Student Handbooks

Please see the following section of the College of Nursing website for the most current student handbooks:

http://www.nursing.uiowa.edu/current-students/handbooks

COLLEGE OF NURSING GRADUATE HANDBOOK

Table of Contents

SECTION I:  GENERAL INFORMATION FOR ALL GRADUATE STUDENTS

Introduction........................................................................................................................ 1

College of Nursing Philosophy Statement ......................................................................... 1

I. College of Nursing Overview......................................................................................... 3

A. Administrative Organization................................................................................... 3

B. Mission and Goals.................................................................................................... 3

C. Standards of Excellence.......................................................................................... 4

II. Graduate College........................................................................................................... 4

A. Overview ................................................................................................................ 4

B. Graduate College Policies........................................................................................ 4

..... 1. Academic Residence Requirement..................................................................... 4

..... 2. Approval of Transfer Credits.............................................................................. 5

      C. Graduate College Student Handbook..................................................................... 5

III. Financial Assistance..................................................................................................... 5

 A. For All College of Nursing Graduate Students....................................................... 5

1. Graduate Assistantships..................................................................................... 5

2. Professional Nurse Traineeship........................................................................... 5

.... 3. Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP)................................................................ 6

     4. Scholarship and Loans........................................................................................ 6

      B. For PhD Students Only............................................................................................ 6

        1. General Policies for Support of PhD Students................................................... 6

        2. Nurse Fellowships (NRSAs) for PhD Students................................................. 6

 C. Tax Information........................................................................................................ 7

IV. Graduate Assistantships (RA)...................................................................................... 7

A. Research Assistantship............................................................................................ 8

B. Selection and Assignment of Students to RA and TA Positions........................... .8

C. Orientation of Students for RA Positions.............................................................. .8

D. Renewals and Terminations of Assistantships........................................................ .8

E. Expectations for Research Assistants in the College of Nursing............................ .9

F. RA Evaluation Form................................................................................................. 10

L. RA Feedback Form................................................................................................. 11

V. Graduate Student Policies and Responsibilities........................................................... 12

A. Technology and Information Management Literacy Competency.......................... 12

.... 1.  Literacy Goals...................................................................................................... 13

.... 2.  Literacy Goals, Objectives and related skills – Table.......................................... 14

.... 3.  Information Literacy Resources.......................................................................... 15

B. Statistics Course Required Prerequisite.................................................................... 15

C. Research Course Required Prerequisite.................................................................... 15

D. Guidelines for Graduate Transfer Courses............................................................... 15

E. Nursing Licensure..................................................................................................... 16

F. Liability Insurance.................................................................................................... 17

G. Mandatory Health Insurance.................................................................................... 23

H. Health and Clinical Requirements............................................................................ 18

I. Requirements for Human Subjects Research ............................................................ 19

     1. Human Subjects Review Guidelines.................................................................... 19

     2. IRB Tracking Form information.......................................................................... 20

J. English as Second Language Requirement for all Foreign Students ........................ 20

K. Guidelines for Taking Exams for ESL Students......................................................21

VI. Student Performance and Progress............................................................................. 21

    A. Evaluation and Grading............................................................................................ 21

    B. Good Standing ......................................................................................................... 22

    C. Writing Guidelines and Resources............................................................................ 22

         1. Writing Guidelines – APA Style.......................................................................... 22

         2. Writing Resources................................................................................................. 23

    D.  Recognizing and Avoiding Plagiarism.................................................................... 23

    E.  Academic Misconduct............................................................................................. 23

    F.  Grievance Procedure................................................................................................ 30

VII. College of Nursing Graduate Student Services......................................................... 30

A. Dual Advisement Program....................................................................................... 30

1. Faculty Advisor, Program Staff Advisor ............................................................ 30

2. Changing a Faculty Advisor................................................................................. 31

    B. Association of Graduate Nursing Students (AGNS)............................................... 31

    C. Communication ........................................................................................................ 31

     1. E-mail .................................................................................................................. 38

     2. Graduate Student Listserv (agnsnet)................................................................... 31

     3. Graduate Student ICON Site – MSN/PhD......................................................... 31

     4. Graduate Student Mailboxes............................................................................... 31

D. Electronic Based Resources..................................................................................... 32

1. On-line Courses.................................................................................................... 32

2. College of Nursing Instructional Technology Center........................................... 32

E. Resource Labs & Libraries........................................................................................ 32

1. Nursing Clinical Education Center....................................................................... 32

2. Morris Research Laboratory for Gerontological Nursing Research...................... 32

3. The Laboratory for Advanced Computing in Nursing......................................... 32

4. The Center for Nursing Classification & Clinical Effectiveness.......................... 33

5. The Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence.......................................... 33

6. The University of Iowa Libraries ......................................................................... 33

7.  The University of Iowa Library Services for Distance Ed Students .................. 33

F. Sigma Theta Tau National Nursing Honor Society .................................................. 33

G. Offices and Keys .................................................................................................... 34

1. Doctoral Student’s Office ................................................................................... 34

2. Keys to the College of Nursing ........................................................................... 34

VIII. College of Nursing Policies...................................................................................... 34

