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MASTER OF NURSING
STUDENT HANDBOOK
Please note an electronic version of this handbook is available on the Graduate Program website
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MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GRADUATE STUDIES ................................ 6
PROGRAM INFORMATION ............................................................................................................ 7
Registration .................................................................................................................................................. 7
Courses from other Graduate Academic Units (GAU) at UNB ................................................... 7
Courses Taken as an Independent Study ......................................................................................... 7
Fees ................................................................................................................................................................. 8
Other Sources of Important Information including Conflict Resolution ................................ 8
OBLIGATION TO THE MN PROGRAM .................................................................................... 9
ALL STUDENTS ..................................................................................................................................... 9
Nurses Association of New Brunswick (NANB) Registration ...................................................... 9
MN and Research Days ............................................................................................................................ 9
Progress Reports ...................................................................................................................................... 10
THESIS/REPORT STUDENTS ................................................................................................... 10
NP STUDENTS .................................................................................................................................... 11
SYNTHESIS, NURSE EDUCATOR AND THESIS FORUMS: NP, NE AND
THESIS/REPORT STUDENTS ................................................................................................... 11
NE STUDENTS .................................................................................................................................... 12
EMAIL, COMMUNICATION AND COMPUTER ACCESS .................................................................. 12
Computer Access ...................................................................................................................................... 12
UNB Email Accounts ................................................................................................................................ 12
SUBMITTING WORK IN THE MN PROGRAM ................................................................. 13
Assignments ............................................................................................................................................... 13
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Proposals, Theses and Reports ........................................................................................................... 13
Research Ranking; Contribution of Graduate Funding, Publication & Presentation ....... 13
RESOURCES......................................................................................................................................... 14
Graduate Room ......................................................................................................................................... 14
UNB Writing & Study Skills Lab .......................................................................................................... 15
UNB Bookstore .......................................................................................................................................... 16
OPPORTUNITIES .............................................................................................................................. 16
Committees ................................................................................................................................................ 16
Graduate Student Association ............................................................................................................. 16
Teaching and Learning Centre: Diploma in University Teaching (DUT) .............................. 16
FUNDING................................................................................................................................................ 17
Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantships (GTA/GRA) ................................................. 17
Faculty Sponsored Research Assistants .......................................................................................... 18
Scholarships ............................................................................................................................................... 18
National Research Councils .................................................................................................................. 18
SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIPS WITH MEMBERS OF THE GAU ................... 18
Thesis/Report Supervisors and Committee Members ................................................................ 18
On-going Communication and Relationships during Completion Process .......................... 20
NP Students ................................................................................................................................................ 20
HEALTH AND SAFETY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK ............ 21
NURSING GAU REGULATIONS ............................................................................................... 23
1. DEGREES AND DIPLOMAS OFFERED ........................................................................................... 23
2. ADMISSION POLICY ........................................................................................................................... 23
3. QUALIFYING PERIOD ......................................................................................................................... 26
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4. PROBATIONARY PERIOD .................................................................................................................. 26
5. APPLICATION PROCEDURES ........................................................................................................... 26
6. PROFICIENCY IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ............................................................................. 26
7. PROGRAM (DEGREE) REGISTRATION ......................................................................................... 27
Courses External to UNB ....................................................................................................................... 27
Transfer Process ....................................................................................................................................... 27
Fee Reimbursement ................................................................................................................................ 27
8. DEGREE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS: FULL-TIME & PART-TIME .................................... 28
9. COURSE REGISTRATION REGULATIONS ................................................................................... 28
10. GRADE STANDARDS ........................................................................................................................ 30
11. AUDIT .................................................................................................................................................... 30
12. ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE ........................................................................................................... 30
13. SUPERVISION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS ............................................................................... 30
14. TIME LIMITS ON DEGREES ........................................................................................................... 31
15. LEAVE OF ABSENCE ......................................................................................................................... 32
16. MATERNITY/PATERNITY/PARENTAL LEAVE ............................................................................ 32
17. EXTRACURRICULAR GRADUATE INTERNSHIPS .................................................................... 32
