Nursing Research

Syllabus:  NURS 3503 Nursing Research

Fall 2012

Course description:    

Basic concepts of research and related terminology are studied.  Steps involved in conducting useful and sound research studies are explored. Focus is on analysis and evaluation of research report/studies as they apply to nursing practice.

Faculty information:               Marcy Beck, RN, MSN

                                                Regional Simulation Center

                                                940 766-5362

                                                Marcy.Beck@mwsu.edu

                                                Office hours:  Virtual via Blackboard

Prerequisites:   NURS 3243, statistics (statistics can be taken concurrently)

Credit hours:   Three (3) credit hours (45 clock hours)

Learning experiences: Reading assignments, discussion board, and tutorials.

Course Objectives:

AACN Essentials: For further information regarding the AACN Essentials identified for each course objective, refer to http://www.aacnnce.edu/education-resources/baccessentials08.pdf

DEC Competencies: In the DEC Competencies below, the following designations apply: I: Provider of Patient Centered Care, II: Coordinator of Care, III: Patient Safety Advocate and IV: Member of the Health Care Team. For further information regarding the competencies identified for each course objective, refer to http://www.bon.texas.gov/about/pdfs/delc-2010.pdf

Required textbooks:

Grading scale:

Evaluation methods:

There will no rounding of grades.

Assignments:

Syllabus Quiz:

The syllabus quiz will be administered during course orientation on Monday, September 27 at 1800, DB323. This will follow your Family Health I class. Failure to complete the quiz at this date and time will result in a 50% reduction in grade. You will need to take the quiz which will be posted on Blackboard under Assessments icon on the home page and due by August 31, 2012 by 1700. If you attend orientation you do not need to take the syllabus quiz on blackboard.

Online Assessments:

1.         For each of the five units of instruction, students will complete an online quiz.

2.         The quizzes are located under the Assessment icon on the homepage.

3.         The quizzes are open book and students may collaborate with other students in      completing them.

4.         Students will be required to answer questions derived from the content of the chapters assigned for that unit of instruction. The quizzes will also consist of questions from the assigned journal article(s) for that unit of instruction.

5.         There is a focus sheet for each chapter. Students should use these to focus their reading and comprehension of the content. You can find the focus sheets under the Learning Module icon.

6.         The assessment (Quiz) schedule is:    

7.         Students will receive a zero for any quizzes not submitted by the due date and time.

8.         Students may enter and exit the quiz as much as desired until the quiz is submitted.

9.         If a student accidently submits a quiz prior to the due date, the student may request that the Course Instructor reset the attempt. The request should be made by e-mail via Blackboard and the quiz must have unanswered questions or the Course Instructor will not reset it. The only quizzes that will be reset are ones submitted at least 24 hours prior to the due date and time.

Examinations:

1.         There are two examinations for the course.

2.         The first examination is on Monday, October 08, 2012 and the second examination is on Monday, November 26, 2012 both at 1800 in DB 323.

3.         The content of the first examination includes Unit I and II. The content of the second examination includes unit III, IV and V.

4.         The examinations will be individual work.

5.         Each student is to submit two Nursing Parscore Scantrons (blank with no markings) to the Course Instructor by October 08, 2012 prior to the examination.

6.         Makeup exams will be October 19, 2012 and December 07, 2012 at 1300 in room BH 108. These exams will not be the same exams administered on the exam dates. They may be essay.

Critique of Quantitative/Qualitative Article

1.       Students will be divided into groups by the course instructor.
2.       Each group will complete the critique forms on the article provided. There is one article     for a quantitative article critique and one for a qualitative article critique.
3.       Place each group members name on the top of the critique form.
4.       This critique form will be uploaded under the assignment icon.

Evidence Based Clinical Presentation:

1.       Students will be divided into groups by the course instructor.

2.         Groups will come to a consensus on one clinical issue identified during their clinical          experiences.

3.         The group will identify one (1) peer reviewed research article that addresses the     identified clinical issue. You may use either a quantitative or qualitative research article.      

4.         The group will prepare a powerpoint presentation about their findings from the article        chosen and indicate the impact on the selected clinical issue utilizing the PICO format.

5.         Presentations will be December 03, 2012 at 1800 in DB 323. Each group will present        their clinical issue and the article they chose. Also upload the powerpoint under the    assignment icon by midnight, December 03, 2012.

Evaluation of Group Participation by Group Members

1. You will evaluate each member of your group, not you, on the posted rubric and submit the score through the assessment icon by December 07, 2012 by 1700.
2. The scores will be tallied and averaged amongst all the group members for your group participation grade.

Quick Reference for Due Dates

Communication

• Students must open and review the Blackboard site everyday for possible new information.
• Students are advised to e-mail within Blackboard if you want to contact the Course Instructor for the course.
• If the student experiences technical problems within the course, the student should contact Distance Education at http://distance.mwsu.edu/distance/OPRS/OPRS.asp. If the technical problem prevents the submission of a quiz, the student should submit the quiz once the problem is resolved and notify the Course Instructor by e-mail.
• Each Unit of Instruction has a discussion topic for questions regarding the content of the Unit of Instruction including questions about the content within each of the assigned chapters.
• The last day to drop the course with a "W" is October 18, 2012 by 1600. The form for dropping the course is on the homepage for the registrar's office at http://registrar.mwsu.edu/  

Cheating policy:

The BSN Program does not condone cheating in any form and considers it as a serious offense. Cheating is defined by the faculty to include dishonesty on examinations and plagiarism. Plagiarism is further defined as “the act of using source materials of other persons (either published or unpublished) without following the accepted techniques of crediting, or the submission for credit of work not the individual’s to whom credit is given.” (MSU Student Handbook, Standards of Conduct, Item 10.)

Offending material that may constitute plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the following: Bibliography cards, formal papers, book reports, written nursing care plans, etc.)

For further information regarding cheating and any subsequent actions to be taken, please refer to the policy statement in the MSU Student Handbook.

MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT HONOR CREED

“As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else to do so.”

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception.

Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters.

We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one’s own work, work or ideas which are not entirely one’s own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student.

We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed.

Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate

Disability Support Services:

Midwestern State University does not discriminate on the basis of an individual's disability and complies with section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act in its admissions, accessibility, and employment of individuals in programs and activities.

MSU provides academic accommodations and auxiliary aids to individuals with disabilities, as defined by the law, who are otherwise qualified to meet academic employment requirements. For assistance, call (940) 397-4618 or (940) 397-4515, TDD. Please see the instructor outside of class to make arrangements involving special accommodations.

It is the student's responsibility to declare any disabilities. After declaration, preferably at the beginning of each semester, the student needs to contact their individual instructors to determine any reasonable accommodations that may be required.

Course policy:

The instructor of this course reserves the right to make changes to the course and this syllabus at any time.