Nursing Administration IV: Nursing Administration Capstone – NURS 626

Course Description

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

This course provides the student an opportunity to integrate standards of professional nursing administration performance along with the practice of ethical, legal, and regulatory guidelines through a precepted practicum. The student will have an opportunity to complete a capstone project that will integrate and apply theory and practice-related knowledge to the role of the Nurse Administrator. The course helps meet standards of graduate level nursing education as articulated by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the American Nurses Association’s Scope and Standards for Nursing Administration.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (2)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided topic for each discussion. Each thread must be at least 500 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 250 words. For each thread, the student must support his/her assertions with at least 2 scholarly citations in current APA format. Each reply must cite at least 1 scholarly reference in current APA format. Acceptable sources include the textbooks, the Bible, and peer-reviewed journals published within the last 5 years.

Capstone Project Assignments (4)

To demonstrate understanding, awareness, and insight of a specific clinical/administrative topic, this cumulative project will be completed in 4 parts:

Topic Selection Assignment

The student must submit a 1–2-page paper discussing the topic for his or her Capstone Project. The student must include a rationale for his or her topic choice and name the visual format he/she will use for the Visual Presentation. (Some free resources include Prezi, PowerPoint, Screencast-o-matic, Adobe Spark, etc.)

Annotated Bibliography Assignment

The student must submit an annotated bibliography of 8–10 peer-reviewed references published within the last 5 years. The course textbook and Bible must be included but will not be included in the 8–10 references. Each annotation must be at least 150 words. In addition to the Annotated Bibliography, the student must also submit a current APA-formatted title page.

Outline Assignment

The student must submit a 3–5-page Roman numeral outline that illustrates the various components of the project. References must be cited appropriately in current APA format. In addition to this Outline, the student must submit a current APA-formatted title page and reference page.

Visual Presentation Assignment

The student must complete a presentation using the instructor-approved visual medium, stated in the Topic Selection, to address the findings of the Capstone Project, application of EBP Guidelines/Research Literature, and the presentation’s application to practice. The student must also incorporate a Christian worldview. Options include:

(Video)

The video presentation must be 15–20 minutes and will be posted to YouTube as unlisted. No additional written portions to the title page, abstract, and reference page are required.

(Narrated Presentation)

The narrated presentation must be 10–15 minutes and include at least 1,000 written words, including any notes incorporated into the presentation.

(Visual Presentation)

In addition to a visual representation that the student creates, the student must also submit a 2,000–2,500-word essay describing the research as well as the student’s decision-making process for the visual elements.

Leadership Development Project Assignments (4)

The Leadership Development Project will be completed in 4 parts: reflection on the student’s leadership style, a leadership assessment, a group discussion, and a performance development plan.

Part 1: Reflection – My Leadership Style Assignment

This paper will allow the student to reflect on the many influences that have shaped his or her leadership style. These influences may include leadership theory, scholarly reading, academic experiences, continuing education activities, professional experiences, mentoring relationships, the Bible, etc. The body of the paper must be 5–7 pages and cite 3–5 references published within the last 5 years unless the source is a classical or theoretical work. The course textbooks and the Bible must also be cited but will not count toward the required 3–5 references. All sources must be cited in current APA format.

Part 2: Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) Assessment Assignment

The student must complete a 30-item LPI assessment and then score himself or herself per the assignment instructions. The data obtained from this assessment will support the student’s completion of the Performance Development Plan assignment.

Part 3: Group Discussion

The student must reflect upon his/her experience with the LPI Assessment. The instructor will assign groups for this assignment. The student must address all questions in the Discussion. The student will have an option in replies. The student must reply either to: 1) the threads of 2 group members, or 2) 1 group member’s thread and 1 group member’s reply, or to another student’s thread. Any citations must use current APA format.

Part 4: Performance Development Plan (PDP) Assignment

After completing the LPI Assessment, the student must create a 6-month plan that will strengthen his or her competence and mastery of a particular leadership trait. The student must select the exemplary leadership trait in which he or she scored the lowest. The student must create a goal, action steps, a management strategy, smaller target goals/check-points, as well as a list of resources to support his or her goals. The student may choose to present this 6-month Performance Development Plan in the form he or she chooses. Acceptable forms include, but are not limited to, the following: completing a provided template, creating a spreadsheet, or creating a presentation in PowerPoint, Adobe Spark, or Prezi. The Performance Development Plan must incorporate at least 1 peer-reviewed reference published within the last 5 years and use current APA format where appropriate.

Professional Portfolio Assignment

The student must create a professional portfolio that will serve as an honest depiction of the student’s abilities and successes. It must effectively highlight and showcase accomplishments, talents, competencies, and performance throughout his or her career thus far. The student must include all of the following elements in the Portfolio: summary of professional expertise, statement of leadership philosophy, curriculum vitae, professional goals, professional development, and service. All elements of the Portfolio must be completed using current APA format.

Practicum/Clinical Log Assignments (2)

The Practicum/Clinical Log is the documentation of the 200-hour practicum experience of which 50 hours will be completed in this course. The documentation is to be completed in Typhon. Instructions for setting up Typhon are found in the MSN Handbook. The log must be comprehensive in details related to the experiences in the field and reflective of the American Nurses Association’s Scope and Standards of Practice for Nurse Administrator’s competencies. The discussion must be in-depth and analytical. It must also include examples of how the student has applied the ANA competencies and readings from the textbooks and professional literature in the practicum setting. Any citations must be provided in current APA format. Upon final approval of the practicum goals and objectives, the student will work on practicum hours weekly. Log submissions will be entered in Typhon.

NOTE: In addition to accruing the required number of practicum hours, there must be a passing grade for the practicum experience which includes the following: progression with the student’s established goals and objectives, an in-depth documentation of the practicum experiences as evidenced in the clinical log, and satisfactory preceptor evaluations. Failure to pass the practicum requirements will result in failure of the course; see the MSN Handbook for practicum expectations related to performance and professionalism.

Evaluation Assignments (3)

The preceptor will complete an evaluation of the student at the end of the practicum experience. The evaluation will be sent electronically over a secured server through Typhon to the preceptor. The instructor will retain the preceptor evaluation and may review it with the student upon request. Refer to the MSN Handbook for important detailed information.

The student will complete a Self-Evaluation, an Evaluation of Site and Preceptor, and the preceptor will complete an evaluation of the student.

All evaluations must be completed and submitted as directed. Failure to submit any of the end-of-course evaluations will result in a final course grade of an “incomplete.” The student will be unable to progress to the next practicum course until the grade of “incomplete” is resolved.

Student Evaluation: Self Assignment

The student will complete a self-evaluation of his/her practicum experiences using the provided form (required but no point value assigned).

Student Evaluation: Site and Preceptor Assignment

The student will complete an evaluation of the site and preceptor for his/her practicum experience using the form provided. This document must be shared with the preceptor (required but no point value assigned).

Preceptor Evaluation: Student Assignment

The preceptor will complete an evaluation of the student at the end of the practicum experience. The instructor will electronically send the evaluation to the preceptor via a secured server through Typhon.