basic to developing
expertise in specialty areas, research competency, and new roles.
4. Are aware of the changing nature of professional nursing practice and of their obligation to participate in activities in professional and academic communities.
The
Department faculty believes that both faculty and students:
1.
Share
responsibility for maintaining a climate conducive to learning.
2.
Are active
participants in the teaching-learning process.
3.
Have mutual
respect for the unique qualities of both student and teacher.
4.
Are committed to
sharing expert skills and knowledge in professional nursing practice.
The
Department faculty believes that it has a responsibility to prepare nurse
practitioners and clinical nurse specialists with expertise as clinicians and
nurse administrators with a variety of management skills; all students receive
knowledge in scientific inquiry. The
faculty views clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, and nurse
administrators as leaders in nursing who:
1.
Influence the
quality of nursing practice and the direction of the healthcare system.
2.
Function
independently and interdependently with peers and members of other healthcare
disciplines in direct and indirect care of individuals, families, and community
groups.
3.
Formulate
research problems and engage in research studies.
4.
Define, develop,
describe, and adapt to present and emerging roles in nursing.
5.
May serve as
monitors of healthcare delivery and planners of health programs.
6.
Participate in
professional organizations to effect changes in the profession.
7.
Review current
policies in the health care system and contribute to change using appropriate
political and legislative channels.
Approved by DANS Faculty 10/88
Revised: 11/27/95
8/14/98
10/17/03 :jm policy
2003-2004
Program Outcomes
Students who complete the master of science in nursing
program will have developed the ability to practice as clinical nurse
specialists, nurse practitioners, or nurse administrators in a variety of
healthcare settings. They will
demonstrate the following behaviors:
1. Evaluate theories and concepts drawn from nursing, the arts and humanities, and the biological, social, and physical sciences as the basis for practice as clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, or nurse administrators.
2. Analyze the influence of value systems and ethnicity on health care practices, healthcare systems, and the roles of clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, or nurse administrators.
3. Demonstrate competence as a clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, or nurse administrator.
4. Collaborate in interdisciplinary efforts to provide healthcare and improve healthcare delivery systems to local, state, and/or national levels.
5. Assume leadership in interpreting and promoting professional nursing to other members of the profession, other disciplines, consumers, and legislators.
6. Provide leadership in defining, developing, and implementing current and emerging nursing roles.
7. Develop proposals for studies or projects that can contribute to the expansion of nursing knowledge and practice.
8. Demonstrate ethical decision making and professional accountability as a clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, or nurse administrator.
9. Advocate for health legislation at local, regional, and/or national levels.
Approved by DANS Faculty 10/88
Revised 5/94
Revised by the Committee for Graduate Education, March,
2001/May, 2002
Bb word/c/program/program-outcomes
Admission Requirements – MSN
To be considered for
admission, applicants must have a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an NLNAC
or CCNE accredited school of nursing.
The Committee evaluates applicants on the following criteria:
- Satisfactory performance in undergraduate academic work as well as in upper-division nursing courses
- Three satisfactory academic and/or professional references
- Licensure as a registered nurse in Delaware or the state where clinical practice is to be arranged
- An interview with faculty from the graduate program
- One year of recent clinical experience in a related specialty area prior to starting clinical courses for the NP concentrations; one year management experience in a health-related field or three years experience in a professional health-related practice for HSAD.
- For international students, a minimum score of 600 for the paper test and 250 for the computer based test is required on the Test of English as a Foreign Language.
To be considered for
admission, applicants must have completed a Bachelor’s degree in a
health-related field such as nutrition/dietetics, sports medicine/exercise
science, physical therapy, occupational therapy, public policy, information
sciences, health education, or health promotion and wellness. The Committee evaluates applicants on the following criteria:
- Completion of one year of management experience in a health-related field or three years experience in a professional health-related practice
- Satisfactory performance in undergraduate
academic work as well as in upper-division major courses
- Three satisfactory
academic and/or professional recommendations
- Submission of a
personal statement concerning goals related to health services administration
- Interview with
faculty from the graduate program
- For international students, a minimum score of 600 for the paper test and 250 for the computer based test is required on the Test of English as a Foreign Language.
Advisement - Each student receives
personalized advisement by a faculty member knowledgeable about graduate
education at the University of Delaware.
An academic advisor is assigned
by the department chair at the time of admission.
Communication
E-mail – All students are assigned a UD e-mail
address. Faculty and staff will
communicate using the UD e-mail address only (not personal e-mail
address). The University has set up a
method to easily arrange to forward your university e-mail to your personal
e-mail (AOL, Hotmail, Comcast, etc.).
To
forward your UD e-mail to your personal e-mail, go to http://www.udel.edu/help. You only need to complete this process one
time. If you have any questions contact
the University HELP Center at 831-6000.
Mail file ‑ Graduate students have individual file folders with their name
in an unlocked filing cabinet in the Mailroom on the third floor of McDowell
Hall. This folder is used to distribute
information about department policies and activities, for notes from faculty,
for returning course work, etc. Students
should check their mail file every time they are in the building.
Faculty have voice mail and e-mail.
Students may leave a message and the faculty member will return calls or
messages as soon as possible. If students need to speak to someone immediately,
they can call 831-1253 between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M.
Students must make sure that
their current correct name, home address, e-mail address, and home and work
telephone number(s) are on file at all times in the department graduate office (385 McDowell) so that
they can be reached as needed.
Registration - All
registration for graduate NURS and HSAD courses need permission from the
Department of Nursing before registration.
This is done by contacting the graduate program secretary either by
phone (302) 831-8386, e-mail UD-gradnursing@udel.edu,or
in person. After permission is granted,
students wanting to register for distance courses complete the registration
through the UD Online Office of Continuing Education. Their website (see web sites of interest) has
useful information about registration forms, etc.
Students are required to
register during pre-registration for required core and clinical courses to assure
placement.
Course Sequence Plan – All students need to make
sure the department graduate office has an up-to-date academic plan of study on
file. A plan may be developed at the time of the student’s interview and should
be updated at the time of admission, if necessary, or anytime a change is made
with the student’s assigned academic advisor. This helps the Department plan
its courses and will help students anticipate their needs in arranging work
schedules, childcare, travel, etc. Some
courses have co‑ or prerequisites that must be considered in the plan
sequence.
