Graduate Program Handbook

Introduction
- College of Nursing Philosophy
Degree Requirements
- Master’s in Nursing Degree Requirements and Program Objectives
- Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Requirement and Program Objectives
- Post Masters DNP
- Post Graduate APRN Certificate and Program Outcomes
- Certificate in Nursing Education and Program Outcomes
Policies to Support Progress Towards Graduate Degree or Certificate
Advising and Committee Formation
Qualifying / Comprehensive / Candidacy Exams
Professional Project Overview
Graduate Teaching Assistants / Graduate Research Assistant Opportunities
Graduate Student Resources
Appendices
- MN Course Plans
- DNP Course Plans
- Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner Certificate

Important reminder:

It is a student responsibility to read the MSU Mark & Robyn Jones College of Nursing (MRJCON) Graduate Program Handbook and respective Clinical Manual applicable to the degree and option. Each contain policies and procedures that govern the College of Nursing graduate program. Information contained in this handbook are considered policy in addition to those listed on the MRJCON and Graduate School websites and are subject to change.

Introduction

The MSU Mark & Robyn Jones College of Nursing (MRJCON) offers Master of Nursing (MN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees and a post-graduate APRN - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners Certificate. The MN degree was first offered at MSU in 1957, the DNP degree in 2013, and the post-graduate APRN certificate in 2023. The MN degree focuses on the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) role and the DNP degree offers two advanced practice nursing options - Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. A Certificate in Nursing Education can be earned concurrently while enrolled in other degrees or certificates.

Vision of the College of Nursing:

The Montana State University College of Nursing transforms lives and communities in the people’s interest.

Mission of the College of Nursing:

The Montana State University College of Nursing enhances the health of the people of Montana, our nation, and the global community through education, creation of knowledge, and service.

The Values of the College of Nursing:

Excellence - We pursue exceptional outcomes.

Integrity - We commit to honesty, ethical behavior and accountability.

Inclusion - We create a civil, supportive and respectful environment where difference and diversity are sources of strength.

Collaboration - We believe that working together produces better outcomes.

Curiosity - We expect inquiry, exploration, creativity and innovation.

Stewardship - We care for and conserve the human, economic, physical and environmental resources entrusted to us.

The MRJCON graduate programs are recognized nationally for leadership in rural nursing and are fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The College of Nursing has an enrollment of approximately 150 graduate students who reside in, and if approved, outside of Montana.

The main campus of Montana State University (MSU) is in Bozeman and includes extensive library facilities and access to the full array of courses and research opportunities available through all departments at MSU. The administrative offices (Graduate Program Manager, Graduate Campus Director, and Graduate Student Clinical Placement Manager) of the MRJCON are in Bozeman. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Susan Raph, has general responsibility for the graduate programs and is in Bozeman.

All graduate programs are delivered via distance but are not considered fully online. Students access all graduate courses through Brightspace by D2L (MSU’s Learning Management System for delivery of courses). Graduate courses may be enhanced with interactive video [e.g. WebEx] at the instructor’s discretion and an orientation for new graduate students is held in the fall. Students may be required to travel to Bozeman for select face-to-face classes. The MRJCON uses synchronous intensive classes via WebEx three times a semester to facilitate learning. Students are provided with the intensive dates in advance and a detailed class schedule is provided for student planning. Students are expected to attend intensive classes and to notify faculty in emergent cases.

Graduate education is considered more intense than what is experienced at the undergraduate level. Students should bear in mind that each lecture credit represents a minimum of three class-oriented work hours (50 minutes of classroom instruction and an additional two hours of out-of-class engaged effort and work per student) each week during a 15-week semester. One credit of achievement should approximate 45 hours of combined instruction and student work/engaged effort regardless of pedagogical format.

Each clinical credit requires three hours of practicum per week. Students should plan time for class preparation and assignments, library work, and clinical experiences including preparation and travel to rural sites. Clinical sites are arranged on an individual basis in collaboration with the Student Placement Manager and the Program Leads. The DNP and Master’s Program Leads are responsible for the overall management of the clinical components of the programs and provide programmatic expertise. Each program has a detailed student clinical lab manual that is reviewed with students at program orientation and again prior to starting clinical rotations. Clinical rotations are arranged within the state of MT, with some select, pre-approved out of state locations.

We are proud of our graduate programs, and we welcome strong, enthusiastic, and diligent graduate students to join us each year. Graduates from the MSU MRJCON are readily employable in a variety of nursing and health care settings.

Degree Requirements

Master’s Degree Requirements

The Master of Nursing (MN) graduate degree prepares graduates with advanced leadership skills to be applied in the healthcare delivery system across a wide range of settings. Functions include client advocacy, team manager, information manager, outcomes manager, systems analyst, risk anticipator, educator, and active professional. After successful completion of the Master’s in Nursing – Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) program, which includes 405 practice hours with 315 hours of immersion in CNL practice, students will be eligible to sit for the national CNL Certification Examination offered by the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC). Students are encouraged to sit for the CNL certification exam as soon after graduation as possible. The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) graduate who has earned a MN degree is an advanced generalist prepared in theory and practice to assume leadership positions in meeting the health care needs of individuals, families, and communities.

Master’s in Nursing Program Objectives:

The graduate who earns the MN degree from Montana State University is prepared in the following domains:

Domain 1: Knowledge for Nursing Practice: Evaluate, integrate, translate, and apply evidence from nursing science and other disciplines in the delivery of care.

Domain 2: Person-Centered Care: Create, communicate, and evaluate person-centered care that includes holistic, individualized, just, culturally aware, respectful, compassionate, coordinated, evidence-based and developmentally appropriate.

Domain 3: Population Health: analyze current population health gaps and create and evaluate costeffective, evidence-based interventions to meet the needs of the target population.

Domain 4: Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline: advance the scholarship of nursing through the integration of best evidence and ethical conduct of scholarly activities.

