SCHOLARLY PROJECT OPTIONS FOR MSN STUDENTS
Each student will complete a scholarly project which is significant to nursing and relates to the chosen area of specialization. The project will be completed under the direction of a graduate faculty member and in collaboration with a preceptor in the student’s area of specialization. The purpose of the project is to provide for the integration and synthesis of learning across the MSN program. All aspects of the project are
supported by the integration of principles from the chosen area of specialization as well as the nursing profession and reflect the MSN Program Outcomes.
Two options of scholarly projects each student may select from include: 1) research project or 2) action project. Examples of types of projects are located in the research or action project course syllabus from each of the specializations. The selected project is to be completed during the final semester of graduate study.
The selected scholarly project will encompass three aspects: 1) project, 2) accompanying scholarly paper, and 3) professional presentation to a minimum of faculty and peers. In addition, each student is encouraged to present findings via a manuscript and/or an oral presentation at a professional conference.
Research Project
The research project is a scholarly endeavor, designed and implemented by the student. Three semester hours of graduate credit will be granted for the research project option. The student is to select an advisor from the graduate nursing faculty. The final research project must be approved by the advisor. Completed research projects must be submitted to an appropriate professional refereed nursing journal allowing the use of APA writing style. The research project proposal must first be approved by the faculty research advisor and then by the UNCP Institutional Review Board (IRB) prior to registering for NUR 5160, NUR 5240 or NUR 5360.
The project advisor will assist the student in setting realistic completion dates for each step in the research process. Students should submit typed work to their advisor at least 10 working days before seeking feedback. It is the student's responsibility to seek feedback from the faculty. The final paper with all corrections must be submitted to the advisor 40 days prior to the last day of the semester. (Note: An incomplete grade in NUR 5160, NUR 5240 or NUR 5360 may be taken for one semester).
Research Project Guidelines
1. Enroll in NUR 5010, Research Methods for Evidence-Based Practice, or transfer to UNCP an advisor accepted, graduate level research course from another institution.
2. Select a research topic, purpose, and hypotheses for research questions.
3. Prepare a rough draft of the research methodology to be used to accomplish appropriate completion of the research topic.
4. Obtain faculty advisor approval and committee approval of steps 2 and 3 by using the Contract (Appendix A). Give copies to advisor and committee members, the Department of Nursing
administrative support associate, and NUR 5160, NUR 5240 or NUR 5360 faculty. Original copy of contract should be kept by the student.
5. Complete research proposal according to NUR 5160, NUR 5240 or NUR 5360 guidelines. Submit the completed proposal to faculty as a course requirement.
6. Make recommended corrections and submit the proposal to the research advisor and committee members. Be sure to allow ten working days for faculty to review the proposal.
7. Contact the research advisor and request an appointment to discuss the proposal.
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8. Make recommended corrections and submit the proposal for research advisor approval. Allow tenworking days for review of the corrected proposal.
9. Contact the research advisor and obtain signed approval, or repeat step 8 if necessary.
10. When signed approval is obtained, complete application papers for UNCP IRB application for approval.
Forms may be obtained from faculty in NUR 5160, NUR 5240 or NUR 5360 or from the UNCP IRB website.
11. Submit IRB application to the Chair of the UNCP IRB committee. IRB decisions will be mailed directly to the student. Submission to IRB must be done during spring or fall semester. The committee members are not available in the summer.
12. Upon receiving IRB approval, make an appointment with the research advisor. Present a copy of the IRB approval to the advisor. Data collection may begin upon faculty approval at this point. Register for NUR 5160, NUR 5240 or NUR 5360 prior to data collection.
13. After data collection, complete the results and conclusions of the research with faculty guidance. Submit the draft of the completed project to the faculty advisor. Allow at least ten working days before seeking feedback.
14. Contact the research advisor for an appointment to discuss faculty recommendations.
15. Revise the paper as necessary and resubmit to the research advisor at least forty (40) days prior to the end of a semester. Allow ten working days before seeking feedback.
16. Research Project - Obtain advisor approval or repeat step #15 for your research project. The project must be submitted to a refereed professional nursing journal after your advisor has approved the completed project. Your advisor must be given a copy of your completed project, an abstract, a copy of all project approvals and verification of project submission to the selected journal prior to a grade being submitted to the Registrar’s Office. You will receive a pass or fail grade. A copy of your research project will be kept in the Department of Nursing together with an abstract, vita, and evidence of journal submission.
Action Project
An action project is a time-limited endeavor and a multi-step process that is undertaken to bring about a desired outcome which results in beneficial change or added value related to an issue of interest in the chosen area of concentration. These six basic steps will help make certain the project is effective in achieving the desired outcomes.
Select Problem or
Issue
Research Problem or
Issue
Decide on Action Project
Plan the Project Implement
the Project Evaluate the Project
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Step 1: Select a Problem. Make a list and choose one problem to focus on. To help you decide, ask the following questions: Which problem affects your practice area the most? Which would be most interesting to work on? Which could be worked on most easily? Which would you learn the most from?Step 2: Research the Problem. The more you know about a problem, the more you’ll understand how to approach it. Completing literature reviews, interviewing of experts, and/or surveying constituents might be useful in gaining knowledge of the problem.
Step 3: Decide on an Action Project. Think of project ideas that would address the chosen problem. Make a list and decide on the top three project ideas. Think about the pros and cons of each project idea. Evaluate each in terms of available time, materials, and resources. Select the most suitable one.
Step 4: Plan the Project. Planning is an important step in an action project. Taking the time to plan will save time, energy, and money. The more time spent on planning, the less time project will take. Project plan should have the following components:
Project Name - Invent a catchy name for project. Use it on anything created for the project—fliers, posters, letterhead, etc.
Problem Statement - Try to describe problem with a single sentence. This is hard to do, but describing the problem clearly and simply can help focus on what can do about it.
Goals - Describe goals; be specific and practical.
Project Description - Describe project clearly and simply in two or three sentences. Look at problem statement and goals. How will project deal with problem and address the goals?
Resources - List different individuals or organizations that might help or are interested in such a project. Elicit potential volunteers. Tap into these resources.
Action Steps - What steps will be necessary to achieve goals? Write down the details of plan and explain how the project will work.
Task Chart - Once the action steps have been detailed, break down the steps into tasks. Use a Gantt Chart to show tasks, responsible person(s), and deadlines for each task.
Evaluation Plan - Take time to figure out how to measure the success of the project. There are several ways to evaluate a project listed below. Pick the best way(s) and figure out how to complete for the specific project.
o Before-and-After Comparisons - Show how things looked or how people felt before the project; then show how the project caused changed. Might use the following to make comparisons: photos, videos, survey results, or test scores.
o Counting and Measuring - Can count or measure many different things in a project.
For example: How many meetings were held? How many people attended? How much time was spent on project? Numbers like these will help measure impact of project.
o Comparisons with a Control Group - May be able to measure project against a control group—a comparable group that project does not reach.
Step 5: Implement the Project Plan.
Step 6: Evaluate the Project. While implementing the project, it’s important to evaluate—to think about how you are doing and figuring out how you can do things better. At the end of the project, you’ll want to evaluate how you did according the project evaluation plan. In addition to evaluating the project’s results, be sure to examine how well you collaborated with people involved with the project and what you learned as an individual.