Thesis or Scholarly Project Advisor
Academic advisors may also be thesis or research project advisors or
students may choose another faculty member with whom to work for this component
of the program.
Theses/Projects - Past theses and projects are available to
be borrowed from the department graduate office 385 McDowell Hall.
Clinical Courses
Clinical
experiences may be arranged close to a student’s home or work. Some travel may be required. Effort is always made to arrange clinical
sites that are convenient.
Name Tags – All students need to wear
name tags while in the clinical setting.
These name tags can be purchased from the University Bookstore. The tags should contain the student’s name
and credentials, Graduate Program, University of Delaware.
Student I.D. Cards – All
students must carry a valid UD#1 CARD (identification card). New and replacement cards can be obtained at
the Student Services Building on Lovett Avenue, weekdays from 8:30-5:00, phone
(302) 831-2759. Lost/stolen cards should
be reported immediately, 24 hours a day, by dialing (302) UD#1 CARD
(831-2273). For more information, visit www.udel.edu/Registrar/ud1card.html
Parking Permits - Commuting graduate students may purchase a red or
gold permit regardless of their off campus address. Purchasing your permit for
the full year is more cost effective than purchasing for shorter time
frames. Students must be registered and
have a pin number to register for a parking permit. To access an Online application for a
parking permit, go to www.udel.edu/publicsafety/students.html. For fees, go to www.udel.edu/publicsafety/studentpermits.htm. Public Safety is located at 413 Academy
Street, phone (302) 831-1184, e-mail parking@udel.edu.
Writing Center - The Writing Center is
available to assist students with the technical aspects of preparing formal
expository and scientific papers. Staff
members at the center are most willing to assist students who have writing problems
to improve their scholarly communications.
The Writing Center is located in 016 Memorial Hall. The phone number is 831-1168.
Financial
support in the form of traineeships, grants, or teaching assistantships is
usually limited to full-time nursing students.
Funding is available for part-time students in the last two semesters of
study. Limited additional
specialty-related funds are available through the Chair’s office. Requirements are subject to change.
Full-Time and Part-Time Status
Students enrolled in at
least 9 graduate (500 level or above) credit hours or in sustaining credit are
considered full-time students. Those
enrolled for fewer than 9 graduate credit hours are considered part-time students,
although students holding assistantships are considered full-time with six
credits. Generally, a maximum load is 12
graduate credit hours; however additional credit hours may be taken with the
approval of the student’s adviser and the Office of Graduate Studies. A maximum course load in either summer or
winter session is 7 credit hours.
Grade Reporting
At the end of each term,
grades are reported to students electronically.
Reports of grades are available via UDPhone (837-4663) and through SIS+
personal access website.
Safety
All students taking
on-campus graduate course(s) for the first time will be asked to complete the
New Graduate Student Safety Orientation.
All graduate students must
receive initial training and then annual training in handling bloodborne pathogens,
chemical hygiene, and radiation safety.
This training will be done annually in clinical courses ensuring that
all students receive this training. (see
Safety Training Outline)
All graduate students will
receive Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
informational sheet in NURS/HSAD604 Advanced Practice Roles for Health Care
Providers and will receive the HIPAA training handbook in NURS620 Advanced
Health Assessment.
MS – Master
of Science
Specialties
CNS –
Clinical Nurse Specialist
NC – Nursing of Children
AH – Adult Health
PSYCH – Psychiatric
FNP – Family
Nurse Practitioner
ANP – Adult
Nurse Practitioner
NNP – Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
HSAD – Health Services Administration
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MSN
DEGREE
MSN students complete the
following credit hours of graduate study: CNS 34 credit hours (37 with thesis);
FNP 43 credit hours (46 with thesis); ANP 40 (43 with thesis); NNP 37 (40 with thesis); HSAD
37 credit hours. Core courses are listed
below:
CNS & NP Core Courses
NURS604 Advanced Practice Roles for Healthcare Providers
NURS609 Nursing Science:
Theory and Research (4 cr.)
NURS622 Advanced Pharmacology (required for NP and
Psychiatric students only)
NURS620 Advanced
Health Assessment
NURS621 Advanced Pathophysiology (Psychiatric nursing students take PSYC667 Developmental Psychopathology)
EDUC665 Elementary Statistics
NURS687 Nursing
Science Research Application or NURS868 Research or
NURS869 Thesis
Clinical Courses in Specialty area
HSAD Core Courses
NURS604 Advanced Practice Roles for Healthcare Providers
NURS610 Nursing Science:
Theory and Research (4 cr.)
NURS619 Financial Management in Health Services
Organizations
NURS868 Research (Scholarly Project)
NURS890 Colloquium (0 cr.) (pass/fail)
EDUC665 Elementary Statistics
Specialty
Didactic and Clinical Courses
Students must complete all
course requirements within five years of matriculation into the graduate program. Full-time CNS students may complete the
entire program in three semesters (fall, spring, fall). Full-time students in the NP concentrations
may complete the program in four semesters.
Students in the MS HSAD
program must complete 36 credit hours of graduate study. Students
take at least 12 credits of core courses and research. Core
courses are listed below:
HSAD Core courses - MS
HSAD604 Advanced Practice Roles for Healthcare Providers
HSAD619 Financial Management in Health Services
Organizations
HSAD636 Health Administration Theories
HSAD637 Health Planning Strategies
HSAD638 Health Services Evaluation
HSAD664 Nursing Practicum
HSAD868 Research (Scholarly Project)
HSAD890 Colloquium (0 cr.) (pass/fail)
EDUC665 Elementary Statistics
Students register for
HSAD890 Colloquium to present their project orally.
Students must complete all
course requirements within five years of matriculation into the graduate
program. Full-time HSAD students can
complete the program in one and a half to two years depending on availability
of courses during the summer.
REQUIREMENTS FOR
CLINICAL/PRACTICUM COURSES
All NP and CNS students
entering the clinical courses are required to provide the following: (Requirements for Health Services
Administration students will be determined by the agency/state/country where
practicum is scheduled.)
1. Photocopy
of current Delaware nursing license as well as any state where clinical will be
arranged.