A. Photo Identification Badges................................................................................... 34

B. College of Nursing Smoking Policy ....................................................................... 35

C. College of Nursing Policy on Academic Accommodations................................... 35

D. CDC Prevention of Blood-Borne Pathogens –Standard Precautions.................... 35

E. Protocol for Students Exposed to Blood or Body Fluids While Enrolled at The

    University of Iowa................................................................................................... 36

F. Any UI Health Science Student at Off-Site Locations Exposed to Blood or Body

    Fluids....................................................................................................................... 39

G. Any Nursing Student at UIHC Exposed to Blood or Body Fluids ...................... 40

IX. University of Iowa Policies......................................................................................... 41

A  Registration Policies .............................................................................................. 41

B. Affirmative Action Policy ..................................................................................... 41

C. Policies and Regulations Affecting Students   ...................................................... 41

    1. Policy on Sexual Harassment and Consensual Relationships ............................. 41

    2.  Student Records Policy – FERPA .................................................................... 41

      D.  The University of Iowa Policy of Ethics in Research ........................................... 42

      E.  Student Disability Policy and Services.................................................................. 42

      F.  Summer Financial Aid............................................................................................ 43

X. Resources...................................................................................................................... 43

A Office Of Student Services  ................................................................................... 43

B. Ombuds Services ................................................................................................... 43

C. Computing Resources  ........................................................................................... 43

      D. Student Health ....................................................................................................... 43

      E. University Counseling Service................................................................................ 43

      F. Student Disability Services..................................................................................... 44

G. Office of International Programs  .......................................................................... 44

H. Veteran’s Services ................................................................................................. 44

I. Cultural Centers  ..................................................................................................... 44

      J. Career Development Services ................................................................................. 44

      K. Office of Student Financial Aid............................................................................. 45

      L. Office of the Registrar............................................................................................ 45

      M. Women’s Resource and Action Center (WRAC).................................................. 45

      N. Rape Victim Advocacy Program (RVAP)............................................................. 45

SECTION II: INFORMATION SPECIFICALLY FOR MSN STUDENTS (CNL POST-LICENSURE)

I. Overview........................................................................................................................ 47

II. Advising....................................................................................................................... 47

III. Thesis/Project/Portfolio............................................................................................... 47

      A. The University of Iowa Examination Policy for Graduate Students..................... 47

      B. College of Nursing Requirements, Policy and Procedures..................................... 48

      C. Summary of Master’s Thesis, Project and Portfolio – Table................................... 49

IV. Graduation Information.............................................................................................. 54

SECTION III:  INFORMATION SPECIFICALLY FOR DNP STUDENTS

I. Overview of Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP)..................................................... 55

II. DNP Admission Requirements....................................................................................55

III. Advising.................................................................................................................... 56

IV. Plan of Study............................................................................................................ 56

V. Academic Residence Requirement............................................................................. 56

VI. Capstone Project (96:308 Clinical/Leadership Project)............................................. 56

VII. Program Outcomes.................................................................................................. 58

VIII. Graduation Information......................................................................................... 58

         A. Graduation Forms.............................................................................................. 59

SECTION IV:  INFORMATION SPECIFICALLY FOR PHD STUDENTS

I. Overview of the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Program.......................................... 60

II. Curriculum.................................................................................................................... 60

III. PhD Admission Requirements.................................................................................... 60

IV. PhD Advising.............................................................................................................. 61

V. PhD Student Collegiate Involvement........................................................................... 64

VI. Programs of Study...........................................................................................................64

      A. BSN to PhD ........................................................................................................... 64

      B. PhD......................................................................................................................... 64

      C. Residence Requirement.......................................................................................... 65

VII. Doctoral Independent Study Policy and Procedure................................................ ..65

      A. Plan for 96:496 PhD Independent Study- Form.................................................. ..66

VII. Comprehensive Examination...................................................................................66

      A. Purpose ................................................................................................................ ..66

      B. Eligibility .............................................................................................................. ..67

      C. Scheduling the Examination ................................................................................ ..67

      D. Examination Committee ...................................................................................... ..68

      E. Exam Structure ..................................................................................................... ..68

      F. Grading ................................................................................................................. ..69

      G. Feedback to the Student....................................................................................... ..70

      H. Change in Procedure ............................................................................................ ..70

      I. Comprehensive Exam Advisor/Chair .................................................................... ..71

XIV. Timeline from Comprehensive Exam to Dissertation Defense.............................. ..71

      A. Continuous Registration Policy............................................................................ ..71

      B. Final Exam (Dissertation Defense) Timeline........................................................ ..71

XVII. Dissertation Research and Defense...................................................................... ..72

      A. Prospectus/Proposal Meeting................................................................................ ..72

           1. PhD Examination Committee........................................................................... ..72

           2. Proposal Meeting.............................................................................................. ..72

      B. Oral PhD Defense ................................................................................................ ..73

           1. Scheduling the PhD Oral Defense/Final Exam................................................ ..73

           2. Grading and Reporting of the Oral Defense/Final Exam................................. ..73

      C. Written Dissertation ............................................................................................. ..74

      D. Three-Paper Option for PhD Dissertation............................................................ ..74

XVIII. Graduation Information ..................................................................................... ..77