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GUIDELINES FOR SPECIAL PROJECT 

1. Starting the special project proposal: Completing the Special Project requires considerable thought, research, and planning on your part. While NUR 592 is a non-thesis option course, it is difficult to complete your project within the four-month time frame provided by a single course. To that end, preliminary project work is spread over several semesters and different core courses. Assignments within each of these courses are geared to helping you begin to frame your project and to develop it into a sound and scholarly work reflective of your academic achievements. These courses will give you a solid basis for your Special Project proposal. In addition, the student will be engaged in significant independent work to develop the proposal and final special project.

NUR 500 Theories: develop conceptual framework

NUR 505 Leadership: develop statement of the problem including context and proposed solution

NUR 512: Policy: develop statement of the problem from a policy context and possible policy solution

NUR 516: Informatics: use data to define problem and evaluate influences and solutions

NUR 519: Research: examine research /evidenced based practice as methods to address problem; conduct literature review.

2. Faculty mentor: Identify a faculty mentor you would like to have work with you on your project. Your mentor will be a resource for you throughout the project, will read and comment on your work, and must approve your work prior to submission of your proposal and your submission of the completed special project.

Image of Nursing 3. Approval of the proposed project: The semester prior to taking NUR 592, electronically submit your project proposal to the Graduate Program Coordinator using the Special Project Proposal Evaluation Framework as a guide for your proposal AND the Declaration of Special Project forms that will be found on the Department of Nursing's Web site. Forms can be submitted by either Aug. 15 or Oct. 15 to register for a spring offering of NUR 592 or Jan.  15 or Apr. 15 to register to take NUR 592 in the fall. The Graduate Program Committee will grade your proposal for the project. You must obtain a grade of B (84) to be approved and to be allowed to register for NUR 592. If you do not receive a grade of 84 or above, you must wait until the following date to resubmit the proposal. The faculty supervisor/mentor will notify you of the approval and will serve as the advisor for the project.

4. Implementation of the project:  The student enrolls in NUR 592.  While enrolled the student implements the project with guidance from the faculty mentor and course faculty.

5. Completion of your work: The student completes the special project  and submits it to the faculty mentor for review.  It is common to need to revise your work multiple times.  This should be anticipated and you should plan to fit it into your schedule for completion of your degree.

6. Department approval:Once the student receives the faculty mentor's approval, the special project is submitted to the Graduate Program Committee for their review and acceptance. If the project is being submitted for publication, presentation, or committee review, evidence that it has been received by that group must be provided to the committee.

7. Dissemination of your work: All students are required to present their special projects to the SCSU nursing community during the first week of December for a fall course or the first week of May for a spring course. The best process for doing this and specific dates and times will be made known to you by your faculty mentor.

8. Filing your special project: Write an abstract (250 words or less) and a report of your project that includes the title of the project, its purpose or goal, research questions (if any), results, implications, and recommendations. Place the abstract and project report on the SON Web site (under MSN project 2005/06) for dissemination to other students. Submit a paper copy of the abstract and report to the Graduate Program Coordinator.

 

Boyer, E.L. (1990). Scholarship Reconsidered: Priorities for the Professoriate. Princeton, New Jersey: Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (1999). Position Paper on Defining Scholarship for the Discipline of Nursing. Washington, DC: Author.

 

special PROject suggested timeline

1. First year of program:  Identify the topic of the special project.  The problem statement  with supporting data, a preliminary review of the literature and plan for action are developed in core courses.  Student obtains Special Project information and appropriate forms from SCSU nursing department Web site.

2. First year of the program/semester before taking NUR 592: Identify and meet with faculty mentor to fully develop the special project proposal for submission to Graduate Program Coordinator (see Special Project Proposal Evaluation Framework for expected product); submit copy of Declaration of Special Project form to the Graduate Program Coordinator.  Progress Record should be signed.

3. Semester prior to taking NUR 592:  Approval of proposal is obtained from the Graduate Program Committee with a grade of B(84) or better.  Progress record is signed.

4. Semester taking NUR 592:  Project is implemented.  Progress record signed.

5. Semester taking NUR 592: Mentor reviews abstract and report on special project for submission to Graduate Program Committee according to guidelines provided.  Progress record signed.

6. Semester taking NUR 592:  Student disseminates special project to SCSU Nursing community; puts abstract on SCSU Nursing Department Web site, and provides hard copy of abstract and report to Graduate Program Coordinator.  Progress record signed.