2. Photocopy
of current CPR certification
3. Photocopy
of professional liability insurance policy facesheet
4. Proof of
immunization status for:
Measles (Rubeola) - if born after 1957
German measles (Rubella) - if born after 1957
Tetanus (good for ten years)
5. Evidence of
current TB status (PPD) or chest X-Ray
6. Evidence of Varicella status
(by titer or documentation of having had chicken pox)
7. Proof of Bloodborne Pathogens Safety Training
Nursing students are not permitted to begin a clinical course until the
above evidence has been submitted to the graduate program secretary in the
Department of Nursing.
In addition, students in NURS620 Advanced Health Assessment will be
required to pay a fee for the use of live models.
FULFILLMENT OF THE RESEARCH
REQUIREMENT FOR NP & CNS STUDENTS
The decision to complete
NURS869 Thesis, NURS868 Scholarly Project, or the course NURS687 Nursing
Science: Research Application is made by
the student in consultation with the academic advisor after completion of NURS609.
Each of these options provides an opportunity to explore and use concepts from
other disciplines that support expansion of nursing knowledge and advancement
of nursing practice. If the student
chooses to complete a thesis or scholarly project, the following guidelines
apply.
THESIS OPTION
1. The thesis option requires students to take NURS609 Nursing
Science: Theory and Research and 6
credits of NURS869 Thesis. In this
option, students design and implement a research study and write the report in
a formal paper, the thesis, using APA format, the Department of Nursing’s Guide
for the Thesis (available from the graduate program secretary in the Department
of Nursing), and the most current University of Delaware Thesis and
Dissertation Manual (available from the Book Store or U-Discover Online).
2. Students pursuing the thesis
option select one research advisor to guide them through the research
process. A list of faculty available for
thesis advisement is available from the graduate program secretary. The student has the responsibility to
initiate discussion with faculty and to ask a faculty member to be the thesis
advisor. The thesis advisor must sign a
form, agreeing to the topic and study design.
This form is placed in the student’s file. After the student develops the proposal with
the guidance of the research advisor, the procedure for the protection of human
subjects must be approved by the Office of Research.
3. Distribution of the required 6 credits for thesis must be approved
by the thesis advisor. All 6 credits may not be taken in one
semester. Before registering for thesis
credits, the student must submit the completed Thesis/Scholarly Project
Registration Approval form to the graduate program secretary in the Department
of Nursing.
4. The final copy of the thesis must be signed by the thesis advisor,
indicating approval of the completed project.
The completed document is submitted to the Chairperson, Department of
Nursing, for signature and approval. Submission to the Chair must occur 2 weeks
BEFORE theses are due in the Office of Graduate Studies. Final approval is given by the Office of
Graduate Studies.
SCHOLARLY PROJECT OPTION
1. In the scholarly project option, students take NURS609 Nursing
Science: Theory and Research and NURS868
Research. The project may include the
development of clinical practice guidelines, practice-oriented instruments, or
educational programs. The completed
project is described in a formal paper using APA format and the Department of
Nursing Guide to the Scholarly Project (available from the graduate program
secretary in the Department of Nursing).
2. Students electing to do the scholarly project select a project
advisor to guide them. A list of faculty
available for project advisement is distributed in NURS609 or available through
the graduate program secretary. The
student has the responsibility to initiate discussion with the project
advisor. The advisor must sign a form
agreeing to the project topic. This form
is placed in the student’s file.
3. Distribution of the required 3 credits for the scholarly project
must be approved by the project advisor.
Before registering for project credits, the student must submit the
completed Thesis/Scholarly Project Registration Approval form to the graduate
program secretary in the Department of Nursing.
4. The final copy of the
project must be signed by the advisor, indicating approval of the completed
project. The completed document is
submitted to the Chairperson, Department of Nursing, for signature and
approval. Submission to the Chair must occur 3 weeks before the end of the
semester.
NURSING SCIENCE: RESEARCH
APPLICATION (NURS687)
This
course follows NURS609 and focuses on the application of research to nursing
practice. It includes a critical
analysis of research through an organized critique process, examination of
data, and examination of facilitators and barriers to research and research
utilization, models of research utilization, and methods of quality management.
FULFILLMENT OF THE RESEARCH
REQUIREMENT HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION STUDENTS
HSAD
students complete an initial research course, NURS/HSAD868 Research (scholarly
project), and NURS/HSAD890 Colloquium.
Each student must have project committee for NURS/HSAD868. The student will select his/her committee
chair and committee prior to enrolling in NURS/HSAD664 Health Services
Administration Practicum. Students will
consult with either their advisor or the head of the HSAD program to choose a
committee. This committee will be
comprised of two graduate faculty members from the College of Health and
Nursing Sciences, or one from the College of Health and Nursing Sciences and a
second from a cooperating unit within the University. Any committee member may function as first
reader (chair) as negotiated by the student.
The committee will review the proposal submitted by the student for the
scholarly project in the discipline area of the student. Ideally, the committee will be developed one
calendar year before the expected date of graduation. Completed project reports will be submitted
to the student’s project committee for review and approval. The head of the HSAD program will approve and
maintain the report in the Department of Nursing files.
HSAD
students are required to register for NURS/HSAD890 Colloquium where they will
do a formal oral presentation of their project/report.
Change of thesis/project advisor
A student may request a
change in thesis or project advisor by notifying the advisor of his/her intent
to request a change and then submitting a written request to the advisor’s
Department Chairperson. In making such
requests, students should be aware that it is the prerogative of a new advisor,
after reviewing the student’s work, to require substantial revisions and/or
refocusing of the thesis or project, regardless of the stage of the
research/project. The decision to grant
a request for a change of advisor is made by the Department Chairperson in
consultation with the student’s current and prospective thesis or project
advisors. If a change in faculty thesis
or project advisor becomes necessary because of workload or extended leaves
from the Department, the Department Chairperson, the student, and the
prospective advisor negotiate a reassignment.
Grades for thesis/project
Until the thesis or project is completed, a temporary grade of S (Satisfactory) or U (Unsatisfactory) is submitted for any semester or session in which the student is registered for thesis or project credits. When the thesis or project is completed, the advisor assigns a letter grade for the work. The advisor may assign one grade for the entire number of credits or may assign a separate grade for each period of registration for thesis or project credits. If a student receives a U for a period of registration, he/she will receive a final grade of B or below for that semester or session.