18. DUAL REGISTRATION ..................................................................................................................... 32
19. SECOND POSTGRADUATE DEGREES ........................................................................................ 32
20. GENERAL POST GRADUATE DEGREE REGULATIONS .......................................................... 32
21. PhD REGULATIONS .......................................................................................................................... 32
22. MASTER’S DEGREE REGULATIONS ............................................................................................ 32
Thesis/Report Stream ............................................................................................................................. 33
Thesis/Report Proposal .......................................................................................................................... 34
Internal Reader ......................................................................................................................................... 35
Proposal Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 35
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Ethical Review ........................................................................................................................................... 36
Thesis/Report Final Examination Process ....................................................................................... 36
Synthesis Papers for NP Students ..................................................................................................... 38
Internal Reader ......................................................................................................................................... 40
Public Presentations for NE Students ............................................................................................... 40
23. CONFIDENTIALITY, SECURITY AND RELEASE OF STUDENT ACADEMIC RECORDS 41
24. REVIEW OF GRADES ....................................................................................................................... 41
25. PETITION FOR RELIEF – APPEALS ............................................................................................. 41
26. REPEATING COURSES .................................................................................................................... 41
27. ACADEMIC APPEALS ........................................................................................................................ 41
28. PETITION FOR RELIEF .................................................................................................................... 41
29. ACADEMIC OFFENCES .................................................................................................................... 41
30. SENATE REVIEW ............................................................................................................................... 41
31. GENERAL REGULATIONS ON CONDUCT .................................................................................. 41
32. GENERAL .............................................................................................................................................. 42
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Message from the Director of Graduate Studies
This is the tenth edition of the MN Handbook, for some of you this is the second or third time you’ve seen this handbook and for others it is the first. This handbook
was developed as a way of facilitating adjustment to or continuation in graduate studies. Included in the Handbook you will find information about issues that frequently arise throughout the program, links to sites where you’ll find further
details and a complete listing of Nursing GAU regulations. It is vitally important that you are familiar with the School of Graduate Studies Regulations and the specific
ones for the Nursing GAU. In effect, these regulations form the university’s obligations to you and your obligations and responsibilities to the university. To ensure that we are meeting our obligation to inform students of their rights and
responsibilities all new students will be required to sign a statement confirming that you have received a copy of the handbook, and that you are aware of the online
location for continuing students. Those of you who have completed one or more years of study will know, and those
of you who are new to the MN program will learn, that the difference between undergraduate studies and graduate studies is one of considerable magnitude. Many
students initially find the increased expectations of graduate study daunting while others are eager to embrace the opportunity for increased intellectual stimulation and requirements for independent thinking, writing and participation. Regardless of
your perspective, which may vacillate at different times throughout the program, at some point in time you will probably question why you chose to pursue graduate
studies! An important aspect to keep in mind during these inevitable times of self-doubt is that you were admitted to the MN program based on the collective judgment of others that you had the requisite skills and determination to succeed.
To sustain you during the rough times and to celebrate your accomplishments it is important to have sources of support other than family or friends who may not have
done graduate work and therefore likely do not understand the complexities of your “love/hate” relationship with graduate work. Whether you are a fulltime or part-time
student, I urge you to become involved with the Graduate Student Association, to take advantage of the MN Room 03 in MacLaggan Hall and to visit the Alden Nowlan House on 676 Windsor Street (just South of MacLaggan Hall) as places to develop
relationships with fellow graduate students both in nursing and outside of nursing.
We look forward to partnering with you as you begin or extend your journey of transformation from a baccalaureate prepared nurse to a master’s prepared nurse. I hope that each of you will take time to drop by my office in RM. 112 to meet me,
and that you will seek me out should you have questions or concerns about your graduate studies during this academic year.
Janice Thompson RN, PhD
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PROGRAM INFORMATION
Registration
Please refer to the SGS Regulations Section 7 regarding the
requirement for all research based graduate students to be registered in all three formal academic terms (Fall Term: September 1 –
December 31; Winter Term: January 1-April 30 and Summer Term: May 1-August 31). Course based graduate students (Nurse Educator
steam) must register each term they are taking a course.
UNB has an online registration process. Logistics and a link to the online
registration page are sent out from the MN office each year in mid-summer.
Students may register for courses for the fall and winter terms at the
fall registration. Summer registration (May to August) cannot be completed until early April.
Courses from other Graduate Academic Units (GAU) at UNB
Before registering in graduate courses in another department or faculty,
permission is required from both the course instructor and possibly the Director of Graduate Studies (DoG) of that GAU. Not all faculties will allow on-
line registration and you will need to check with the specific DoG. Please see the SGS website under Student Forms for this form titled Graduate Student Course Change Form.
Courses Taken as an Independent Study
Students, who are planning to engage in an independent study in nursing to meet program requirements, must make arrangements with the faculty
member and the Director of Graduate Studies a minimum of 4 weeks prior to the term in which they plan to engage in the independent study. The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) requires completion of a “Graduate Independent
Study Course Form” available at for all students wishing to complete an independent study.
http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/registrar/_resources/pdf/independent_study_form.pdf All thesis/report stream students are required to take NURS 6234
Independent Study in Nursing Research as their final course. The Graduate Independent Study form is to be filled out by the student and his/her supervisor. The course outline is to be attached to the Graduate Independent
Study Course Form. In addition, the CV of the person teaching the independent study course (if this person is not a member of the Nursing GAU)
is to be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies. On occasion, undergraduate courses can be upgraded to graduate level and the course description must contain specific details as to the levelling of the course to
graduate expectations.