Domain 5: Safety and Quality: employ improvement science to ensure system effectiveness for safe, person-centered care within a physically, psychologically, secure, and just environment. Page | 5 MRJCON Graduate Handbook AY2023-24

Domain 6: Interprofessional Partnership: collaborate across professions and with other stakeholders to optimized care, enhance the healthcare experience, and strengthen outcomes.

Domain 7: System Based Practice: coordinate the resources of the complex healthcare system to provide safe, quality, and equitable care to diverse populations.

Domain 8: Information and Healthcare Technologies: coordinate the resources of the complex healthcare system to provide safe, quality, and equitable care to diverse populations.

Domain 9: Professionalism and Professional Identity Formation: model a sustainable professional identity of accountability, ethical comportment, and collaborative disposition.

Domain 10: Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development: participate in activities and self-reflection that foster personal health, resilience, and well-being; students will contribute to lifelong learning; and students will support the acquisition of nursing expertise and the assertion of leadership.

Master’s in Nursing Degree Curriculum

The Master’s in Nursing degree program of study is based on The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (AACN, 2021), Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing (AACN, 2013) and the Competencies and Curricular Expectations for Clinical Nurse Leader Education and Practice (AACN, 2013). The faculty approved MN program of study is comprised of forty-two credits offered over five semesters for full time students or 6 semesters for part-time students (See Appendix A) and consists of:

Nine credits of core master’s level nursing content (NRSG 601 Advanced Health Assessment and NRSG 602 Advanced Pathophysiology and NRSG 603 Advanced Pharmacology I),
Eighteen credits of graduate level nursing leadership content (NRSG 604 Evidence-based Practice I, NRSG 608 Design of Healthcare Delivery Systems, NRSG 609 Advanced Nursing Leadership, NRSG 611 Program Planning and Evaluation, Outcomes & Quality Improvement, NRSG 612 Ethics, Law, and Policy, and NRSG 613 Financing and Budgeting of Healthcare Systems),
Nine credits of clinical leadership lab and practicum, and
Six credits of Professional Scholarly Writing and Project. An elective course in statistical applications for graduate nursing (NRSG 606) is available.
All graduate students are eligible for the Certificate in Nursing Education. Individual course descriptions are located on the CON website.

All MN students are required to complete a professional project (NRSG 575) as outlined in section 6. Graduate School Policy 5.1.1 Age of Courses outlines the age of courses at the time of graduation may not exceed 6 years. Students should familiarize themselves with the resources, degree requirements, and policies of The Graduate School.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Requirements

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, established in 2013, focuses on educating advanced practice registered nurses to the highest standards of the profession to care for people living in Montana and beyond and to lead change in health care systems. Graduates of the DNP program are prepared to demonstrate clinical expertise, judgment, scholarship, and leadership to provide the highest level of nursing practice. The DNP degree is based on The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (AACN, 2021), Population-focused Nurse Practitioner Competencies (NONPF, 2013), and Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs, 6 th edition (NTF, 2022). The MRJCON graduate faculty incorporate the new AACN Essentials (2021) and/or other relevant accreditation or national certification standards including the Standards for Quality Nurse Practitioner Education (NONPF, 2022), Population-Focused Nurse Practitioner Competencies (NONPF, 2013), and the Nurse Practitioner Core Competencies Content (2017) for iterative and on-going modification to the curricula to ensure currency.

The DNP program has two advanced nursing practice population-focused tracks leading to national certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner or the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Participation in a minimum of five hundred practice hours in the discipline of nursing, post-entry level education, and attainment of Level 1 sub-competencies is required for demonstration of the advanced level sub-competencies. After successful completion of the MSU DNP program, which includes 1125 practicum hours, inclusive of 675 hours of direct patient care, students will be eligible to sit for the either the Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination offered by the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Examination offered by the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC). Students are encouraged to sit for the national certification exam as soon after graduation as possible. The MRJCON will be transitioning to 750 direct patient care hours starting with the fall 2024 admissions cohort.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Objectives

The graduate who earns the DNP degree from Montana State University is prepared in the following domains:

Domain 1: Knowledge for Nursing Practice: Evaluate, integrate, translate, and apply evidence from nursing science and other disciplines in the delivery of care.

Domain 3: Population Health: analyze current population health gaps and create and evaluate costeffective, evidence-based interventions to meet the needs of the target population.

Domain 4: Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline: advance the scholarship of nursing through the integration of best evidence and ethical conduct of scholarly activities.

Domain 5: Safety and Quality: employ improvement science to ensure system effectiveness for safe, person-centered care within a physically, psychologically, secure, and just environment.

Domain 6: Interprofessional Partnership: collaborate across professions and with other stakeholders to optimized care, enhance the healthcare experience, and strengthen outcomes.

Domain 7: System Based Practice: coordinate the resources of the complex healthcare system to provide safe, quality, and equitable care to diverse populations.

Domain 8: Information and Healthcare Technologies: coordinate the resources of the complex healthcare system to provide safe, quality, and equitable care to diverse populations.

Domain 9: Professionalism and Professional Identity Formation: model a sustainable professional identity of accountability, ethical comportment, and collaborative disposition.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Curriculum

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program of study is comprised of 82 credits offered over 8 semesters for full time students and 11 semesters for part-time students and consists of

Nine credits of Advanced Practice Registered Nursing core level nursing content (NRSG 601 Advanced Health Assessment, NRSG 602 Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology, and NRSG 603 Advanced Pharmacology I),
Thirty-one credits of advanced nursing practice core content (NRSG 604 Evidence-based Practice I, NRSG 605 Evidence-based Practice II, NRSG 606 Statistical Applications for Graduate Nursing, NRSG 608 Design of Healthcare Delivery Systems, NRSG 609 Advanced Practice Nursing Leadership, NRSG 610 Health Care Informatics, NRSG 611 Program Planning and Evaluation, Outcomes & Quality Improvement, NRSG 612 Ethics, Law and Policy, and NRSG 613 Financing and Budgeting of Healthcare Systems, and NRSG 614 Vulnerability and Healthcare in Diverse Communities),
Thirty-four credits of DNP specialty (population-focused) clinical lab and skills.
Eight credits of Professional Scholarly Writing and Project.
All graduate students are eligible for the Certificate in Nursing Education. Individual course descriptions are located on the CON website.