SUSTAINING STATUS
Once a graduate student who
is electing a thesis/project option has completed all required credits needed
for the degree but has not yet submitted the thesis/project, the student must
maintain his/her matriculation in the degree program by registering for
Master’s Sustaining: Thesis (UNIV899), Project (UNIV895). All students, including sustaining students,
must be registered in the semester in which the degree is officially
awarded. Sustaining registration is not
required for summer sessions unless the degree is to be awarded at the
conclusion of the summer session.
Registration for sustaining status is completed by contacting the graduate
program secretary. There is a sustaining
fee for each semester.
CHANGE OF PROGRAM
CONCENTRATION
Students in good standing
may request a change in concentration/option by: 1) discussing their interest
to change with their academic advisor; 2) talking with the faculty coordinating
their current concentration/option; 3) talking with the faculty coordinating
the concentration/option they wish to enter; and 4) completing the appropriate
form available from the department graduate secretary. The decision to grant a request for a change
in program option is made by the faculty coordinating the program students wish
to enter on a space available basis. Once permission is granted by the faculty
coordinating the program, the appropriate form must be signed and put into the
student’s record.
PROGRESSION IN THE PROGRAM –
MSN students
Successful progress toward
candidacy for the MSN degree is determined by the student’s performance in the
courses for which he/she is registered.
Graduate students in nursing are subject to the standards for academic
status set forth in the University of Delaware Graduate Catalog. To be eligible for an advanced degree, a
student’s cumulative grade point average shall be at least 3.0. Graduate
students who earn a C+ or below in any required nursing course must repeat the
course in order to progress in the program.
Courses may be repeated only one time.
However, if students receive a D+ or below in a nursing course with a
practicum, they are not permitted to repeat the course, and it will be
recommended to the Office of Graduate Studies that they be dismissed from the
program.
MONITORING OF PROGRESS – MSN students
1. Each student is evaluated according to the requirements established by the course instructor or instructors. Didactic courses generally include a combination of the following evaluation measures: written examinations, class presentations, term papers, and self and/or group evaluations. A practicum within a course may be evaluated by clinical observations, supervision, logs, clinical papers, clinical projects, performance testing, self evaluation, and preceptor/faculty evaluation.
2. Each student’s record is reviewed each
semester by the student’s advisor. If
academic difficulties are identified, the faculty advisor counsels the student
and files the recommendations with the Department Committee for Graduate
Education.
PROGRESSION IN THE PROGRAM –
MS students
Successful progress toward
candidacy for the MS degree is determined by the student’s performance in the
courses for which he/she is registered.
Graduate students are subject to the standards for academic status set
forth in the University of Delaware Graduate Catalog. To be eligible for an advanced degree, a
student’s cumulative grade point average shall be at least 3.0. A grade below a B- in College core courses
will not be counted toward the course requirements for a degree, but is
calculated in the student’s cumulative grade point average. In addition, the student must receive a
course grade of B- or better in HSAD College core courses. A student who receives a grade less than a B-
in a HSAD College core course may repeat each course one time. If a student fails to obtain a B- or better
after repeating a course, it will be recommended to the Office of Graduate
Studies that the student be dismissed from the program.
MONITORING OF PROGRESS – MS students
The grades of all students are reviewed after each semester by the student’s advisor. At the end of each academic semester, the HSAD Governance Committee may convene to review the progress and performance of students in the program who are in jeopardy, and to make recommendations for action. In the case of substandard performance, actions are initiated in accord with general University guidelines regarding warning, probation, and termination.
TRANSFER OF CREDIT
The following procedures
relate to the transfer of credits to a graduate program at the University of
Delaware.
UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS
Students who complete
graduate credits with the classification of CEND (Continuing Education Non
Degree) at the University of Delaware may use a maximum of 9 graduate credits
earned with this classification toward their graduate degree. The CEND credits, grades, and quality points
become a part of the student’s academic record and grade point average. CEND credit can be transferred provided that:
(a) the course was at the 600-800 level, (b) the course was taken within the
past 5 years, (c) a grade no less than a B- was received, and (d) the course
was in accord with the specific degree program as specified by the Graduate
Program Policy Statement of the Department of Nursing. Transfer of these credits is initiated by the
Department of Nursing after the student matriculates.
ANOTHER INSTITUTION
Graduate credit earned at
another institution is evaluated at the written request of the student. Such a request should include a course
description and syllabus and be given to the student’s advisor. At the advisor’s discretion, course materials
may be referred to the Committee for Graduate Education for a decision. With the
exception of the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program, a maximum of
9 credits required for the degree will be accepted provided that such credits:
(a) were earned with a grade of no less than B-, (b) are approved by the
student’s advisor or the Committee for Graduate Education, (c) are in accord
with the specific degree program of the student as specified by the Department
of Nursing’s Graduate Program Policy Statement, (d) are not older than five
years, and (e) were completed at an accredited college or university. The student is responsible for having an
official transcript sent to the graduate program secretary in the Department of
Nursing. The department initiates the
transfer of credits. The credits, but not the grades or quality points, are
transferable to University of Delaware graduate records. Graduate courses counted toward a degree
received elsewhere may not be used.
Credits from institutions outside of the United States are generally not
transferable to the University of Delaware.
A student requesting to take a course for transfer of credit from
another institution follows the same procedure. In the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program,
15 transfer credits of specialty coursework taken at Thomas Jefferson University are accepted provided that
these credits were earned with a grade of no less than B-.
Students who would like to petition for a variance in acceptable courses or policies should submit petitions to the Committee for Graduate Education. Students are encouraged to see their advisor regarding the process.
WAIVER POLICY
Credits are waived when they are part of an awarded degree but are duplicated in the MSN, MS, or a post master’s certificate program. Courses do not have to be substituted for waived credits. For a course to be waived, it must have been taken within the past 5 years and have a grade of B- or better. Students need a minimum of 30 credits of graduate course work for the MSN and MS degrees in addition to the waived credits.
GRADUATE STUDENT GRIEVANCE
PROCEDURE
The procedure applies as stated in the current University of Delaware Official Student Handbook.
Academic honesty and integrity
lie at the heart of the educational enterprise.
Students are expected to do their own work and neither to give nor to
receive assistance during quizzes, examinations, or other class exercises. One form of academic dishonesty is
plagiarism. Students are urged to
consult individual faculty members for explanation of procedures for taking
tests, writing papers, and completing other course requirements so that
students may fully understand their instructor's expectations. Because faculty and students take academic
honesty seriously, penalties for violations may be severe, depending upon the
offense as viewed by the Graduate Student Judicial System. The minimum sanction for cases of proven academic
dishonesty is an automatic failure for the course and/or expulsion from
graduate studies at the University.
