Appendix 4: Master of Nursing
Standards of Professional Conduct
Master of Nursing students are pursuing a graduate degree within the profession of nursing. Therefore, in addition to the standards regulating Academic and Non-Academic Conduct for the University of Lethbridge, students must also adhere to the Canadian Nurses Association Code of Ethics while undertaking coursework, the project, or thesis. Students are directed to read Standards of Professional Conduct for Students in the Master of Nursing Program in the Graduate Studies Calendar and Course Catalogue for comprehensive coverage of the expectations related to professional conduct.
Project Route
The Project route is for students who want to make a significant contribution to a nursing practice setting via activity other than a Thesis. A Project involves the application of a variety of nursing evidence into a deliverable that can be readily utilized by nurses or clients in a practice setting. The Project will not entail collection of data from individuals and will not require approval by the University of Alberta Research Ethics Board (REB). It will require A Project Ethics Community Consensus Initiative (ARECCI) review. There are many possible formats for a scholarly Project. Students are encouraged to discuss this route with the Chair of the Master of Nursing Program Advisory Committee.
Thesis Route
The Thesis route is for students who wish to do research and is the preferred route for students who may plan to engage in doctoral studies in the future. A Thesis is theory-oriented and begins with posing a question that will in some way contribute to the building or validating theory. A thesis requires in-depth review of the literature, application of clearly described methodology for answering the research question, approval by the University of Alberta Research Ethics Board (REB), data collection, thorough description of the results of the work, a synthesis of the research findings with current literature, and implication of the research for both theory and practice. Students are encouraged to discuss Thesis requirements with the Chair of the Master of Nursing Program Committee.
Overview of the Project
A Project is tangible application of a variety of nursing evidence into a deliverable that can be readily utilized by nurses or clients in a practice setting. The final Project product will include a written final project paper, as well as the project-specific deliverable that could be shared with practice.
One (1) faculty member will coordinate and supervise all students registered in Nursing 6002 - Final Project. Nursing 5150 - Project Development Seminar precedes this course and the Project Proposal for the final Project will be completed in this course.
Project Format Guidelines
Students will follow the Thesis, Project, and Capstone Format Regulations on pg. 36 for the Master of Nursing Project Proposal and for the final Project Paper.
Choosing a Project Topic
Students choose a Project topic of interest to them in consultation with the Nursing 5150 - Project Development Seminar course instructor.
It is important to clarify that the Project is not a research project or thesis. That is, the Project does not entail the collection of new (or pre-existing) data from individuals or groups. To ensure the project meets ethical standards, completion of the ARECCI assessment instrument is required. The course instructor will assist students in accessing this assessment instrument.
Project Proposal
The Project Proposal will be developed during the Nursing 5150 - Project Development Seminar. At the first class meeting, students will present Project ideas and receive feedback from the course instructor and colleagues.
During the second class meeting in Nursing 5150, a Project Proposal colloquium will be held. The purpose of the colloquium is to provide students with an opportunity to mount a short oral presentation on the proposed Project and to receive input, suggestions, and questions from the course instructor, colleagues, and practice-setting stakeholders. The presentations will be open to interested faculty members, graduate students, and community members. Specific requirements for the colloquium presentation are found in the Nursing 5150 course outline. The presentation will be designated as Pass/Fail according to a rubric found in the Nursing 5150 course outline.
In addition, students will be required to submit a written version of the Project Proposal as one of the major assignments for Nursing 5150. The project proposal assignment will be designated as Pass/ Fail according to a rubric found in the Nursing 5150 course outline. The proposal must adhere to the Thesis, Project, and Capstone Format Regulations. See below for information about what the written form of the Project Proposal will include.
Table 16: Master of Nursing Project Proposal structure
Section 1: Introduction | A brief one (1) to two (2) page description of the nursing practice problem that the Project addresses, and the purpose of the Project. |
Section 2: Review of relevant literature and nursing evidence | A 10-to-15-page description of the scope and nature of the problem, the impact of the problem on clients, nursing students and/or nurses, overview of current strategies used to address the problem, and possible gaps in the literature and/or future directions to address the problem (all using existing nursing evidence and/or evidence in other relevant areas. |
Section 3: Project description | A five (5) to 10 page description of the specific format the Project will take (e.g., lesson plan, paper, orientation manual), target population, plan for process of Project development and/or implementation as well as a rationale for the proposed format, including relevant nursing evidence (and/or evidence in other relevant areas). |
It is the student’s responsibility to submit an electronic version of the marked Final Project Proposal from Nursing 5150 (with course instructor comments) to the Nursing 6002 course instructor.
Completing the Project: Nursing 6002 - Final Project
Once a passing grade has been received in Nursing 5150, the student registers for Nursing 6002 in the subsequent academic term and begins completing the Project under the supervision of the Nursing 6002 course instructor. As per the Nursing 6002 course outline, the student follows the expected process and timelines for completing the Project, and will receive ongoing feedback from the course instructor, colleagues, and practice setting stakeholders.