All DNP students are required to complete a professional project (NRSG 675) as outlined in section 6. Graduate School Policy 5.1.1 Age of Courses outlines the age of courses at the time of graduation may not exceed 10 years. Students should review and familiarize themselves with the resources, degree requirements, and policies of The Graduate School.

Post Master's DNP Degree

The DNP Post-Master's option is designed for nationally certified, currently practicing, master's prepared Nurse Practitioners who do not wish to add a separate practice focus. Graduates generate new knowledge through innovation of practice change, the translation of evidence, and the implementation of quality improvement processes in specific practice settings, systems, or with specific populations to improve health or health outcomes. Evidence of completion of the 3 P’s (advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology, and advanced pathophysiology) is required. A complete gap analysis of transcripts is used to determine if prior master’s degree courses may be waived. Full and part-time course work is available. Students complete thirty-nine credits of DNP core course work including 8 credits of professional scholarly writing and project.

Post Graduate APRN Certificate - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

The Post-graduate APRN Certificate - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program is designed for graduate prepared (MN or DNP) Advanced Practice Registered Nurses who are already nationally certified in another advanced practice nursing specialty area (e.g., family nurse practitioner) to add an additional (stackable) population focus credential and become nationally certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

The post-graduate certificate curriculum aligns with the accredited DNP – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program and is comprised of thirty-one credits offered over 5 semesters of psychiatric mental health specialty content, clinical lab, and skills which includes 675 direct patient care hours. Eligibility is determined through transcript gap analysis of prior coursework, evidence of current national APRN certification, and practice.

Graduates of the certificate are eligible to sit for national certification through ANCC. Graduate School Policy 5.1.1 Age of Courses outlines the age of courses at the time of graduation may not exceed 10 years. Students should review and familiarize themselves with the resources, degree requirements, and policies of The Graduate School.

Post-Graduate APRN Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program Learning Outcomes

The student who completed the Post-Graduate APRN Certificate -Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program is prepared to:

1. Conduct comprehensive and systematic psychiatric assessments in complex situations. Page | 8 MRJCON Graduate Handbook AY2023-24

2. Apply selected therapeutic modalities for individuals, group psychotherapy, and the integration of multicultural skills for health promotion and management of mental health problems and psychiatric disorders.

3. Demonstrate appropriate evidence-based use psychopharmacology concepts in the psychiatric care and management of individuals and families.

4. Demonstrate expertise, specialized knowledge, and expanded responsibility and accountability in the advanced psychiatric care and management of individuals and families.

Certificate in Nursing Education

The Certificate in Nursing Education prepares registered nurses for teaching in academic settings or practice environments. The curriculum consists of ten credits of graduate level teaching courses that focus on didactic and clinical teaching and learning, curriculum development, and assessment and evaluation. An optional practicum with variable clinical hours is available for students interested in working with a faculty mentor in a variety of settings. Program outcomes are consistent with the competencies for certified nurse educators described by the National League for Nursing. Students interested in this certificate will need to apply to the Graduate School and complete a separate program of study form. Please contact the Graduate Program Manager for more information.

Certificate in Nursing Education Program Learning Outcomes

The student who completes the Certificate in Nursing Education from Montana State University is prepared to:

1. Develop a variety of evidence-based teaching strategies based on educational theory.

2. Articulate the elements for an effective academic or clinical curriculum.

3. Employed evidence-based strategies to evaluate learning knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

Policies to Support Progress toward a Graduate Degree or Certificate

Clinical Compliance, Saftey, CPR, and Immunization Requirements

Clinical practice is a valuable part of your nursing education at Montana State University. Hands-on nursing experience brings nursing education to life for each student in our program. It is a privilege for Montana State University nursing students to work with our many community health care facilities in Montana. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of all patients, background checks, urine drug screening, and immunizations to prevent communicable diseases, have become standard requirements for employment in health care today. This has likewise become a requirement of our valued clinical agencies. It is therefore important that MRJCON students complete a background check, urine drug screen, and healthcare compliance (including immunizations) before beginning clinical practice each year.

The MRJCON utilizes an external clinical compliance-tracking vendor. MRJCON students upload evidence of clinical requirements prior to admission to the nursing program and maintain the currency of these requirements while enrolled in the program. See policy for current requirements and immunization details.

The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Academic Program staff track urine drug testing and background check results to determine continuation in the program or processing of applications. The Associate Dean, Graduate Campus Director, or assigned administrative personnel may contact a student directly for further information and/or clarification about background check findings. Due to the confidential nature of the background check findings, the results of the background check and urine drug screens are not placed in the student permanent file.

Any student who experiences criminal charges while enrolled in the MRJCON is required to notify Page | 9 MRJCON Graduate Handbook AY2023-24 his/her advisor and applicable faculty within ten (10) working days of such charges that may affect his/her ability to function in the academic or lab setting. Criminal charges include, but are not limited to, misdemeanors, felonies, and convictions, such as assault, shoplifting, drug charges, driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving and suspended license. These activities do not include legal matters regarding divorce, custody issues or parking tickets.