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All Thesis/Report and Nurse Practitioner students, including those
who have completed course work are required to register each term for one of the following: 6997 (thesis) 6996 (report) and NP Students
for 6995 (synthesis paper). Please check the numbers carefully as it is important to register appropriately.
Fees
Students in the Masters of Nursing Thesis/Report and Nurse Practitioner Streams are in a Research Based Program. Nurse Educator students are in a
Course Based Program. According to the SGS Regulations, research based
students must pay fees for 3 terms per year until completion of the degree,
regardless of whether courses are being taken. Students in a course based program pay fees only in the terms in which they are registered in courses.
Information on the types of fees required for graduate studies as well as information such as deadlines for payment and methods of payment can be found at
http://www.unb.ca/financialservices/students/Masters_and_PhD_Tuition_and_Fees/fredericton.html.
If for any reason you cannot pay by the cut-off date set by the University you should contact the person in charge of graduate fees in Financial Services at
(506) 458-7175. When Financial Services are proactively made aware of financial hardship, they can often make individual arrangements for payment
of fees. Students who do not pay on time will receive notice from the School of Graduate Studies. If payment is not received or no effort is made to contact the above office to make arrangements for payment, the student will
lose access rights to UNB’s computer system (library, e-mail, online systems) and may be withdrawn from the MN Program. The SGS and Financial Services
deal with payment of fees and it is the student’s responsibility to communicate with them directly. The MN office will not forward any reminders about fee payment or late fees.
Other Sources of Important Information
The UNB Undergraduate Nursing Handbook (page 46) contains important
information that is also applicable to MN students. The 2014-2015 Undergraduate Handbook is available electronically at
http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/nursing/_resources/studenthandbook2015-16sept15.pdf . In particular MN students are encouraged to access and read the following policies and/or guidelines Student Disclosure of Health
Information, Resolution of Conflict Among Nursing Students, Student-Faculty-Disagreement and UNB Declaration of Rights and Responsibilities.
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Students are expected to become familiar with computer technology. Many
library resources are available electronically, computer literature searches are essential at the graduate level and many faculty use D2L Brightspace online technology for complete or partial course delivery.
OBLIGATION TO THE MN PROGRAM Members of the Graduate Academic Unit recognize that the demographics of
the MN program differ considerably from other graduate programs at UNB; therefore faculty are willing within reason to accommodate deadlines for assignments because of work and family related commitments. However,
students should be aware that there are limits to the level of accommodation that can be expected. While there are no regulations for unfunded Masters’
students regarding employment while pursuing a graduate degree, students should be aware that juggling employment and graduate study is something that must be considered very carefully. In deciding to pursue graduate
education you are making a commitment to meet the standards of the MN program.
All Students Nurses Association of New Brunswick (NANB) Registration
Students must maintain continuous practicing registration with NANB while
enrolled in the MN program. Confirmation of registration is to be submitted to the MN Program Assistant by the end of the first week of classes in the January-April term.
MN and Research Days
An important aspect of graduate education is socialization into the graduate
role. With so many distance and part-time students, it is not always possible to require students to attend regular weekly or monthly face to face seminars, as is the case in some GAUs. To provide some opportunity for graduate
nursing students to meet with their peers, as per the Nursing GAU Regulations, students are required to be on the Fredericton campus for MN
Day in late August or early September and for Research Day in the spring. During MN day there are student presentations on: (i) Nurse Educator Practicum, (ii) Nurse Practitioner Practicum or progress toward Synthesis
Papers and (iii) progress toward thesis/reports. As well as other useful sessions.
During Research Day, students will be expected to introduce speakers, monitor concurrent sessions or do a presentation on some aspect of Advanced
Practice Nursing or ongoing or completed research.
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Progress Reports
Yearly Progress Reports for students following completion of their first year of studies are required by the SGS. The Progress Reports for the Nursing GAU are due each year in September. If you do not have a supervisor to sign this
form, the Director of Graduate Studies, will sign the form for you. Note: Students in the NE stream do not have to complete this report.
Please see Graduate Student Annual Progress Report on the Student Forms page of the SHS.
http://www.unb.ca/gradstudies/_assets/pdfs/student_annual_progress_report_2016.pdf
Thesis/Report Students Generally students will have 2 ½ -3 years following completion of course work to complete the thesis/report. The GAU has adopted a Regulation (page 34)
stipulating that no more than three months should go by following completion of course work to establish your thesis/report committee. The rationale for
this regulation is that students who do not establish a committee in a timely manner tends to lose ground in terms of the motivation and self-direction required for completion of a thesis/report. Full-time students will find that
regulations from various funding agencies stipulate maximum hours of work allowed while students hold funding. These regulations may also serve as a
guide for students who do not hold funding and are considering how much work is reasonable to assume as a full-time graduate student. Please consult with the Director of Graduate Studies if you have questions or concerns about
how much work is manageable at various points in your program.