Access the Official Student Handbook at www.udel.edu/stuhb for further
information.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Matriculated students who
seek a leave of absence from the program must write a letter to their advisor
requesting a leave of absence. The department will forward the request to
the Office of Graduate Studies. The
length of time needed for the leave should be indicated. Upon approval by the Office of Graduate Studies,
the student’s academic transcript will note the approved leave in the
appropriate semesters. The period of
absence will not affect the limitation of time for completion of the degree
requirements as stated in the student’s official letter of admission. Students who do not register for courses at
the University in any given semester must request a leave of absence for that
semester.
CONTINUOUS REGISTRATION
Failure to comply with the
requirement of maintaining continuous registration in courses, in sustaining
status, or with approved leave of absence will be taken as evidence that the
student has terminated his/her graduate program, and the admitted status to the
graduate program will be terminated. The
date of termination will be recorded on the student’s transcript.
APPLICATION FOR ADVANCED
DEGREE
To initiate the process for
degree conferral, candidates must submit an “Application for Advanced Degree”
obtained from the graduate program secretary in the Department of Nursing. Application deadlines are found in the
University Academic Year Calendar. The
application must be signed by the candidate’s academic advisor and department
chair. There is an application fee for
master’s degree candidates. Students
should complete the form, attach a check made out to the University of
Delaware, then turn the form into the Graduate Program’s Secretary who will get
signatures and send to the Office of Graduate Studies. Students can apply to complete their degree
requirements for May, August, December, and February. If a student applies for graduation but does
not complete the program requirements, the application will automatically
convert to the next completion date.
APPLICATION FOR COMPLETION
OF POST MASTER’S CERTIFICATE
Post Master’s students fill
out an Application for Completion of Post Master’s Certificate form that can be
obtained from the graduate program secretary in the Department of Nursing. There is no application fee.
The University of Delaware
holds two Commencement ceremonies (May and January) but confers degrees four
times a year (end of fall and spring semesters, and winter and summer
sessions). The Department of Nursing
holds one Convocation ceremony (May).
RESIGNATION FROM THE
UNIVERSITY
A graduate student wishing to resign from the University (i.e., terminate his/her association with the University and a specific degree program) may do so by submitting a letter to the Office of Graduate Studies and the Chair of the Department of Nursing, indicating the reasons for the resignation. The Office of Graduate Studies will cancel the student’s matriculation and indicate the effective date of the resignation on the student’s transcript.
CLINICAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS BY SPECIALTY
(in addition to core
requirements)
CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST
(CNS)
Specialty Required Clinical Courses #
Nursing of Children (NC) 654 655 660 686
Adult Health (AH) 636 646 660 686
------------------------------------------------------
Specialty Required
Clinical Courses #
Neonatal Nurse
Practitioner (NNP) 616 662* 663* 664* 665* 666*
* These courses are taken at Thomas Jefferson University.
HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION SPECIALTY COURSES
619 635 637 638 664 868
619 635 637 638 664 868
# Some of these courses are sequential
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
(all courses are 3 credits unless specified)
NURS/HSAD604 Advanced
Practice Roles for Healthcare Providers
Focuses on roles and issues
affecting healthcare providers engaged in advanced practice. Roles are analyzed in relation to current
issues and concepts of advanced practice.
NURS609 Nursing
Science: Theory and Research (4 Credits)
Examines the science of nursing
from theoretical and research perspectives and emphasizes theory as the
foundation for research and practice.
Pre-req/co-req: first clinical course and EDUC665.
Focuses on community based primary care issues in relation to the individual, family, and community health. Clinical component includes health promotion and disease prevention activities. Pre-req/co-req: NURS620.
NURS617 Preceptorship I
Focuses on clinical topics
in primary care relevant to each nurse practitioner concentration. Pre-req:
all clinical courses except NURS627.
NURS619/HSAD619 Financial
Management in Health Services Organizations
Provides the basic principles and concepts of effective management of budgets for healthcare units. Includes analysis of the environment and departmental organization and their impact on healthcare.
NURS620 Advanced Health
Assessment
Assists graduate students to
acquire advanced knowledge and proficiency in performing health
assessments. Includes eliciting a
complete health history and performing a comprehensive examination.
NURS621 Advanced
Pathophysiology
Presents the pathogenesis of
common conditions affecting children and adults as a basis for clinical
management.
NURS622 Advanced
Pharmacology
Applies principles of
pharmacology to the therapeutic management of the client. Emphasizes prescribing, monitoring drug
regimens, identifying adverse reactions, and anticipating changes inherent in
self medication.
NURS623 Management of
Women’s Health Care
Focuses on gynecological and reproductive health care. Emphasizes management of gynecologic health needs and the normal reproductive cycle. Pre-req/co-req: NURS604 and NURS622; pre-req: NURS620 and NURS621.
NURS624 Management of
Children’s Health
Focuses on the delivery of primary health care to children and adolescents. Emphasizes physical and developmental variations and management of acute and episodic illness. Pre-req/co-req: NURS604 and NURS622; pre-req: NURS620 and NURS621.
NURS625 Management of Adult
Episodic Health Needs and Problems
Focuses on delivery of
primary care to adults and the elderly.
Emphasizes clinical decision making necessary to serve as a foundation
for planning primary health care services. Pre-req/co-req: NURS604 and NURS622;
pre-req: NURS620 and NURS621.
NURS626 Management of Adult
Chronic Health Needs and Problems
Focuses on delivery of primary care to adults and the elderly with chronic health problems. Emphasizes management of ongoing needs. Pre-req/co-req: NURS604 and NURS622; pre-req: NURS620 and NURS621.
NURS627 Preceptorship II
Emphasizes clinical decision
making in an interdisciplinary environment with the nurse practitioner as a
principal provider of primary care.
Students select their preceptor sites with approval of faculty. Pre-req/co-req: NURS617.
NURS635/HSAD635 Health
Administration Theories
Introduces students to theories of administration, organization, and management; their interaction with other health discipline’s theories; and their influence on management of healthcare agencies. Includes the interaction of theories with attainment of organizational goals. Pre–req/co-req: NURS/HSAD604.