All admitted graduate students must remain clinically compliant with Complio while enrolled in the program. Compliance requirements are outlined in the Student Clinical Compliance policy. Students are not allowed to attend clinical or lab settings if impaired. No student shall report for or remain at a clinical or lab setting while under the influence of any substance that could impair the ability of the student to safely perform the functions of the assignment. This applies both to illegal substances and the lawful use of over the counter or prescribed medications that may impair their ability to function safely in the clinical environment and thereby endanger patients and self. As such, all students are responsible for being aware of the effect these medications may have on their ability to function safely in the clinical practicum. Students must notify the Graduate Campus Director regarding the use of any medication that can impair performance for review prior to entering the clinical environment.

Students cannot participate in clinical education if they are taking any medications that impair their ability to function safely in the clinical environment, regardless of the presence of a legally obtained medical cannabis document.

The College of Nursing may test for substances, (alcohol or drugs) for reasonable suspicion of being under the influence in the classroom/clinical setting and after an accident or incident in the classroom, lab, simulation, or clinical setting.

Contact Information

It is the student’s responsibility to keep their email, phone, and street address current and available to the MRJCON. The student should notify the administrative staff at their campus and update their MYINFO profile for name and status changes.

Course Adding and Dropping

Course Add Procedure

All MRJCON courses are restricted entry. Administrative staff registered students for all their required courses. For any students who would like to add courses outside the nursing curriculum, that can be done by following the instructions available here: https://www.montana.edu/registrar/adddropcourse.html.

Course Drop Procedure

Students may drop classes online before the 15th day of classes by following the instructions available here: https://www.montana.edu/registrar/adddropcourse.html. After the 15th day of class, any student dropping a course will receive a “W” (withdrawn) grade.

Add or Drop for Extraordinary Reasons

It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of and meet all academic deadlines as published in the Registration Handbook. Adding and Dropping courses after published deadlines are only permitted for extraordinary reasons. Instructor, advisor, and the Associate Dean must grant approval after the published deadlines. For approval, the extraordinary reason must be documented and provided to instructor, advisor, and Associate Dean with your request. For more information on how to request an Add or Drop for Extraordinary Reasons, please follow the Page | 10 MRJCON Graduate Handbook AY2023-24 instructions available here: https://www.montana.edu/registrar/adddropcourse.html.

Dropping or adding a course could significantly impact your bill and financial aid. Contact Student Accounts or the Office of Financial Aid Services if you have questions.

Grades

To earn a graduate degree from MSU, a student must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or higher in the major and elective areas to graduate. Any course listed on the Program of Study in which a grade lower than C (a C- is not acceptable) must be repeated.

College Probation

A student will be placed on College Probation by the Graduate School if the semester GPA falls below a 3.0, even if the cumulative GPA remains above a 3.0. http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/policy/cat_academic_prob.html

Guidelines for Tracking Unsatisfactory Academic Progress in The Graduate Nursing Program

1. The individual course instructor notifies the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, in writing, in the event of problems, concerns, or issues relevant to graduate student progression. These concerns may include, but are not limited to, such things as health issues, scheduling problems (including excessive working outside of school), deficits in progress, and writing and/or verbal skill difficulties. Concerns related to Master’s CNL, Family or Psychiatric Mental Health clinical course progress will be referred to the Master’s Program Lead or the appropriate DNP Program Lead, Graduate Campus Director, and/or the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

2. The Graduate Campus Director and/or the Program Lead (MN or DNP) will maintain tracking records and follow progress in the noted areas.

3. The Graduate Campus Director will contact the faculty major advisor/chairperson and/or others as necessary (for example, Dean, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, or Program Lead) to share the profile (from any or all courses) that best represents the faculty concerns about the individual student and to determine a plan for resolution with the student.

For further information, refer to College of Nursing Clinical Site Visits and Performance in Required Graduate Clinical Nursing Courses, Professional Student Behavior Policy, and Denial of Graduate Student Access to Clinical Experiences.

Incomplete Grade (I)

Instructors may assign a grade of "I" (Incomplete) when students have been unable to complete their academic obligations because of circumstances beyond their control. The university takes the position that when students register, they commit themselves to completing their academic obligations as their primary responsibility. Therefore, the instructor may assign an “I” grade only in cases when students have suffered extreme personal hardship or unusual academic situations.

Suspension

A student with a cumulative or program GPA below a 3.0 after University Probation status, who did not meet the provisions of admission, who has failed to make satisfactory progress toward their degree, or who did not maintain a cumulative or program GPA for two (not necessarily consecutive) semesters may be suspended from the MRJCON graduate degree program and the Graduate School. Students admitted on a provisional basis may be suspended without a Page | 11 MRJCON Graduate Handbook AY2023-24 probationary period if the provision of admission has not been met. Suspended students may seek reinstatement through the MRJCON Scholastic Committee and the Graduate School.

Grievances

Academic Appeals

Graduate students may seek exceptions from established University academic policies such as admission, retention, or graduation requirements through an established Graduate School Appeal Process. Appeals must include a letter from the student and approvals (signature and/or letter) from the major advisor/chair and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs prior to submission to the Graduate School. In instances where the advisor and/or Associate Dean choose not to endorse the request, this must be noted and the student may then forward the appeal directly to the Graduate School.

Appeal letters should include the following: state in writing, the policy or decision that is being appealed; note the reasons you believe the decision should be changed or policy be waived; include your major advisor/chair and Associate Dean's approval statements or signatures with the appeal.

Graduate Student Academic Grievance Procedure

The current academic grievance procedure is available and is coordinated with the Graduate School. Students are encouraged to work with faculty and their advisors if concerned.

Non-Academic Grievances

A formal written non-academic complaint may be submitted to the Graduate Campus Director and Associate Dean via a PowerForm in DocuSign at the link below and should including the following information:

1. A description of the complaint

2. Date of occurrence(s)

3. Why the decision or occurrence was unfair

4. Attempts at previous resolutions

5. Solution sought to complaint

6. Any relevant documentation that would confirm or strengthen grievance

The Non-Academic Grievance Process includes the following steps:

1. Informal Meeting: Initiated by the student or other member of the community of interest, typically with the Campus Director, as soon as possible after the cause of the grievance.