Part-time students who are employed on a full-time basis will find that a guiding principle to follow in terms of course work is one course per term.
This schedule permits students to complete course work in three years and have two years left for completion of the thesis/report. It is particularly advisable to plan ahead for some form of work adjustment during the
thesis/report process as uninterrupted periods for conceptualization and writing are necessary for timely progress.
Part-time students who are working on a part-time basis may find that they
can manage more than one course per term thus leaving more time in the program for thesis/report work. As with students who are working full-time,
we advise you to plan for a work schedule that permits focused time on the thesis/report because uninterrupted periods for conceptualization and writing are necessary for timely progress.
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NP Students Full-time work and full-time study is not permitted in the NP program because
of the time commitment for clinical practice. There is a heavy clinical component of the NP program and currently a shortage of preceptors in
certain locations around the province. This means that the logistics of NP clinical placement have to be juggled with other competing demands. Students therefore need to plan that any commitment to paid employment is
not so rigid that they have little or no flexibility to meet the practice requirements of the NP program.
Synthesis, Nurse Educator and Thesis Forums: NP, NE and
Thesis/Report Students
Synthesis Paper, Thesis/Report or Nurse Educator Forums are held on a monthly basis. The forums are intended to provide students with opportunities
to discuss challenges/joys they face in deciding on topics, developing a focus and staying on track in N6995, N6996 or N6997 and the NE stream. Attendance at the forums is required for all students. When possible the NE
forums are held on the last Thursday of every month, the Thesis/Report Forums are held on the last Wednesday of every month and the Synthesis
paper forums are held on the third Wednesday of every month from 430-630pm (with the last 30 minutes allotted for students to discuss issues without a faculty member present). Please mark the dates and times in your
calendar.
Thesis – Sep. 28, Oct. 26, Nov. 30, Jan. 25, Feb. 22, Mar. 29
Synthesis Paper – Sep. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 16, Jan. 18, Feb. 15, Mar. 15
Nurse Educator - Sep. 29, Oct. 27, Nov. 24
The preliminary forums will be devoted to deciding what will work best for the
group in terms of ongoing scholarly engagement and dialogue. Faculty members from the GAU will also be invited to monthly forums as a means of enhancing interaction with people who are not necessarily engaged in
teaching courses in the three streams in the MN program, but who are available for supervision and or committee membership.
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NE Students Full-time work and full-time study is not permitted in the NE program because of the course load and the time commitment involved for clinical practice.
There is a 250 hour clinical component of the NE program. This means that the logistics of NE clinical placement have to be juggled with other competing
demands. Students who are working and studying therefore need to plan that any commitment to paid employment is not so rigid that they have little or no flexibility to meet the practice requirements of the NE program.
EMAIL, COMMUNICATION AND COMPUTER ACCESS Computer Access
Ongoing reliable computer access is vital to success at the graduate level. If you do not have a home computer, we strongly urge you to invest in one.
High speed internet access is also advisable.
UNB Email Accounts
Only UNB student email accounts are used for communication from the MN program to MN students. You must activate your IT Services before you can receive any email or make use of UNB computer labs and network services. The process sets your email name and PIN. Your UNB email account may also
be used for personal communications.
Students should develop the habit of accessing their UNB email at least 2-
3 times per week as time sensitive messages requiring responses are frequently sent from the MN office. Students may also choose to forward their
UNB e-mail to one they use every day, such as your home account. Students must remember to adjust this if the other account changes in any way or they will not receive UNB e-mail. Instructions on how to do this can be found here
http://www.unb.ca/its/setup.html .
Although email has become a very common form of communication and does not always have the same requirements for etiquette as does formal mail,
students are advised to carefully choose their words when emailing UNB personnel. All email correspondence to and from UNB personnel in the
program (with the exception of course specific correspondence) becomes a part of the student’s official file and it is wise to construct emails so that spelling errors, grammatical mistakes are avoided and the tone is
professional.
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SUBMITTING WORK IN THE MN PROGRAM Assignments
Most assignments in the MN program are submitted electronically and many
faculty use track changes functions on Microsoft Word to provide feedback. Since the university supports Microsoft products, we request that students submit assignments in Microsoft Word, unless the course professor directs you
to use some other software package.
