Week 1
discussion
The Value of a Master's-Prepared Nurse
Consider the current healthcare delivery models and practice
settings. Reflect on how nursing practice is transforming in response to the
current demands of the healthcare system and answer one of the following
questions:
What differentiates the practice of a master's-prepared
nurse compared to that of a baccalaureate-prepared nurse?
What is the value of a master's degree in nursing?
What do you consider to be the most essential professional
competency for a master's-prepared nurse practicing in the 21st century?
Refer to AACN Essentials, NLN competencies, and CCN Nursing
Conceptual Framework. Use at least one outside scholarly article to support
your position. Provide an example to illustrate an application to professional practice.
Week 2
discussion
Caring Concepts in Nursing
This week's topic is centered on the concept of caring in
contemporary nursing practice. In your initial response, provide a definition
of caring that aligns with your perspective on the concept of caring. Identify
your selected program of study specialty track (Executive, Education, FNP,
Healthcare Policy, or Nursing Informatics). Describe how you will apply the
principles of caring and holistic nursing in your future professional practice.
Use at least one outside scholarly article to support your position. Provide an
example to illustrate an application to professional practice.
Week 3
discussion
Knowing Self
Reflect the concepts addressed in this week's lesson plan
and required reading. Recall a challenging experience in either your personal
or professional life. In the initial response, start with an introduction that
includes a brief description of two core values that influence your nursing
practice and interaction with others. Provide a concise description of the
challenging experience. What core values were challenged in this experience?
What lessons were learned from this experience? How did the experience inform
future professional behaviors, decisions, and actions? Provide a specific
example on how lessons learned from the challenging experience were applied in
your professional practice. Use at least one outside scholarly reference to
support your position.
Week 4
discussion
Leadership: Establishing Relationships and Influencing
Change
This week's focus is on developing foundational
interpersonal skills that will prepare you for professional practice as a
leader and change agent. As a leader, how will you influence change in your
professional specialty area? Identify two strengths you have that will promote
strong leadership. Identify two areas of improvement to your skill in leading
and influencing change. What are two priority strategies you will implement to
improve and/or enhance your leadership skills?
Week 5
discussion
Evidence-Based Practice
Discuss the EBP process and importance to nursing practice.
Identify your selected specialty track. Provide a rationale on why you selected
the specific professional track. Identify a concept or topic you have a passion
about or an area of interest related to your future specialty advanced practice
area. Provide an example, using the best evidence available, substantiating the
significance of your selected area of interest as it relates to your specific
specialty track.
Week 6
discussion
Systems-Structure and Function
Many of you have experience in complex adaptive systems
whether you realize it or not. Thinking about your future practice specialty
area, identify an issue or concern common to your future practice setting.
(Note: This can be the same practice issue identified in Week 5.) In your
initial response, please identify your specialty track, as well as the issue or
concern. Discuss how this issue or concern impacts the system at the micro, meso,
and macro levels. How will you address this issue or concern at the microsystem
level? What is the expected impact of your solution on the meso- and
macrosystems? Remember you can use an information technology-based solution to
address the issue or concern.
Week 7
discussion
Healthful Environments
Reflect on an experience in which you were directly involved
or witnessed incivility in the workplace. Provide a brief synopsis of the
situation. How did this make you feel? How did you respond? What were the
consequences of this situation? Provide an example of how this negatively
affected the work environment and outcomes. How could the situation have been
prevented? Discuss strategies that would support a healthy work environment.
Week 8
discussion
What Did You Learn
Reflecting on this course, consider and answer the following
questions: How do you envision using the AACN essentials and information
learned in this course to identify, guide, and evaluate your MSN project? How
do you envision using the concepts learned in this course in your future
nursing practice?
Week 2 assignment
Artistic Expression: Caring Concept Assignment
Purpose
Nursing practice is both an art and a science with caring as
a central concept to nursing practice and the profession of nursing. Caring is
influenced by the nurse’s knowledge, skills, and attitudes formed through
lifelong learning and experiences. The purpose of this assessment is to explore
definitions of caring in nursing. Students will create a definition of caring
and an artistic expression of their perception on caring.
Course Outcomes
Through this assessment, the student will meet the following
Course Outcomes.
CO 1: Examine roles and competencies of master’s-prepared
nurses essential to performing as leaders and advocates of holistic, safe, and
quality care.
CO 2: Apply concepts of person-centered care to nursing
practice situations.
Total Points Possible
This assessment is worth 125 points.
Due Date
Submit your file(s) by 11:59 p.m. MT Sunday at the end of
Week 2.
Requirements
Criteria for Content
Take a moment to reflect on how you demonstrate caring in
your current professional practice.
Create an original artistic representation of your
perception on caring in nursing.
Drawings should be formatted on an 8 x 10 document and
submitted as a PDF
Poems or short-story – word document 1 page in length
In a one- to two-page written paper, address the following.
