MS in Nursing Informatics / Registered Nurse to MS (RN-MS) in Nursing Informatics
END OF PROGRAM STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (2020-2022)
- Function as a leader and change agent to promote holistic patient-centered care and population health.
- Translate evidence to develop health care practices in a culturally and ethnically diverse global society.
- Synthesize theoretical and empirical knowledge from nursing and other disciplines that are essential for nursing judgment and practice.
- Integrate specialty practice knowledge to enhance inter-professional collaboration, inform decisions, and improve outcomes.
- Exemplify professional values and standards, best practices, and the commitment to lifelong learning in the role of the master’s-prepared nurse.
- Implement the role of master’s-prepared nurse as part of the inter-professional team.
- Integrate scholarship, a spirit of inquiry, and innovation to support nursing excellence.
ASSESSMENT OF END OF PROGRAM STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Student learning outcomes within each nursing requirement support students’ achievement of the seven end of program student learning outcomes of the Master of Science and Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing Informatics programs. Students must pass all requirements to graduate from a program. The achievement of end of program student learning outcomes is assessed through direct and indirect methods and various measures.
DIRECT METHODS FOR MS/RN-MS IN NURSING INFORMATICS
Presented below are the measures and results of direct assessment efforts that best reflect students’ achievement of each end of program student learning outcome (EPSLO) between Summer 2021 and Spring 2022.
| End of Program Student Learning Outcomes (EPSLOs) | Direct Assessment Methods %(n) Students Achieving Mastery or Better | ||
| NUR686 Nursing Informatics Capstone (n=9) | |||
| 1. Function as a leader and change agent to promote holistic patient-centered care and population health. | M6A2 Project Paper 100% (9) | ||
| M7A2 Presentation 89% (9) | |||
| 2. Translate evidence to develop health care practices in a culturally and ethnically diverse global society. | M6A2 Project Paper 100% (9) | ||
| M7A2 Presentation 78% (9) | |||
| 3. Synthesize theoretical and empirical knowledge from nursing and other disciplines that are essential for nursing judgement and practice. | M6A2 Project Paper 100% (9) | ||
| 4. Integrate specialty practice knowledge to enhance interprofessional collaboration, inform decisions, and improve outcomes. | M7A2 Presentation 89% (9) | ||
| 5. Exemplify professional values and standards, best practices, and the commitment to lifelong learning in the role of the master’s-prepared nurse. | M7A2 Presentation 67% (9) | ||
| M7A1 Abstract 89% (9) | |||
| 6. Implement the role of master’s-prepared nurse as part of the interprofessional team. | M6A2 Project Paper 100% (9) | ||
| 7. Integrate scholarship, a spirit of inquiry, and innovation to support nursing excellence. | M6A2 Project Paper 89% (9) | ||
| M7A1 Abstract 100% (9) | |||
| M7A2 Presentation 89% (9) | |||
| Expected Level of Achievement (ELA) Legend | Met (at least 80% of students achieve “mastery” or 80%/B or better) | Not Met (within 5 points of ELA) | Not Met (more than 5 points from ELA) |
Direct Methods MS / RN-MS in Nursing Informatics Competencies
Presented below are the measures and results of direct assessment efforts that best reflect students’ achievement of each competency related to Nursing Informatics specialty practice knowledge between Summer 2020 and Spring 2021.
| Competencies | Direct Assessment Methods | %(n) Students Achieving Mastery or Better | |
| 1. Use health information technology to inform decisions that improve key health systems processes and outcomes. | NUR521 M3A1 Database Design | 81% (6) | |
| NUR521 M6A1 Database Design | 93% (7) | ||
| NUR680 M4A1 Executive Presentation | 96% (6) | ||
| NUR680 M7A1 CDSS Implementation & Evaluation | 100% (6) | ||
| 2. Collaborate with interprofessional teams to assess, implement, and evaluate innovative health information technology to improve care | NUR551 M2A5 System Proposal | 95% (11) | |
| NUR551 M5A2 System Implementation & Evaluation | 93% (1) | ||
| Expected Level of Achievement (ELA) Legend | Met (at least 80% of students achieve “mastery” or 80%/B or better) | Not Met (within 5 points of ELA) | ELA (more than 5 points from ELA) |
INDIRECT METHODS
Alumni surveys are administered upon graduation and one-year post-graduation.