APA Format is required throughout the MN program for all assignments and
for the thesis/report or synthesis paper. Students should purchase a copy of the latest version of the APA manual as they will be using it extensively.
Proposals, Theses and Reports
APA formatting is used in conjunction with the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Regulations and Guidelines for Preparation and Submission of Graduate Master’s Theses PhD Dissertation and Reports1 in writing proposals, theses,
reports and synthesis papers. SGS Guidelines supersede APA format for the following:
1. Face page 2. No Running Heads
3. Quotations of more than one sentence, footnotes, tables and bibliography are single-spaced
4. Page numbering 5. Margins 6. Tables and figures
Research Ranking; Contribution of Graduate Funding, Publication & Presentation
The Faculty of Nursing participates in an exercise conducted by UNB to rank the research activities of all faculties. The results of this Research Ranking
are closely tied to the amount of money and resources available to the MN program. The better the research ranking in Nursing, the more resources are
available to support graduate students i.e., computers, printers, research support etc. The Research Ranking Exercise is done every two years and on-going records of student issues that affect the ranking are kept in the MN
office. For example, each spring students are asked to advise the MN office of the receipt of external funding as this positively contributes to research
ranking.
1 http://www.unb.ca/gradstudies/_assets/pdfs/regs_guidelines_prep_2013.pdf
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Another factor which influences research ranking is the naming of faculty as second authors on student publications and presentations because in
calculating the research ranking the university considers joint faculty and student publications evidence of research capacity. Therefore, as noted in the
Nursing GAU Regulations 13.1, a common expectation of Faculty who facilitate students’ publications or presentations is to be named a second author in recognition of their efforts to assist the student to learn the research
method or process, engaging in discussion that facilitates clarification of ideas, or editing the manuscript. Students should also access the resource
links provided with Regulation 13.1.
RESOURCES Graduate Room
The Graduate Room in Room 03 in the basement of MacLaggan Hall is available to full and part time students for work and relaxation. The room has
limited locker space, study areas, computers, printer (students supply their own paper), connections for laptop computers, telephone (506 447-3276),
student mail boxes, microwave, and a small refrigerator. Keys to Room 03 and to the lockers will be available from Francis Perry.
Please note that the key to Room 03 will not allow students entrance to the building. Students must contact security, 453-4830 to open the outside door,
after 10 PM. Please have valid photo UNB ID available. Distance students, even if they are not on campus often, may wish to have a key so that they have space for work and socializing with other MN students when they are in
Fredericton.
Moncton Students
Parking
Parking is available on-site to those who have purchased a permit and parking gate card. Rates and parking regulations can be found at: http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/security/index.html
A parking gate card must be purchased to provide access to the lot via the gate at a cost of $10.00. Payment for both the permit and the gate card is via debit or credit (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and these items can be
purchased from the main office.
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Please note that gate cards and parking permits are non-transferrable. Lost or stolen cards must be reported immediately.
UNB Moncton permit holders must comply with the parking regulations noted
above. Tickets will be issued to violators, as per UNB regulations. Please note, both the lot and the 15 minute parking spots will be monitored and tickets
issued if violations are noted. Information regarding payment of fees can be found at: http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/security/parking-
rules/payment.html. Fines issued in Moncton are to be paid in Moncton, via debit or credit.
If you have questions about parking permits, please contact Alicia Jones at [email protected]. If you have questions about fines, please contact Pamela
Smith at [email protected].
Building Access
Students must purchase a building access card. This card will provide access to the building during specified hours (posted in the building and communicated
via email as needed). Cards are $10 each and available for purchase from the Main Office (payable by debit or credit).
Students should bring their cards regularly, as there may be instances when
entry is via access card only.
Cards are non-transferrable and lost or stolen cards must be reported to the office immediately.
Hours when students may access the building will be posted inside the building
and emailed to all students. Students must vacate the building at the times posted.
Saint John Students
The Secretary in the Department of Nursing confirms the class times with security and they make sure all doors and classrooms are open. Security’s
number is 648-5675.
UNB Writing & Study Skills Lab
Writing is a skill that is developed and maintained through actively engaging in writing and learning how to re-write and edit initial drafts. Many graduate
students who have not had recent university experience have had little opportunity to develop and refine their writing skills. The ability to develop a logical argument, convey a coherent discussion and present conceptual issues
with clarity is an expectation at the graduate level. Faculty expect to
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concentrate on substantive issues when evaluating written work not on editorial or grammatical errors. Both UNB Fredericton
(http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/studentservices/academics/writing-centre/writing-answers.html and UNB Saint John
(http://www.unbsj.ca/studentservices/index.php) have resources for providing consultation on writing. Students should consult the websites for more information. Arrangements can be made to accommodate distance
students.
UNB Bookstore The UNB Bookstore, Fredericton, stocks required textbooks for all MN courses.