The importance of caring to nursing practice and the
profession
A personal definition of caring; include principles of
holistic care
Definitions of caring found in nursing literature that
support your perspective on caring
An explanation of the artistic expression you chose and how
it represents caring
Summary of key concepts presented in the paperPreparing the
paper
Submission Requirements
Application: Use Microsoft Word 2013™ to create the written
component of this assessment.
Length:
The paper (excluding the title page and reference page)
should be at least one but no more than two pages.
Artistic representation submitted as an 8X10 PDF or word
document
A minimum of three (3) scholarly literature references must
be used.
Submission: Submit your files labeled Lastname_First
Initial_Wk2Assignment_Caring
Best Practices in Preparing the Project
The following are best practices in preparing this project.
Review directions thoroughly.
Follow submission requirements for selected type of artistic
expression.
Make sure all elements on the grading rubric are included.
Rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, and punctuation are
followed and consistent with formal, scientific writing.
Title page, running head, body of paper, and reference page
must follow APA guidelines as found in the 6th edition of the manual. This
includes the use of headings for each section of the paper except for the
introduction where no heading is used.
Ideas and information that come from scholarly literature
must be cited and referenced correctly.
A minimum of three (3) scholarly literature references must
be used.
Abide by CCN academic integrity policy.
Week 3
assignment
Addressing Bias
Purpose
In today’s current healthcare settings, the increasing
diversity, globalization, and expanding technologies produce complex ethical
pressures that influence nursing practice and practice outcomes. To be effective
in a master’s-prepared advanced nurse practice role it is important to
understand personal values, beliefs, strengths, and limitations. The purpose of
this assessment is to promote introspective reflection related to implicit
and/or explicit personal biases. Students will develop a plan to reduce bias
and promote personal and professional growth.
Course Outcomes
CO 1: Examine roles and competencies of master’s-prepared
nurses essential to performing as leaders and advocates of holistic, safe, and
quality care. (PO 1-5)
CO 2: Apply concepts of person-centered care to nursing
practice situations. (PO 1, 2, 5)
Total Points Possible
This assessment is worth 125 points.
Due Date
Submit your file(s) by 11:59 p.m. MT Sunday at the end of
Week 3.
Requirements
Criteria for Content
Complete a self-inventory on personal biases you hold. The
biases might be implicit or explicit.
In a one to two-page summary, address the following.
Identify your selected specialty track (education,
executive, family nurse practitioner, healthcare policy, or nursing
informatics).
Discuss how biases can impact outcomes in selected nursing
practice settings.
Identify personal biases and attitudes toward people with
various cultural, gender, sexual orientation, age, weight, and religions that
are different than your own.
Select one bias that you have.
Develop one strategy to reduce this bias.
Preparing the paper
Submission Requirements
Application: Use Microsoft Word 2013™ to create the written
assessment.
Length: The paper (excluding the title page and reference
page) is at maximum two pages.
A minimum of two (2) scholarly literature references must be
used.
Submission: Submit your files: Last name_First
initial_Assessment 2_Addressing Bias
Best Practices in Preparing the Project
The following are best practices in preparing this project.
Review directions thoroughly.
Follow submission requirements.
Make sure all elements on the grading rubric are included.
Rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, and punctuation are
followed and consistent with formal, scientific writing.
Title page, running head, body of paper, and reference page
must follow APA guidelines as found in the 6th edition of the manual. This
includes the use of headings for each section of the paper except for the
introduction where no heading is used.
Ideas and information that come from scholarly literature
must be cited and referenced correctly.
A minimum of two (2) scholarly literature references must be
used.
Abide by CCN academic integrity policy.
Week 5
assignment
Area of Interest PowerPoint Presentation
Purpose
The process for affecting positive change to improve
practice outcomes can start with either the identification of an area of
interest or the identification of a potential or existing practice problem.
Selecting an area of interest helps to define a direction of further inquiry.
The purpose of this assessment is for students to identify and discuss an area
of interest specific to their selected specialty track. Students will identify
a common practice problem related to the selected area of interest and provide
a recommendation to affect positive change.
Course Outcomes
Through this assessment, the student will meet the following
Course Outcomes.
CO 1: Examine roles and competencies of master’s-prepared
nurses essential to performing as leaders and advocates of holistic, safe, and
quality care.
CO 3: Analyze essential skills needed to lead within the
context of complex systems.
CO 4: Explore the process of scholarship engagement to
improve health and healthcare outcomes in various settings.
Total Points Possible
This assessment is worth 175 points.
Due Date
Submit your file(s) by 11:59 p.m. MT Sunday at the end of
Week 5.
Requirements
Criteria for Content
Review literature or reflect on an experience that is
related to common concepts and topics specific to your identified specialty
track. Information on common topics for specific specialty tracks is located in
Course Resources. Reflect on an area of passion that facilitated your specialty
track selection. Identify a common issue/concern related to your identified
area of interest.