2. Formal Grievance: A formal grievance can be filed only if the Campus Director and student cannot reach an agreement. The grievance should follow the format outlined above, should be sent to the Campus Director and the Associate Dean, and should be filed no more than 15 days into the following semester.

3. Campus Director response: The Campus Director has 5 business days to respond to the student and Associate Dean after the receipt of the grievance.

4. Dean/Associate Dean’s Review: The Dean or Associate Dean will review evidence, conduct interviews if possible, and produce a written decision to the student and Campus Director within 5 business days of receipt of the appeal.

Leave of Absence

Students who wish to explore leave of absence or withdrawal options should confer with the Graduate Campus Director, Associate Dean, the Office of the Dean of Students, and their academic advisor. Students should discuss their situations and tentative plans with the following offices, where applicable: Office of Disability Services, Office of the Registrar, the Office of Financial Aid Services, Student Accounts, and the Office of International Programs. The university also offers reasonable accommodations to qualifying students through the Office of Disability Services that may complement or affect the need for a leave of absence. The university offers different options for a leave of absence including medical leave and a retroactive University withdrawal.

Malpractice Insurance

The university provides malpractice insurance coverage for all students while in clinical experiences. This is included in the nursing program fee each semester. Client and student safety are the primary concerns in all learning environments.

Professional Conduct Expectations

Graduate nursing students are expected to conform to behaviors as outlined in the Professional Student Behavior Policy that are consistent with the Montana State Board of Nursing Rules and Regulations for Professional Conduct of Nurses, the ANA Code of Ethics (2015) and the MSU Student Code of Conduct (2019). The integrity of the academic process requires that credit be given where credit is due. Accordingly, it is academic misconduct to present the ideas or works of another as one's own work, or to permit another to present one's work without customary and proper acknowledgment of authorship.

Students may collaborate with other students only as expressly permitted by the instructor. Students are responsible for the honest completion and representation of their work, the appropriate citation of sources and the respect and recognition of others' academic endeavors. Academic Misconduct is defined by the university as cheating, plagiarism, forgery, falsification, facilitation or aiding academic dishonesty; multiple submission, theft of instructional materials or tests; unauthorized access to, manipulation of or tampering with laboratory equipment, experiments, computer programs, or animals without proper authorization; alteration of grades or files; misuse of research data in reporting results; use of personal relationships to gain grades or favors, or otherwise attempting to obtain grades or credit through fraudulent means. As per Policy Denial of Graduate Student Access to Clinical Experiences, failure to conform to reasonable standards of performance or behaviors may result in denial of access to clinical experiences or removal from the program. Students have the right to appeal conduct and academic decisions through the Dean of Students Office as outline in the Conduct Guidelines and Grievance Procedures for Students.

Scholarships

Montana State University and MRJCON are fortunate to have generous donors. All students should consider applying for scholarships via MSU’s Cat $cholarship portal. The priority application deadline is February 1st for the following academic year. During the application, Cat $cholarships will automatically link students to all scholarships for which they are qualified, so there is no need for students to actively search for MSU or MRJCON Scholarships.

All students are encouraged to apply for scholarships and to complete their FAFSA, even if they are not planning to accept any financial aid. The FAFSA is a reliable source of student need available when reviewing scholarship applicants. For students placed in the nursing program on one of our five campuses, there is a MRJCON Scholarship Committee member on each campus to answer any specific questions. Please see the College of Nursing’s Scholarship website for the most up to date information.

NOTE: Accepting a scholarship may affect a student’s financial aid. Please contact the Financial Aid Office at (406) 994-2845 for further information

Advising and Committee Formation

The Graduate Campus Director, Dr. Jennifer Sofie, serves as the first academic advisor for all newly admitted MN and DNP degree-seeking and certificate graduate students until a major advisor/chairperson is identified during the final year for the professional project.

Chairperson

During your last year of studies, the chairperson of your committee becomes the advisor of record for the graduate school. Students are responsible for staying in contact with your major advisor/chairperson during your time in the graduate program. Additional advising support is provided through the Graduate Campus Director.

Committee Members

The MRJCON assigns qualified faculty members to the NRSG 575 and NRSG 675 project courses who serve as primary and secondary committee members. Committee membership reflects knowledge in project methodology, knowledge/expertise in the specific content area of your project, and/or expertise in writing.

Student Responsibilities

MN or DNP degree-seeking students are to be responsive to the direction of your chairperson and committee members regarding all matters of content and quality of your project and formal paper. Students will be available to meet with their chairperson on a regular basis during the project course (typically every 2-4 weeks). It is the student’s responsibility to know what is required by the MRJCON and Graduate School and to follow the established deadlines.

Formalizing Graduate Program of Study, Chairperson, and Committee

The Graduate Program of Study & Committee form makes you “official” as a degree-seeking graduate student at Montana State University and must be on file with the Graduate School by the end of the second (MN degree) or third (DNP degree) active semester. This form formalizes the coursework necessary to meet the minimum requirements for the MN or DNP degree at Montana State University. The information on the Program of Study form will be compared to your transcript at the end of your program. Satisfactory completion of all requirements will result in conferring of the degree. The Graduate Program Manager will assist in the submission of this form through MyInfo.

Qualifying / Comprehensive / Candidacy Exams

The College of Nursing does not require a qualifying exam for the MN or DNP degrees.

Professional Project Overview

All graduate students at Montana State University are required to demonstrate scholarship. Students seeking the MN degree are required to complete a Professional Project (course #: NRSG 575 - 4 credits minimum and associated NRSG 673 or NRSG 674 Scholarly Writing 2 credits). Students seeking the DNP degree are required to complete a Professional Project (Course #NRSG 675-6 credits minimum and associated NRSG 673 or NRSG 674 Scholarly Writing 2 credits).