Students obtain required textbooks by telephoning 506-453-4664 and asking for the textbook counter. Books can be couriered for a small fee if students
provide a credit card number. Both the UNB Bookstore and UNB Saint John bookstore also sell computer hardware and software and other supplies at special student prices.
OPPORTUNITIES
Committees Student participation is welcome on the Nursing GAU (1 student
representative), the Graduate Curriculum Committee (2 student representatives), the NP Advisory Committee (1 student representative) and
the Faculty of Nursing Ethics Committee (1 student representative). Each year, students will be requested to suggest membership to these committees.
Graduate Student Association
The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is the student link between the SGS
and graduate students. The GSA has a student representative on the SGS Executive Committee. Other services the GSA provides to students include: conference travel grants, access to legal services etc. Students should access
the GSA website for further information. Link at the bottom right - http://www.unb.ca/studentlife/fredericton/index.html
Teaching and Learning Centre: Diploma in University Teaching (DUT)
Please note that the DUT should NOT be taken in the first term of full-time study.
The DUT is a program offered by the Centre for Enhanced Teaching and Learning (CETL). The DUT is available for an additional fee, to all registered
full-time and part-time graduate students. Further details about the DUT
17
including fees, program objectives, structure and schedule and recommended textbooks can be found at
http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/cetl/tls/faculty/dut/
Participants in the program develop knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to:
Increase their competence in the teaching-learning process and in instructional design.
Understand the diversity in students' needs and learning
characteristics. Understand the characteristics of the teaching-learning environment
that promote effective learning. Develop attitudes and skills that value ongoing professional
development related to teaching.
FUNDING
Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantships (GTA/GRA)
Presently, the UNB Nursing Faculty has a limited amount of GTA/GRA funding
available for full time thesis and NP students. Full time applicants who receive university or external funding and are admitted prior to March 1 will also be considered for Magee Awards (see Graduate Calendar or website)
https://eservices.unb.ca/calendar/graduate/awards.cgi?tables=awards&title=Awards and for the Board of Governor Merit Awards (equivalent of two terms
tuition). Students who receive GTA/GRA Assistantships should register as soon as possible and contact the graduate financial person at (458-7175) who handles
all graduate students inquiries regarding financial matters.
Students in all streams are eligible for GTAs. However, the number of students receiving GTAs is determined by the amount of funding available from the School of Graduate Studies. GTAs are normally given only to
students who are on the Fredericton campus. GTAs are considered employment and are taxable. GRAs are given only to full-time Thesis/Report
or NP research based students and can be considered a financial commitment from the SGS and Nursing to allow students time to work on their thesis or NP synthesis paper. GRAs are considered scholarships and are non-taxable. The
amount of money varies from year to year and students will receive no more than 2 years of GRA funding.
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Faculty Sponsored Research Assistants
From time to time, individual faculty members may have funding for Research Assistants (RAs) associated with particular projects. If the faculty’s research
topics are related to a student’s thesis topic, the RAs may be awarded to students for research work which forms the basis of the student’s thesis. In other cases, there may be opportunities for students to gain research
experience. Full-time students hired as non-thesis related RAs may not exceed 10 hours per week employment.
Scholarships
A limited number of scholarships administered by the university are available
for full-time and part-time MN students. The deadline for applications for our scholarships is June 1st each year. Please consult the MN website for
information about specific scholarships managed by Nursing GAU and the application forms.
National Research Councils
The Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) has funding for Graduate Students who are or will be studying full-time. It is expected that all full-time thesis students will submit an application. Full-time Students are urged to
consult the Director of Graduate Studies Graduate and Advanced Studies early in September to receive advice on the application process. The link for CIHR
Canada Graduate Scholarships Master's Awards is www.cihr.ca See Find Funding, Master’s Award.
SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIPS WITH MEMBERS OF THE GAU
Class size in the graduate program is considerably smaller than in the undergraduate program and therefore students can expect a more
personalized approach to course work and feedback on assignments. In addition, graduate students have close relationships with various faculty advisors throughout the program. The SGS website has several resources
which students may find useful as they begin the transition to graduate studies.
Thesis/Report Supervisors and Committee Members
As noted in Nursing GAU Regulations, thesis supervisors are not normally assigned on acceptance to the MN program. Students select the Thesis/ Report Supervisor for either their expertise in the substantive area of interest
or for their expertise with a particular research approach. To learn about
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thesis/reports done by previous students of the program please consult Completed Master’s of Nursing Theses, Reports and Nurse Practitioner
Synthesis Papers found on the Nursing Graduate Homepage under Student Research. SGS requirements for theses/reports are found at the SGS website.
