School of Mathematics and Sciences
Virtual Campus
Mission: Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically challenging, learning
focused and distinctively Christian environment for professional success, lifelong learning and service to
God and humankind.
Virtual Campus University of Wayland Baptist RN - BSN Program
NURS 4348 Summer 2013 VC 01 Nursing Theories and Research
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Students are introduced to nursing theorists and their theories of
nursing and explore the development and process of nursing research. Opportunities are
provided for the student to critique and evaluate nursing research and explore the application of
theory and research in the clinical practice of nursing.
CREDIT: 3 credit hours: class is conducted on-line
TEXTBOOKS:
Burns, N. & Grove, S. (2010). Understanding Nursing Research (5th Edition). St. Louis:
Saunders.
Tomey, A & Alligood, M. (2007). Nursing Theorist and Their Work, 7th Edition. St. Louis:
Mosby.
American Psychological Association (2001). Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association (5th edition). Chicago: APA.
Course Coordinator:
LaVon Barrett RN, MSN, CNE
H – 806-356-9237
C – 806-570-0942
anna.barrett@wayland.wbu.edu
Regular log-on is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student
to keep track of their assignments. Students must have daily access to a computer and a reliable Internet
connection to enroll in this course. Technical computer problems are not valid excuses to miss
assignments, exams, or other due dates. Students should plan ahead to have access to a back-up computer
at a family member's home, friend's location, local school, or local city library. When technical problems
occur, send an e-mail to your instructor immediately to explain the difficulty. If you cannot use e-mail,
call your instructor to explain the problem.
Review the Guidelines for the Virtual Campus on the Virtual Campus homepage at
http://www.wbu.edu/academics/online_programs/default.htm. Be sure to read the netiquette link
under the getting started on-line link.
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Respectful students bring a strong work ethic to the course. They are expected to log-on to the class
regularly, be prepared for class, and be attentive to discussions and online chats. A shared respect for one
another is essential to the academic integrity and a comfortable learning environment. Everyone must do
their part to maintain an environment of openness and civility that encourages and honors the intellectual
achievement.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Discuss the significance of the component steps of the research process.
2. Explore selected research methods and designs.
3. Identify ethical and cultural considerations in research that involves human subjects.
4. Explore the methods of communicating research reports.
5. Critically appraise selected clinical research studies and their application to the practice
of nursing.
6. Discuss the correlation of theory development and the research process.
7. Delineate the major concepts of selected nurse theorists.
8. Explain the relationships of nursing theory, and nursing research to nursing practice.
EVALUATION AND GRADING: A point system is used to determine the grade in Nursing
Theories and Research.
A = 90-100
B =80-89
C =75-79
D =60-74
F =60 and below
COURSE GRADING
On-Line Exams (3)
Participation in Discussion Question
Check Point Assignments
Individual Critique of a Chosen Research Article
Project: Nursing Theory PowerPoint Presentation
25%
20%
20%
15%
20%
______
Total
100%
_____________________________________________________________
GUIDELINES for COURSE PROJECTS: GRADING
On-line exams
Exams are scheduled on the calendar to begin at 8:00 a.m. on the date listed and end at 11:55 p.m.
(midnight) on the date listed. Exams will typically be available for 5 days. The exam will be timed. You
will have 2 hours to complete the exam. You will only be able to access the exam once to take and
MUST complete the exam. You cannot view the exam and then return later to complete. Each exam
will be 25 questions. Exams count for 25% of your grade.
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Posted Answer to Discussion Question Requirements
Discussion Questions (on week 1, 2, 4, 6, and 10) will be posted by the instructor. These will be
posted on Sunday and your response is due by Tuesday midnight (this will be a requirement on
weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, and 10). Each discussion will be worth 5 points. All discussions will be worth
20% of your grade. In order to get the full points you will need to:
 Answer the posted question with substantial evidence from the week’s readings. Use
proper grammar and spelling. Reference as necessary from your text. Your response
needs to be at least 200-300 words.
 Throughout the week reply with a substantive response to other student’s discussion
question answer thread (click on the student’s answer thread and then click reply for that
post). The replies must be on 2 different days and you need to post at least 2
substantive responses (1 each of the 2 days). The substantive responses must be posted
by the end of the week Sunday (midnight).
Check Point Assignments
On week 3, 4, 5, and 6 you will find one or two Check Point Assignment(s) (There are a total of
6 assignments). There is a question for short answer response. In order to get full credit you
must reference your textbook readings. The question will open on Monday of the respective
week and your response is due by Saturday evening at 11:55 of that week. Each check point is
worth 5 points apiece. All check point assignments will be worth 20% of the grade.
Individual Critique of Research Article
Each student will choose a quantitative research article (have it approved by the instructor.
Submit the article in week 5 under the article critique tab. Write a critique of the article. Use
Burns for critique guidelines. The critique should be typed and follow APA format. Even though
the critique guideline is in bulleted format the paper you turn in must be in full sentence format not bulleted answers. Use a heading for each paragraph broken down by the grading criteria
given below. Submit the paper under the assignment tab in the week folder that it is due. This
assignment is worth 15% of your grade.
Guidelines:
Study problem, purpose, and literature review
10%
Study framework, research questions or hypotheses,
10%
Variables, demographic variables
10%
Design, sample
10%
Measurement strategies, data collection, statistical analysis
10%
Interpretation, limitations, conclusion
10%
Implications of the findings for nursing practice
10%
Suggestions for further studies, missing elements identified , can
the study be replicated
10%
Grammar and spelling
10%
APA format
10%
---------
100%
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Nursing Theory PowerPoint Presentation
Develop a Power Point Presentation on a nursing theorist of your choice. The presentation
should be no more than 12 slides. It should include speaker notes to expand on the bulleted slide
contents. Citations should be included in the speaker notes. All references should be on one slide
at the end. A title slide including your names and the title of the presentation should begin the
presentation
For Each Theorist Assigned:
 Describe the central theme/concept of the nursing theorist you have chosen.
 Describe how the theorist describes or defines the traditional four metaparadigm concepts
of person, environment, health and nursing
 Describe how this theory could be used in wellness or illness care or for both
 What are strengths of the nursing theory?
 What are weaknesses of the nursing theory?
 How can the theory be used in nursing practice (reference with an article or examples
from an article)
 Post the PP presentation in the Discussion board for classmates to see and make
comments.
 This Assignment will be 20% of your grade.
The grading criteria will be as follows:
The assigned theorist’s central theme is defined
10%
The four metapardigms of nursing is well described for each theorist
10%
A description of how the assigned theories can be used in wellness and
illness care is included
10%
Strengths/weaknesses of each nursing theory is addressed
10%
How theories can be used in nursing practice is addressed
10%
Use of speaker notes
10%
Grammar and Spelling
10%
Use of APA Format
10%
References
10%
PowerPoint slides (bulleted points, font size, color) are appealing and appropriate 10%
Posted in Discussion Board and participated in commenting on classmates
Work.
______
Total
100
Where class documents will be located in Blackboard
Course Calendar – this is where you will find each week’s assignments and due dates for your
convenience.
Weekly Assignments – weekly folders will have readings, PowerPoint lectures and any weekly
assignments. Exams will be posted under the Weekly Assignment tab in which they will occur.
Discussion Board – Discussion question, substantive response will be posted under this tab.
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