In a PowerPoint Presentation, address the following:
Introduction to presentation
Explain the importance of master’s-prepared nurses
conducting evidence-based projects related to nursing practice and profession.
Discuss a model for developing an evidence-based project
Include illustration (diagram) of model
Identify specialty track and reasons for selecting this area
of study
Introduce area of interest
Discuss what is known about the concept or topic
Provide common themes, ideas, or facts found in literature
Identify a common issue/concern related to your identified
area of interest. Provide a recommendation for positive change related to the
identified issue/concern.
Consider factors that might influence the recommended change
Identify at least two (2) internal factors that have the
potential to influence the change.
Identify at least two (2) external factors that have the
potential to influence the change.
Identify two (2) AACN Master’s Essentials that address or
support an evidence-based project related to your area of interest.
Conclusion to presentation
Provide references
Preparing the paper
Submission Requirements
Application: Use Microsoft Word 2013™ to create the
PowerPoint presentation.
Length: The PowerPoint presentation must be 12 total slides
(excluding title and reference slides).
Speaker notes are used and include in-text citations when
applicable.
A minimum of four (4) scholarly literature references must
be used.
Submission: Submit your file: Last name_First
initial_Wk5Assessment_Area of Interest.
Best Practices in Preparing the Project
The following are best practices in preparing this project:
Review directions thoroughly.
Follow submission requirements.
Make sure all elements on the grading rubric are included.
Rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, and punctuation are
followed and consistent with formal, scientific writing.
Review the Creating a Professional Presentation located in
Course Resources.
Ideas and information that come from scholarly literature
must be cited and referenced correctly.
A minimum of four (4) scholarly literature references must
be used.
Abide by CCN academic integrity policy.
Week 7
assignment
Cultivating Healthful Environments
Purpose
Master’s-prepared advanced practice nurses participate in
and demonstrate fair and unbiased interactions within all workplace settings.
As a member of the nursing profession, and a leader, you are encouraged to
implement strategies that promote and cultivate cultures of civility,
regardless of practice setting. The purpose of this assessment is to analyze
the issue of incivility and apply best practices to cultivate healthful
environments.
Course Outcomes
CO 1: Examine roles and competencies of master’s-prepared
nurses essential to performing as leaders and advocates of holistic, safe, and
quality care. (PO 1-5)
CO 2: Apply concepts of person-centered care to nursing
practice situations. (PO 1, 2, 5)
CO 3: Analyze essential skills needed to lead within the
context of complex systems (PO 3, 4)
Total Points Possible
This assessment is worth 200 points.
Due Date
Submit your file(s) by 11:59 p.m. MT Sunday at the end of
Week 7.
Requirements
Criteria for Content
Reflect on the issue of incivility. Think of an experience
in which you were directly involved or witnessed incivility in the workplace.
Analyze scholarly literature related to the issue of incivility and strategies
for cultivating healthful environments.
In a four- to six-page written paper, address the following.
Define and explain the issue of incivility. Use scholarly
nursing literature.
Discuss the importance of this issue to nursing. Address the
impact of incivility on individuals, microsystem work environments, and the
profession of nursing. In this section, use at least three (3) different
scholarly nursing literature in-text citations with matching references.
Provide a scenario (real or fictitious) of incivility in a
practice setting. What was the impact on the individuals involved? How was the
work environment affected?
Describe three strategies for creating a healthful
environment. Use scholarly nursing literature to support each strategy.
Identify your selected specialty track (education,
executive, family nurse practitioner, healthcare policy, or nursing
informatics). Provide two examples of strategies you will implement in your
master’s-prepared advanced practice role to cultivate a healthful work
environment.
Provide a conclusion. Include a summary on the issue of
incivility, strategies to create healthful environments, specialty track, and
how you will contribute to cultivating healthful environments in your future
professional practice. Include a self-reflection.
Preparing the paper
Submission Requirements
Application: Use Microsoft Word 2013™.
Length: The paper (excluding the title page and reference
page) is at minimum four (4) pages and at maximum six (6) pages.
A minimum of four (4) scholarly nursing literature
references must be used.
Submission: Submit your files: Last name_First
initial_Assessment 5_Cultivating Healthful Environments.
Best Practices in Preparing the Project
The following are best practices in preparing this project.
Review directions thoroughly.
Follow submission requirements.
Make sure all elements on the grading rubric are included.
Rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, and punctuation are
followed and consistent with formal, scientific writing.
Title page, running head, body of paper, and reference page
must follow APA guidelines as found in the 6th edition of the manual. This
includes the use of headings for each section of the paper except for the
introduction where no heading is used.
Ideas and information that come from scholarly nursing
literature must be cited and referenced correctly.
A minimum of four (4) scholarly nursing literature
references must be used.
Abide by CCN academic integrity policy.