When students are anticipating proceeding to thesis or report work, they
should send an email to prospective supervisors introducing themselves as a student looking for a Thesis Supervisor and requesting a face to face or
telephone appointment. For a complete list of GAU members, please see our website.
http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/nursing/graduate/studentresearch.html
Upon completion of NURS 6016: Evidenced Informed Nursing, thesis students
are required to undertake an additional Independent Study course with a faculty advisor for the purpose of exploring, in depth, issues of method and
substance relevant to preparing for the thesis research. Students must consult with a faculty advisor to undertake either an existing graduate level
course or an Independent Study prior to developing their thesis proposal. It is beneficial for students to attach a 2-3 page discussion of their research
interest, a brief conceptualization of the proposed research and their intended commitment of a timeline for devoted time to the thesis/report. This
document will assist potential Thesis/Report Supervisors to decide whether the student would be a good fit with the faculty member’s interests and expectations of students. Students should meet with more than one faculty
member before making a final decision on who will be their Thesis/Report Supervisor. Many faculty members will require a written contract in which
expectations and accountability of the student and supervisor during the thesis/report process are outlined.
Some additional points to consider when selecting a supervisor and committee: Choose your supervisor first and discuss potential committee members
with the supervisor. Ideally, you want to construct a committee that will work well together.
Normally, students can expect to write several drafts of various chapters
of the thesis/report. Therefore it is important to discuss your projected time line with your supervisor and committee members and ensure that
they will be available to you for the duration of your research or project Keep in mind when constructing your timeline that many faculty members are away at conferences or on holiday during June, July, and August;
therefore you should plan your submission accordingly.
Discuss realistic expectations for turnaround time on the work you submit. It is common for faculty to require several weeks to review your work and
return it to you.
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Discuss what the supervisor and committee members’ expectations are regarding involvement in the research process and how they will work
together.
Find out what your supervisor’s and committee members’ expectations are regarding authorship on papers that are published from your thesis.
On-going Communication and Relationships during Completion Process
Normally, you work most closely with your supervisor, drawing on other committee members for their particular expertise. Each committee will formulate its own way of working and students should be clear on this
process. For example, to prevent miscommunication some committees always choose to have work submitted to all committee members simultaneously and
the student is provided one document with feedback from all members in track changes format. In other committees, members provide feedback on
individual submissions using track changes and still others choose not to use track changes to provide feedback. Internal readers are not involved in the research process and should not be
consulted following the proposal discussion as they will only be involved again as an examiner of the completed thesis/report. Keep in mind the SGS
regulations regarding time requirements for completion of your degree and do keep your supervisor and committee members informed regarding your progress, especially regarding any changes in the proposed timeline.
Discuss your thesis/report structure with your committee regarding chapter content, appendices etc.
NP Students
Only NP prepared faculty are assigned to supervise NP Clinical courses. Students need to ensure that contracts are in place for each clinical placement
and work closely with Donna Gallant, the Clinical Outreach Coordinator, and Francis Perry, the Graduate Program Assistant, to ensure that all paperwork is completed prior to the beginning of each clinical placement. All students
requesting clinical placement with the Horizon Health network must complete the Education Placement Application Form, found on our website. Students
will also find a document titled Pathway for NP Clinical Placements within Horizon Health Network. A Handbook for Preceptors is available at http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/nursing/graduate/forms.html
When students are ready to proceed with the synthesis paper, they should send an email to prospective supervisors introducing themselves as a student looking for a synthesis paper Supervisor and requesting a face to face or
telephone appointment. It is beneficial for students to attach a short description of their planned topic/area of interest, and their intended
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commitment to follow the timeline outlined for the synthesis paper. This will assist potential Supervisors to decide whether the student would be a good fit
with the faculty member’s interests and expectations of students. Students should meet with more than one faculty member before making a final
decision on who will be their synthesis paper Supervisor. Many faculty members will require a written contract in which expectations and accountability of the student and supervisor during the process are outlined.
Any GAU faculty member may supervise a NP Synthesis Paper. For a complete list of GAU members, please see our website
http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/nursing/graduate/studentresearch.html To learn about synthesis papers done by previous students of the program
please consult Completed Master’s of Nursing Theses, Reports and Nurse Practitioner Synthesis Papers found on the Nursing Graduate Homepage under
Student Research. Students should be aware that a synthesis paper is different than a paper submitted as part of a particular course and normally students can expect to
write several drafts before the supervisor deems it acceptable. Internal Readers will be assigned for the final copy of the synthesis paper and
students must consider timelines carefully since a completed synthesis paper is a requirement in order to write the NP Exams. For detailed information
please see our website – “Forms”, NP section document title - Description of Synthesis Paper. All papers will require the paper to be written in a format acceptable for
submission to a refereed practice journal as a way to increase visibility of the NP role in health care. Students should also consult Nursing GAU Regulations
22.1. as well as the SGS Guidelines for Preparation of Thesis/Dissertations at the following website http://www.unb.ca/gradstudies/_assets/pdfs/regs_guidelines_prep_2013.pdf
Health and Safety at the University of New Brunswick It is every student’s obligation to acquaint themselves with the Health and
Safety regulations governing UNB’s employees, faculty, staff, students and visitors having access to the University facilities or property.