MN Professional Paper/Project

The professional paper/project provides a means for students to demonstrate mastery of graduate level competencies through application of course content. The topic is mutually agreed upon by the student, major advisor, and committee in the NRSG 575 course. The professional paper or project in nursing addresses a relevant health care issue and results in a meaningful or substantive contribution to nursing practice. The professional paper reflects the student’s ability to analyze and synthesize information and data that has significance to nursing, and generate ideas for nursing practice, education, or evidence-based practice. MN papers are not submitted to ETD but are formatted for submission to the Renne library.

MN Clinical Project

A clinical project is an in-depth analysis of a clinical nursing problem. The project may focus on policies and procedures, systems of care, or nursing practice that influence patient care or the health care delivery system directly. The clinical project commonly includes a needs assessment and statement of how the project will improve health care.

MN Professional Paper Format

Students preparing a professional paper will be guided by two sources with respect to issues of format. They are:

NRSG 575 course project written template and
Publication Manual of the APA, 7th edition - for general format and editorial style (Introduction, Review of Literature, paragraphs, and indentation, spacing with punctuation, quotations, etc.).

DNP Project

Students seeking a DNP degree are required to complete a DNP Project course (NRSG 675 - 6 credits minimum). Graduate nursing students enrolled in the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program are required to complete and defend an evidence-based practice DNP Project as a requirement for graduation. The formal paper and project defense will be evaluated by your chairperson and committee of faculty experts.

The purpose of the DNP Project is to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate expertise in clinical practice knowledge implementation at the system level to enhance quality of care and patient outcomes. Students do this through a process of working with a clinical agency to identify a clinical practice problem, appraise evidence-based practice solutions to address the problem; evaluate of the practice setting; implement evidence-based practice recommendations, policy, or leadership strategies; evaluate of outcomes; and disseminate findings. Students will have the opportunity to examine how nursing, quality improvement and related relevant theories can guide interventions, practice changes, policy development, and/or leadership strategies.

The DNP Project exemplifies the appraisal, application, and synthesis of advanced nursing knowledge to improve health outcomes for individuals, families, communities, or systems. The project represents the use of analytical methods, translation of existing research to practice, and recognition of crossdisciplinary integration of new knowledge at both the micro and macro system levels. The DNP project allows the student to demonstrate the ability to lead and manage collaborative efforts with an interdisciplinary care team health care team to redesign and improve practice environments and health systems (Initiative for the Future of Nursing, 2010).

The DNP project is not research. It is not intended to test new models, develop new theory, or test hypotheses; however, these projects might “generate new knowledge through innovation of practice change, the translation of evidence, and the implementation of quality improvement processes in specific practice settings, systems, or with specific populations to improve health or health outcomes” (AACN, 2015). Depending upon your area of emphasis or interest, the DNP Project might include improving quality of care or practice, a policy initiative or program evaluation.

DNP Projects should:

1. Focus on a change that impacts healthcare outcomes either through direct or indirect care.

2. Have a system (micro-, meso-, or macro- level) or population/aggregate focus.

3. Demonstrate implementation in the appropriate arena or area of practice.

4. Include a plan for sustainability (e.g. financial, systems or political realities, not only theoretical abstractions).

5. Include an evaluation of processes and/or outcomes (formative or summative). DNP Projects should be designed so that processes and/or outcomes will be evaluated to guide practice and policy. Clinical significance is as important in guiding practice as statistical significance is in evaluating research.

6. Provide a foundation for future practice scholarship (AACN, 2015)

Examples of DNP Projects

Some types of projects might include:

Practice change initiative
A quality improvement/performance management project
An evidence-based practice model change
Implementation and evaluation of an innovative use for technology to enhance or evaluate care
Work with lay or professional coalitions to develop, implement, or evaluate health programs, such as health promotion, and disease prevention programs for vulnerable patients, groups or communities.

The DNP Projects are conducted through a course model (NRSG 675). Students involve their lead faculty/chairperson, committee, and site representative throughout all phases of the project, for example, at the beginning when selecting a project and defining the direction, while progressing, and during the writing of the project. The lead faculty and committee are the ones who determine if the project meets the rigor required for a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Projects conducted at MSU are subject to a wide range of federal and state policies established to ensure ethical conduct of research. The IRB ensures respect, fairness, and safety in human subject research. IRB submission for MN projects will be at the discretion of the faculty lead. All DNP Projects should be submitted to the IRB at the clinical site (if applicable) as well as to the Montana State University IRB for review and approval prior to beginning any project. This should be done after approval of your project proposal. Be sure to work closely with your chair during the IRB submission process. IRB Guidelines and forms are overseen by the MSU Office of Research compliance.

DNP Project Hours

Students spend a minimum of 270 practicum hours (6 clinical lab credits) completing the DNP Project. These hours are in addition to the time spent on other non-APRN clinical credits associated with NRSG 614 and NRSG 608. According to NONPF, additional hours in autonomous practice, leadership, practice inquiry, and policy are part of the fabric of professional preparation for the NP with a practice doctorate (NONPF, 2010). The DNP Project hours focus on experiences that combine clinical practicum with scholarly activities to provide in-depth learning for students. These hours provide an opportunity for meaningful engagement with experts from nursing as well as other disciplines. The DNP project hours spent to complete the project are documented on an electronic spreadsheet for tracking DNP Project hours.