Goal: The expected level of achievement for the Exit alumni survey is an average of 5.0 or higher on a 6.0 scale.
For informational purposes only, all MS in Nursing degree graduates between May 2021 through April 2022 (n=80), who responded to the Exit Survey (n=21, response rate=26%). One-Year Survey respondents did not present a large enough n for results. Exit survey responses indicated high levels of achievement across all EPSLOs. Data are presented as an aggregate of all MS in Nursing degrees due to the sample size.
| End of Program Student Learning Outcomes (EPSLOs) | Exit Survey Results (1=Strongly Disagree; 6=Strongly Agree) | One-Year Survey (1=Strongly Disagree; 6=Strongly Agree) | ||
| 1. Function as a leader and change agent to promote holistic patient-centered care and population health. | 5.77 | NA | ||
| 2. Translate evidence to develop health care practices in a culturally and ethnically diverse global society. | 5.85 | NA | ||
| 3. Synthesize theoretical and empirical knowledge from nursing and other disciplines that are essential for nursing judgement and practice. | 5.85 | NA | ||
| 4. Integrate specialty practice knowledge to enhance interprofessional collaboration, inform decisions, and improve outcomes. | 5.85 | NA | ||
| 5. Exemplify professional values and standards, best practices, and the commitment to lifelong learning in the role of the master’s-prepared nurse. | 5.92 | NA | ||
| 6. Implement the role of master’s-prepared nurse as part of the interprofessional team. | 5.85 | NA | ||
| 7. Integrate scholarship, a spirit of inquiry, and innovation to support nursing excellence. | 5.92 | NA | ||
| Nursing Informatics Competencies | ||||
| 1. Use health information technology to inform decisions that improve key health systems processes and outcomes. | NA | NA | ||
| 2. Collaborate with interprofessional teams to assess, implement, and evaluate innovative health information technology to improve care. | NA | NA | ||
| Exit and One-year Survey Expected Level of Achievement Legend | Met (average of 5.0 or higher on a 6.0 scale) | Not Met (average below 5.0 on a 6.0 scale) | ||
NA= Not Available due to sample size
ASSESSMENT OF PROGRAM OUTCOMES
COMPLETION OF THE MS IN NURSING INFORMATICS PROGRAM
The Excelsior Master of Science in Nursing Informatics program is designed to be completed at the student’s pace. The program length for part-time students is 4 years and 2 years for full-time students. Students in the program are required to complete all degree requirements within seven years of enrollment.
ACEN defines program completion as the percentage of students who graduate/complete in no more than 100% of the stated nursing program length, beginning with enrollment on the first day of the first nursing course. Based on this definition, approximately 44% of first-time Excelsior University students who enrolled in their first nursing requirement in 2018 completed the MS in Informatics degree program within 4 years (i.e., 100% of the average part-time program length). Currently there is no first-time, full-time data to report.
COMPLETION OF THE RN-MS IN NURSING PROGRAM
The Excelsior RN to MS program is designed to be completed at the student’s pace. The program length for part-time students is 6 years and 3 years for full-time students. Students in the program are required to complete all degree requirements within twelve years of enrollment.
ACEN defines program completion as the percentage of students who graduate/complete in no more than 100% of the stated nursing program length, beginning with enrollment on the first day of the first nursing course. Based on this definition, approximately 78% of first-time Excelsior University students who enrolled in their first nursing requirement in 2015 completed the RN to MS degree program within 6 years (i.e., 100% of the average part-time program length). Currently there is no full-time data to report.
JOB PLACEMENT RATES
Based on responses to the one-year alumni survey from graduates who completed the program between May 2020 through April 2021 (n=59, response rate=7%), 75% of graduate respondents are employed in a position for which the nursing program prepared them (e.g., requires a MS in Nursing) and in a field related to the MS Nursing degree they earned. Data are presented as an aggregate of all MS in Nursing degrees due to the sample size.