NURS636 Adult Health Nursing
I (4 credits)
Provides the conceptual foundation and practical knowledge base needed to develop the essential characteristics of the clinical nurse specialist in adult health. Core content is characterized around three spheres of influence: patient, families and communities; nursing and healthcare personnel; and organizations and networks; with a primary focus on patients, families and communities. Areas of emphasis include assessment skills, therapeutic interventions, education, evidence-based practice and issues and trends in healthcare. Co-req: NURS604; NURS 621. Restrictions: Open to clinical nurse specialist students only.
NURS637/HSAD637 Health
Planning Strategies
Analyzes organizational systems and roles of managers and administrators. Students identify organizational needs, formulate goals and objectives appropriate to healthcare agencies, and identify strategies appropriate to accomplishing goal attainment within ethical constraints of health care. Pre–req/co-req: NURS/HSAD604.
NURS638/HSAD638 Health
Services Evaluation
Emphasizes the roles of managers and administrators in personnel development, promotion of research in clinical settings, and development and implementation of quality improvement initiatives and their implications for health care. Pre-req: NURS/HSAD604
NURS646 Adult Health Nursing
II (4 credits)
Provides the learner with opportunities to develop advanced skills inherent to the clinical nurse specialist role as determined by the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. Content is organized around the three spheres of influence with emphasis on nursing and healthcare personnel and builds upon CNS content in previous courses. Areas of emphasis include leadership, collaboration, citizenship, cost effective care, innovations in practice, and mentorship. Pre-req: NURS636 Restrictions: Open to clinical nurse specialist students only.
NURS654 Nursing of Children
I (4 credits)
Explores the scientific
basis for the routine health care and guidance required by children and their
families. Focuses primarily on the
acutely ill child. Pre-req/co-req: NURS604 and NURS621.
NURS655 Nursing of Children
II (4 credits)
Explores the biopsychosocial needs of children with chronic conditions and their families. Emphasizes interventions by the advanced practice nurse to assist these children to attain, maintain, and regain health. Pre-req: NURS654.
NURS660
Clinical Nurse Specialist Advanced Clinical Practice (2 credits) (Pass/Fail)
Provides opportunities for students in the clinical
nurse specialist concentration to enhance proficiency as clinical experts
within their chosen specialty area.
Pre-req: NURS636, NURS654, or
NURS671.
NURS/HSAD664 Health Services
Administration Practicum
In conjunction with his/her faculty advisor and based on the student’s individualized long range goals, the student selects a preceptor and healthcare setting in which to apply didactic content in real life settings. Pre-req/co-req: NURS/HSAD635, or NURS/HSAD637, or NURS/HSAD 638.
NURS671 Psychiatric Mental
Health Nursing I: Biopsychosocial
Foundations of Mental Health and Illness (4 credits)
Emphasizes theory and research related to assessment, diagnosis, clinical management, and psychopharmacologic intervention in mental illness. Didactic and clinical components allow for the development of subspecialization.
NURS672 Psychiatric Mental
Health Nursing II: Cognitive and Group
Therapeutic Interventions (4 credits)
Focuses on the development
of two modalities of psychiatric skills and treatments. Core concepts of cognitive and group therapy
are integrated with specific strategies for behavioral change. Pre-req:
NURS671.
NURS686 Clinical Nurse
Specialist Role Integration (4 credits)
Integration of theories and
concepts related to roles of the clinical nurse specialist. Emphasizes advanced practice roles within the
broad context of health care.
Pre-req: all clinical courses.
NURS687 Nursing
Science: Research Application
Focuses on the application
of research to nursing practice.
Includes critical analysis of research through an organized critique
process, examination of data, and examination of facilitators and barriers to
research and research utilization, models of research utilization, and methods
of quality management. Pre-req: NURS609.
NURS868/HSAD868 Research
(Scholarly Project )
Investigation of a problem
in clinical nursing, finance, administration, personnel management, public
policy, or education resulting in completion of a scholarly project. Pre-req:
NURS609 or designated research course, NURS/HSAD664, and any two of the
following NURS/HSAD635, 637, 638.
NURS869 Master’s Thesis (6
Credits)
Implementation of research proposal and analysis of data. Pre-req: NURS609.
NURS890/HSAD890 Colloquium
(0 credits; Pass/Fail grade)
Oral presentation of specified project/report.
COMM610 Organizational
Communication Theory
Examines major theories of organizations.
COMM642 Topics in
Organizational Communication
Emphasizes theory and research in organizational communication.
Introduces concepts and research related to communication processes in organizational settings.
EDUC665 Elementary
Statistics
Provides a conceptual
understanding of some useful statistical techniques along with practical
computer and statistical skills which will enable the student to be able to answer
realistic research questions. Topics
include descriptive statistics, regression, exploratory data analysis and
hypothesis testing.
IFST615 Research Methods
Evaluation of existing research reports, articles and monographs, development of data collection techniques, analysis and presentation of data pertaining to child, family and community populations, elements of statistical analysis, evaluation and selection of research designs, preparation of a research project proposal.
PSYC809 Research Design
An overview of methodological issues in the conduct of psychological research, including correlational, experimental, and quasi-experimental studies. Special emphasis on clinical and personality research.
Focuses on the development of normal functioning and
psychopathology in infants, children, and adolescents. The origins, nature, and course of
psychological disorders among children will be examined.
UAPP685 Personnel and Human Resource Issues: Current Topics
Focuses on selected policies, practices, and issues important in the field of public personnel /human resources.
UAPP800 Research Design and Methodologies
Provides skills and examines issues in research design, data acquisition and data analysis in urban affairs.
Emphasizes personnel management topics of importance to the manager in the public agency setting.
For the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program, the
following courses are from Thomas Jefferson University:
NU662 NNP Clinical Course I
Provides
an introduction for the neonatal nurse practitioner student to the conceptual
basis for meeting the health promotion and maintenance needs of the normal
pregnant woman and normal neonate. Sixteen hours per week of clinical practicum with a preceptor are required.
NU663 NNP Clinical Course II
Expands upon NU662 in meeting the health promotion and maintenance needs
of the normal pregnant woman and normal neonate. Common
variations in pregnancy and neonates are presented. Sixteen hours
per week of clinical practicum with a preceptor are required.