During the NRSG 675 courses, students integrate and synthesize knowledge by demonstrating competency in an area of nursing practice, completing a project, and authoring a publishable paper based on their project. The following activities focus the practicum hours for the DNP project courses:

Scholarly activities, healthcare leadership skills, and professional development.
Identifying a problem, population, and identifying project sponsors and key stakeholders.
Completing a needs assessment and determining resources needed/available to complete the project.
Identifying tools and desired outcomes.
Demonstrating understanding of the interdependence of policy and practice.
Using the best available evidence to enhance quality of care in clinical practice.
Developing plans for comprehensive care management that address the multi-dimensional needs of patients presenting for advanced practice nursing care.
Translating research and other forms of knowledge to improve practice processes and patient outcomes.
Providing leadership to foster collaboration with multiple stakeholders (e.g., patients, community, integrated health care teams, and policy makers) to improve health care.
Applying knowledge of organizational practices and complex systems to improve health care delivery.
Critically analyzing data and evidence for improving advanced nursing practice.
Assuming complex and advanced leadership roles to initiate and guide change.
Communicating practice knowledge effectively both orally and in writing.
Contributing to the design of clinical information systems that promote safe, quality, and costeffective care.
Leading and advancing quality improvement of direct care for individuals and populations and health system

The following activities are some examples of time that can be applied toward DNP Project hours:

1. Time spent in a clinical agency to evaluate a practice protocol, clinical guidelines, or process improvement.

2. Time spent participating in a health initiative at the local, state, regional level.

3. Time spent in formal skill building to develop, implement, or evaluate the project (such as tutorials, meetings, conferences, consultation with experts)

4. Evaluating how organizational, structural, financial, marketing, and policy decisions impact cost outcomes, quality, and accessibility of health care.

5. Applying clinical investigative skills for evaluation of health outcomes at the patient, family, population, clinical unit, systems, and/or community levels.

6. Reflective practice and inquiry for identifying a problem.

7. Completing a needs assessment, implementing a change initiative, or disseminating evidence from inquiry to diverse audiences using multiple modalities.

8. Time spent researching your area of specialization.

MN and DNP Project Proposal

The College of Nursing requires graduate students to propose, present, and explain the details of the Professional Project (MN degree) or DNP Project (DNP degree) to your committee. The project proposal informs committee members about your project and allows them to make suggestions to strengthen the project. Your chairperson will guide the project proposal, format, and timeline for presentation to the committee. When satisfied, the chairperson and committee members sign the MRJCON Professional (MN) and DNP Project Proposal Approval Form, which may include modifications to the project. The signed form is forwarded to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for signature and filing. The project proposal is attended by the student and committee only.

The Project Defense

According to Graduate School policy, two-thirds (2/3) of the course work required for the MN or DNP degree must be completed prior to defending the Professional Project or DNP Project. Students must be registered for at least 3 credits during the semester of the project defense. The chairperson decides when your project is ready for the defense. The defense is conducted only when the final draft of the project paper is complete (as determined by the chair).

The project defense is a manuscript/paper and is defended in front of the full committee. This defense is a formal presentation that is open to all faculty, other graduate students, and the greater university community. The formal presentation should describe key components of the project in a format agreed upon by the committee chairperson. The use of visual aids is encouraged. The time allotted for the defense is 1 hour: 30 minutes for the presentation followed by 15 minutes for audience questions. The remaining time will include committee questions without audience as well as committee deliberation. The committee may formulate specific questions to ask the student or may choose a more spontaneous format for questions.

Professional and DNP Project defenses are delivered via videoconferencing. Graduate School requirements for video conferencing during all defenses are conducted to ensure a fair evaluation of student performance. These requirements apply only to committee members and the student:

1. The conference must have a two-way video with audio for its duration. Neither the student nor any committee member is allowed to participate in the conference via telephone (or audio only).

2. Video for a committee member can be off while the student is screen-sharing a presentation.

3. If communication is broken during the examination or defense the conference must be paused until connection is re-established. If the video connection cannot be re-established within 30 minutes, the examination or defense must be terminated and rescheduled for completion at a later date. The 30 minutes is cumulative. If connection is lost and reestablished multiple times that add up to 30 minutes, consider that the interruptions might not be in the best interest of the student and reschedule.

4. Suggested best practices:

Confidentiality should be considered for sensitive topics.
An RSVP can be utilized for the public portion
The public can be removed after the public portion, or a separate link can be used for the private portion.
To allow the student to focus on their defense, another designated person, such as the committee chair, should be responsible for initiating and implementing the conference process
If bandwidth becomes an issue, you might suggest that people who are not required participants (e.g., the public) turn off their video except when they are speaking.

Scheduling

Once a mutually acceptable date is determined, the chairperson schedules the defense and provides the Associate Dean’s office with the following information at least two weeks in advance of the defense: defense presentation date, time, locations, title of the MN Professional Project or DNP Project, abstract, chairperson’s name, student photo, and graduate student’s name. The defense is announced through the MSU Today calendar and posted on the Graduate School and MSU calendars. All are welcome to attend.

Defense Grading

The student is excused from the Webex room while the committee determines adequacy of the student’s paper, presentation, and responses to questions. A majority of the committee members must deem the paper, presentation, and responses to be adequate for a judgment of “pass.” At the time of the examination/defense, the Report on Qualifying Exam/Comprehensive Exam/Thesis Defense Form must be completed and signed by all committee members. The completed form will be sent to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for signature and forwarded to the Graduate School. The Graduate School allows 5 business days after the project defense is held to receive the signed form.

Final Approval of Project

The chairperson is responsible for the final review of the scholarly paper before it is submitted to the Graduate School. Final acceptance or rejection of the professional or DNP Project paper is the responsibility of the Dean of the Graduate School. Professional papers from the MRJCON graduate students are subjected to rigorous standards and must be submitted electronically to the Graduate School by the published deadline before graduation. Refer to the Electronic Thesis/Dissertation (ETD) website for further information. The Certificate of Approval is used for archiving the ETD with the MSU library.

Graduation and MSU Commencement

The Master of Nursing (MN) degree, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, and certificates will be conferred upon completion of all requirements indicated on each student’s Program of Study including passing the Project Defense (if applicable). The student and project chairperson sign the Graduation Application form near the beginning of the semester in which the student expects to complete the degree requirements. The deadline for filing the application plus other important Graduate School dates is provided on the Dates & Deadlines page.