If a student is unable to complete the Project in the time allotted for the Nursing 6002 course in which they are is registered, a grade of ‘F’ (Failure) will be assigned, and the student will be required to take the course again when it is next offered. If the student is unable to complete the Project due to extenuating circumstances that can be documented, an ‘I’ (Incomplete) designation may be assigned at the discretion of the Nursing 6002 course instructor.
Submitting the Final Project Paper
a) Final Project Paper Format
The final Project Paper constitutes the major assignment for Nursing 6002 and is to consist of four sections and appropriate appendices as outlined below. The paper consists of the original Project Proposal (incorporating any revisions suggested by the Nursing 5150 course instructor), a fourth section and the appendix (see table below).
Table 17: Master of Nursing Final Project Paper format
Section 1: Introduction | A brief one (1) to two (2) page description of the nursing practice problem that the Project addresses, and the purpose of the Project. |
Section 2: Review of relevant literature and nursing evidence | A 10-to-15-page description of the scope and nature of the problem, the impact of the problem on clients, nursing students and/or nurses, overview of current strategies used to address the problem, and possible gaps in the literature and/or future directions to address the problem (all using existing nursing evidence and/or evidence in other relevant areas. |
Section 3: Project Description | A five (5) to 10 page description of the specific format the Project will take (e.g., lesson plan, paper, orientation manual), target population, plan for process of Project development and/or implementation as well as a rationale for the proposed format, including relevant nursing evidence (and/or evidence in other relevant areas). |
Section 4: Reflection | A five (5) to 10 page description of the Project development process, major lessons learned regarding the development and completion of the Project, and implications for nursing practice and future research (for specific guidelines are found in the Nursing 6002 course outline) |
Appendix: The project deliverable | An electronic copy of the final Project deliverable. For example: a lesson plan, pamphlet, patient teaching guide, practice protocol/guideline, resource manual, PowerPoint presentation, et cetera. If the deliverable is not able to be appended electronically, specific arrangements will be made with the Nursing 6002 instructor. |
The paper should be no more than 45 pages or 9000 words excluding the appendix. The actual length of the final paper is less important than the quality.
b) Project Presentation
Nursing 6002 students will participate in Project presentations. This consists of a 10-to-15-minute presentation followed by a 10-minute open discussion period. The presentation will be designated as Pass/Fail according to a rubric found in the Nursing 6002 course outline.
c) Final Project Paper Grading
The final Project Paper will be evaluated according to the marking guide and rubric within the Nursing 6002 course outline and will receive a final designation of ‘P’ (Pass) or a grade of ‘F’ (Fail) for the course.
d) Recommendation for Graduation
Upon assigning a passing designation for the Project Presentation and Project Paper, the Nursing 6002 instructor completes the Project Completion Signature form (signed by the course instructor and student) and submits it to the Chair of the Master of Nursing Program Committee. Upon review of all program requirements, the Chair of the Master of Nursing Program Committee will recommend students for graduation to the Dean of Graduate Studies by completing and forwarding the Recommendation of Award of the Degree form to the School of Graduate Studies for decanal approval.
Master of Nursing students are responsible for ensuring they have met all degree requirements and submitted the final Project Paper as a PDF document via the e-thesis system available at www.ulethbridge.ca/graduate-studies/e-thesis-submission. Format regulations for the final Project Paper are described in Thesis, Project, and Capstone Format Regulations on pg. 36.
Selecting and Appointing the Supervisor
If the student chooses the Thesis route, they must commence the process of finding a faculty member from the Faculty of Health Sciences in the Nursing program as the supervisor. To begin this process, the student should review the faculty profile section of the Faculty of Health Sciences website to identify faculty members who have similar areas of interest.
Once the supervisor has been approved, it is the supervisor’s and student’s responsibility to ensure they meet (in person or via teleconference or videoconference) regularly to plan for the student’s program of study and completion of the Thesis. Regular meetings between the student and supervisor—at least once an academic term (and more, if needed)—will help to assure successful completion of the program. The student and the supervisor are also expected to be aware of the suggested timelines and milestones for Thesis completion.
It is the shared responsibility of the student and the supervisor to review the student’s planned research methodology and to determine the best available option for the required research design course. The student will also have opportunities to develop their proposed research during the Nursing 5160 - Thesis Proposal Seminar.
Thesis Proposal
Students will confer with their supervisors to identify a potential Thesis topic before starting the Nursing 5160 - Thesis Proposal Seminar course.
If the student is uncertain if the proposed thesis research requires ethics approval, they should consult with their supervisor and/or the University of Alberta Research Ethics Board (REB) review coordinator at the University.