NU664 NNP Clinical Course III
Focuses
on the management of the high-risk neonate.
Prepares students to assume the role of care provider and to contribute and support the
collaborative responsibility of other health care team members in meeting the
needs of high risk neonates and their families.
Sixteen hours per week of clinical practicum with a preceptor are
required.
NU665
Comprehensive Assessment of Clinical Decision Making
Designed to refine and expand upon prior health
assessment skills including comprehensive history taking, developmental and
psychosocial assessment and recognition of pathological changes as well as
variations of normal of the neonate.
NU666
Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics for the NNP
Presents comprehensive and clinically pertinent
analysis of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of selected agents. Emphasis is placed on pharmacotherapeutic
agents commonly used in the intensive care nursery,
delivery room and in high-risk follow-up of the neonate.
Department of Nursing
Undergraduate/Graduate
Student Safety Training Outline
The goal of the undergraduate/graduate student
safety training is to provide a minimum level of safety knowledge for all
students. It is not meant to replace
existing training requirements. Below is
an outline of the topics that need to be covered in these training sessions.
This training can be combined with required training already being provided as
long as all new students receive the training.
University
of Delaware Department of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS)
The policy of the University of Delaware is to
provide the University community with a safe and healthful work
environment. Serious attempts will be made
to minimize recognizable hazards. It is
the intent of the University to comply with all occupational health, safety,
and fire regulations and recommended practices.
The DOHS has resources available at http://www.udel.edu/OHS
. University of Delaware safety policies can be viewed online at http://www.udel.edu/ExecVP/polprod/.
Department
of Nursing Safety Committee
The Department of Nursing Safety is appointed by the
Department Chair and will include a minimum of one full-time faculty member and
a minimum of one professional staff member.
The functions of this committee are to provide for training under the
State of Delaware Right-to-Know Law and the OSHA mandated Chemical Hygiene
Plan, to provide bloodborne pathogen training, to carry out safety inspections
of all teaching and research laboratories and departmental offices according to
University policy, and to initiate such changes in departmental policy and
practice as might promote safety. The
department safety committee meets four times a year. Additionally, the committee will conduct a
walk through of McDowell Hall checking for potential environmental safety
concerns.
Emergency
Training
When notified of fire or other emergency by alarm
system or orally, personnel must evacuate the building and move to an area at
least 200 feet from the building. Do not
reenter the building until advised by the person in charge. Entrances, sidewalks, and driveways shall be
kept clear to allow emergency vehicles and personnel access.
An individual who discovers a fire or other
emergency, such as abnormal heating of material, hazardous gas leaks, hazardous
material or flammable liquid spill, smoke, or burning odor, shall immediately
follow these procedures:
1. Don’t risk self - leave the area if unsafe.
2. Give the alarm by:
a. Sounding the building evacuation alarm by pull box or, if not
available, orally notifying occupants of the building.
b. Notifying Public Safety by University
telephone (9-911) or by an Emergency Phone.
3. Isolate the area by closing all doors and windows.
4. Shut down all equipment in the area if possible.
5. Use a portable fire extinguisher to:
a. Assist oneself to evacuate,
b. Assist another to evacuate, or
c. Control a small fire, if you are properly trained.
Individuals
do not operate a fire extinguisher unless you have been trained in its use or
as designated in items above.
Red/Blue light phones. Anyone wishing to contact the Department of
Public Safety (University Police) may do so by using one of the more than 200
campus emergency telephones. Look for
the blue lights above outdoor emergency telephones; red phones are located
indoors. Simply lift the receiver or
push the button, and you will be connected to the Department of Public Safety.
Emergency phone numbers. Public Safety can be notified by University
telephone (9-911) or by using a red or blue Emergency Phone. The DOHS can be reached at 831-8475 or
through Public Safety after hours.
Power outage evacuation procedures.
1. If the power goes off to a laboratory
building, immediate evacuation must take place.
In general, laboratory fume hoods will not operate properly and a
hazardous indoor environment could result.
2. If workers are in a basement area or an
area with no natural lighting, they must move to an area with natural lighting
or outside.
3. If the outage is in a “Place of Public
Assembly” all public events must be discontinued. Classes are not considered public events.
4. All workers must evacuate buildings for
outages longer than one hour. Management
will advise staff concerning alternate work areas or when to report back to the
building.
5. In any event, if a worker feels unsafe in a
building during an outage, they may leave for the duration of the outage after
consulting with their supervisor (see Extreme Weather Conditions/Power Outages
Policy).
6. Please remember that emergency lighting
from battery packs will only last approximately 20 minutes.
Accident/Illness
Information
Accident/Illness reporting and investigation
responsibilities. Accident
reporting/investigation is the responsibility of departmental supervisors and
departmental safety committees.
Incidents must be reported to the supervisor (instructor) as soon as
possible. DOHS coordinates all accident
investigations and receives copies of all employee, student, and visitor
investigation report forms. All
accidents or illness must be reported.
Student and visitor accident reports and investigation report forms must
be submitted to the Department of Occupational Health and Safety.
Accident/Illness reporting forms for the Department
of Nursing are located in the Nursing Department office (391 McDowell Hall).
Students
should visit the Student Health Services or Newark Urgent Care on Main Street.
Location of first aid kits/how to restock. Undergraduate/graduate students need to be
instructed on the location of first aid kits.
First aid kits are located in lab room 103; Dean’s Office; and in the
Department of Nursing Chairs office, 391.
CPR information. The
University’s Department of Occupational Health and Safety is an accredited
American Heart Association training center.
Four levels of CPR classes are offered to anyone who is interested. More information is available at http://www.udel.edu/OHS/CPR.html.
Additional classes are arranged through the Student Nurses Association.
University ambulance procedures. Call 9-911 for ambulance service. The University of Delaware Emergency Care
Unit (UDECU) was founded by students in 1976 to provide quality emergency
ambulance service to the University of Delaware campus and community. Today, UDECU is a state certified ambulance
run entirely by student volunteers.
Crews consist of Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technicians,
Certified State of Delaware Ambulance Attendants and Emergency Vehicle
Operators. The ambulance is available
twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to handle any emergency
situation. The ambulance is a basic life
support unit in which the latest non-paramedical equipment and techniques to
treat and rapidly transport patients are used.