The date on the diploma will coincide with the end of the semester in which the degree or certificate is granted. Students who have completed the degree or certificate requirements and who have confirmation from their chairperson that they will complete all degree requirements may attend the University Commencement (held in May or December). Graduates who attend the MSU Commencement purchase academic robes, hoods, and caps through the MSU Bookstore. MSU Bookstore for information on ordering academic regalia is generally available the first week of February for spring commencement or the first week of September for fall commencement. All financial obligations to the University are required for the degree to be awarded. Students are encouraged to become familiar with the Graduate School’s website for masters and doctoral degree requirements, graduation requirements, dates and deadlines, procedures, and forms. Students need to order their own transcripts necessary for certification exams.

Graduate Teaching Assistants / Graduate Research Assistant Opportunities

A limited number of Graduate Teaching Assistant positions are available in the MRJCON each year. Interested students may respond to an annual announcement of available positions from MRJCON Campus Directors. This appointment is a union-represented position and students will be a member of the Graduate Employee Organization (GEO) bargaining unit represented by MEA-MFT and are bound by the terms and conditions in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, applicable policies of the University and Board of Regents, and applicable state and federal laws. All students must be in good academic standing to be eligible for an appointment. Non-degree graduate students are ineligible for graduate assistantships or graduate tuition waivers. Please see the Graduate School website for GTA details. GTAs are evaluated annually for their teaching and overall performance.

Graduate Student Resources

The MSU home page includes an A-Z Index tab to quickly find information and resources such as Renne Library Information Technology Center (computer assistance), residency information, academic calendar and University Health Partners (student health service). Other universities and MSU campuses (University of Montana, MSU Billings) may have similar resources available (student health clinic, library facilities). Keep in mind; however, you are a student at Montana State University regardless of your geographic location.

MSU strives to create a culture of support and recognizes that your mental health and well-being are equally as important as your physical health. We want you to know that it’s OK if you experience difficulty, and there are several resources on each campus to assist you in succeeding emotionally, personally, and academically.

Breastfeeding
MSU and the MRJCON recognize the importance and benefits of breastfeeding for both parents and their infants and seeks to promote a family-friendly environment in which to work and study. Breastfeeding students are referred to the MSU Breastfeeding Policy and encouraged to reach out to faculty for questions.

Disabilities
The MSU Office of Disability Services seeks to provide access to all college programs, services, activities and facilities for students with disabilities. This includes encouraging self-advocacy for students and connecting them with resources and support services across campus to help them achieve their personal best.

Pregnant and Parenting Students
Pregnant and parenting students are referred to and encouraged to seek consultation with the Office of Institutional Equity to ensure awareness and availability of resources and accommodations.

Intensive technology and Etiquette
Course instructors use WebEx or other similar virtual meeting platforms for graduate intensives. To make the virtual learning environment effective and pleasant, a few “rules of etiquette” are suggested:

Call in on time – when people arrive late, it disrupts the class and the learning environment.
Participate fully in the intensive with video feed activated. Keep aware of the background to avoid busy disruptions (kids running around, people walking in the background, etc.). You should pick a quiet location to hold a meeting.
Mute your microphone unless you are ready to speak and contribute to class discussion – it is disruptive to the class to hear papers shuffling, dogs barking, children crying, etc. If your phone or computer does not have a “mute” function, make sure you are on the phone in a quiet location.
Identify yourself when you are ready to participate in a discussion so that everyone knows who is speaking – remember that the teleconference system will only allow one person to speak at a time.
Be sure to “unmute” the microphone when speaking.
Attend class in its entirety. Do not leave before class ends.

References

American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. (2022). Scope of practice for nurse practitioners. Government Affairs, Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from https://storage.aanp.org/www/documents/advocacy/position-papers/Scope-of-Practice.pdf

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2018). CNL certification FAQ. Washington, DC; Author Retrieved from http://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/CNL/faq.pdf

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2018) CNL certification Guide. Washington, DC; Author Retrieved from http://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/CNL/CNL-Certification-Guide.pdf?ver=2017-07-17-112119-890

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2013). Competencies and curricular expectations for clinical nurse leader education and practice. Washington, DC; Author Retrieved from http://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/AcademicNursing/CurriculumGuidelines/CNL-Competencies-October-2013.pdf?ver=2017-05-18-144336-663

American Association of Colleges of Nursing AACN (2021). The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. Washington, DC; Retrieved from https://www.emergingrnleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Essentials-2021.pdf

American Nurses Association. (2016). ANA’s principles for advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) full practice authority. Silver Spring, MD. Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/~4af5d1/globalassets/docs/ana/ethics/principles-aprnfullpracticeauthority.pdf

American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics, Silver Springs, MD. Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/code-of-ethics-for-nurses/

American Nurses Association. (2022) Nursing scope and standards of practice, (4th Ed.). Silver Springs, MD Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/scope-of-practice/

American Nurses Association. (2014). Psychiatric-mental health nursing: Scope and standards of practice. Silver Spring, MD: Nursesbooks.org.

Montana State University. (2022-2023). Conduct guidelines and grievance procedures for students. Retrieved from: http://catalog.montana.edu/code-conduct-policies-regulations-reports/

National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (2022). Nurse Practitioner Core Competencies with curriculum content. NP Core Competencies Content Work Group. Retrieved from https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.nonpf.org/resource/resmgr/2022/ntfs_/ntfs_final.pdf

National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. (2013). Population-focused nurse practitioner competencies: family/across the lifespan, neonatal, pediatric acute care, pediatric primary care, psychiatric/mental health, women’s health/gender-related. Washington, DC: author. Retrieved from http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.nonpf.org/resource/resmgr/Competencies/CompilationPopFocusComps2013.pdf

NTF (2022). Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs, (6th edition). Washington, DC; Retrieved from https://www.nonpf.org/page/NTFStandards