Additional
Areas for Students Exposed to Hazardous Materials
Personal protective equipment requirements. In 1992, the University approved Policy 7-40,
Personal Protective Equipment. This
policy requires University personnel to conduct hazard reviews of all tasks
performed on the job and to specify the personal protective equipment (PPE) required
for these tasks. Supervisors are
required to assure personnel and students follow the procedures outlined in the
job hazard analysis and use the required PPE.
Students are required to purchase an approved eye
protection and any needed protective equipment.
These items are to be brought to each laboratory or clinical session as
required by the instructor.
Waste management. The
University’s Department of Occupational Health and Safety has developed a
Chemical Waste Management Program to assure that proper handling and disposal
procedures are used to protect the health and safety of the University
community and to be in compliance with federal and state regulations governing
hazardous and solid waste management.
Types of chemical waste generated at the University of Delaware include,
but are not limited to, unwanted laboratory reagent chemicals; waste mixtures
generated from laboratory research and education; glassware and trash
contaminated with chemicals; chemical spill clean-up debris; oils; paints;
maintenance cleaners; and mercury if glass thermometers are broken.
Students will be instructed on the proper disposal
of laboratory waste. All biohazardous
material should be placed into a double-lined autoclave container. Uncontaminated glass should be placed into
labeled cardboard containers.
Safety training requirements/resources. Departmental Safety Committees have the
responsibility to facilitate required safety training within the
department. All undergraduate/graduate
students must be provided with a safety training seminar coordinated by the
department. The committee may accomplish
this requirement by developing a program to meet the various training
requirements, sending personnel to the Department of Occupational Health and
Safety classes, or arranging with the Department of Occupational Health and
Safety to provide department specific training.
When appropriate, faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students
must receive initial training and then annual training in handling bloodborne
pathogens, chemical hygiene, and radiation safety. This training will be done annually in
courses ensuring that all students receive this training. Records of attendance will be maintained in
the office of the Assistant to the Chair, Department of Nursing.
Hazardous materials emergency/spill procedures. All waste debris collected during a spill
clean-up must be packaged, labeled and disposed of as chemical waste.
Department of Occupational
Health and Safety
Post‑Exposure
Evaluation and Follow‑Up Procedure
1. If an exposure occurs, first determine if emergency medical
help is required. Examples of when emergency medical help would be required
are: excessive bleeding, loss of consciousness, and broken bones. If emergency
medical help is required, call 9‑911 for police or ambulance on the
campus.
2. For a non‑life threatening emergency, administer first
aid. Allow a penetrating injury to bleed. Wash the injury site thoroughly with
soap and water or rinse the exposed mucous membrane thoroughly with water. If
anyone assists with first aid they should wear gloves. An apron or gown and eye
protection may be necessary if a potential for splashing exists. It is the
University's policy that personal protective equipment appropriate for the
potential hazard is worn, but it is recognized that in certain emergency
situations this may not be possible.
3. The source of the exposure should be identified if possible,
without causing further injury to anyone else. This could simply mean
identifying the patient from whom the specimen came.
4. Contact DOHS (831-1433 or 831-8475) with information
regarding the incident AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
An injured student may be referred to Student Health or to the medical
provider approved by DOHS; contact DOHS to determine the appropriate healthcare
provider for the exposure. Timely
evaluation by a healthcare provider may minimize the complications from an
exposure.
5. If an exposure occurs at a clinical location, follow their
procedures for reporting the exposure at the facility if indicated. The facility may test the source patient
and/or the exposed individual. The
exposure must still be reported to the DOHS as soon as possible.
6. As soon as feasible fill out the Exposure Report Form. Forms are available at DOHS. If possible, the employee or student will
take a copy of it to the medical provider when they are referred. Otherwise, it will be sent as soon as
possible. DOHS will send the other
necessary information, as required by the OSHA BBP Standard, regarding the
exposure to the medical provider.
7. Following the exposure, appropriate paperwork must be
filed. An injured student must complete
a “First Report of Injury.” The
employee, supervisor, or safety committee for the injured subject must complete
an “Accident/Loss Investigation Report.”
8. The source individual's blood, or material the individual was
exposed to, may be tested to determine HBV and HIV status. This shall be done
in accordance with the Delaware Annotated Code, title 16, Sections 1202 and
1203.
9. The exposed individual will be evaluated by the medical
provider, including testing for HBV and HIV serological status if the
individual consents.
10. Post‑exposure prophylaxis, when medically indicated,
counseling, and evaluation of reported illnesses will be performed by the
medical provider. The medical provider shall inform the exposed individual of
any test results, including those performed on the source individual, if such
tests were run.
If
you have any questions regarding these procedures, or about bloodborne
pathogens or other biosafety issues, please contact Krista Murray, Biosafety
Officer, via e-mail at klmurray@udel.edu,
or by phone at 831-1433.
ohs
10/96
Web Sites of Interest
University
of Delaware - www.udel.edu
Access to
many UD links such as academic calendar, bookstore, computing sites, forms,
library, student organizations.
College of
Health and Nursing Sciences - www.udel.edu/health
Department
of Nursing - www.udel.edu/nursing
Office of
Graduate Studies - www.udel.edu/gradoffice
The central location for graduate
admissions and enrollment information
Graduate
Catalog Online - www.udel.edu/provost/gradcat/gradcat98/contents.html
Get official listings of program
descriptions, degree options, faculty, and courses
Official
Student Handbook - www.udel.edu/stuhb
Important information about life as
a student at UD
Office of
the Registrar - www.udel.edu/Registrar
This office maintains official
calendars and some information on policies and procedures
SIS+, the
Student Information System - www.udel.edu/sis.html
With your
student identification number (SS#) and PIN, you can use SIS+ to access grades,
bills, unofficial transcripts, and to change addresses.
Billing and
Collections - www.udel.edu/bill_coll/fees.html
Tuition and fees
Office of Scholarships
and Financial Aid - www.udel.edu/FinAid/applying.html
Foreign
Student & Scholar Services - www.udel.edu/IntlProg/fsss/
FSSS, part
of International Programs & Special Sessions, is the most know office for
foreign graduate students. Visa
information, IAP-66 policies, advice for apartment searching, and more.
Student
Health Services - www.udel.edu/shs
Information
Technologies - Help Center – www.udel.edu/help