The general policy can be found on-line at
http://www.unb.ca/safety/generalpolicy.html
All accidents/incidents MUST BE reported within 24-48 hours of occurring utilizing the UNB Employee and Student Accident Report Form. These forms
are available from Francis Perry or Donna Gallant at the Faculty of Nursing. Upon completion of the form, it is critical it be returned to the Clinical
Outreach Coordinator/Program Assistant for proper distribution.
When participating in a university related activity held at an off-campus location, you are still obligated to complete a UNB accident form to report
your injury.
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As a student of the Faculty of Nursing you will be required to participate in clinical experiences at a variety of facilities or institutions. Should an
accident/incident occur during your time at the institution, you are responsible to adhere to any policies/procedures that the institution has put in place by
completing their forms in addition to completing UNB’s Employee and Student Accident Report Form.
Examples of accidents/incidents can be anything from slipping on a wet floor,
falling in the parking lot at any time through-out the year, spraining an ankle during a basketball game to needle-stick injuries during clinical time or health
fairs. If you are in any doubt as to whether or not the incident should be reported and the Accident Report form completed, ask your instructor who will
provide direction.
As a UNB student participating in a clinical experience, it is your responsibility to become familiar with the injury policy and procedures for the facility to
which you are assigned. For example, if the injury occurs while you are in clinical practice, you need to become aware of the policy or procedure for that
particular injury. If you have a Family Physician then you are required to arrange for follow-up care with your Physician. If you do not have a Family Physician, you are to notify the ER to forward a copy of your test results to
the UNB Student Health Center on the Fredericton campus. You are then responsible for making an appointment at the Student Health Center so that
your follow-up care can be arranged through them.
The details outlined above would also apply to those students who participate in clinical experiences at institutions outside the Province of New Brunswick by following the host facility’s policies/procedures. The accident would also need
to be reported to your UNB Clinical Coordinator and the Director of Graduate Studies for Graduate and Advanced RN Studies within 24-48 hours so that
they can complete and sign the Employee Student Accident Report Form. Any follow-up care that is necessary should be arranged with a physician in the area, with your family physician if you are returning home or with the UNB
Student Health Center if you are returning to the UNB Campus and do not have a local family physician.
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NURSING GAU REGULATIONS Approved by Faculty of Nursing GAU February 21, 2007, March 20, 2008 Approved by School of Graduate Studies May 3, 2007
Approved by UNB Senates May 12, 2007 and May 27 & 28, 2008 Regulation 10 on grade standards was changed and approved by GAU on April
27, 2011 and approved by SGS and Senate fall 2011. FACULTY OF NURSING GRADUATE ACADEMIC UNIT DEGREE
REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATIONS GENERAL REGULATIONS, STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES
Please Note: The authority for regulations rests with the Senate. The regulations specific to the GAU in Nursing have been approved by the GAU,
the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) and Senate. Regulations are subject to revision from time to time and students are therefore advised to consult the
School of Graduate Studies, the School of Graduate Studies website, the Director of Graduate Studies and the Faculty of Nursing graduate website in order to keep abreast of changes.
According to the SGS regulations, “each GAU is responsible for establishing its
own regulations, which must not be inconsistent with the regulations of the School of Graduate Studies, for evaluating and assessing the progress of a student in terms of the student’s research or scholarly work”. Therefore, the
format for the requirements and regulations in Nursing is that areas of difference are included under the specific SGS heading with the sub-heading
Specific Nursing Information and Regulations in Addition to the SGS Requirements and Regulations. Students should also refer to the SGS Regulations for each heading. Where there is no difference between the SGS
Regulation and the Nursing GAU regulation the statement, “Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations” appears.
1. DEGREES AND DIPLOMAS OFFERED
Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations
2. ADMISSION POLICY
2.2 Specific Nursing Information and Regulations in Addition to the SGS Requirements and Regulations
The deadline for Admission to the MN program is January 15 each year. Applications are reviewed by the Graduate Academic Advisory Committee and
results are normally communicated to applicants by mid-March. Applications for full or part-time study received after January 15 will be reviewed and excellent candidates will be placed on a waiting list.
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Acceptance will depend on available space and candidates will be notified if space becomes available.
The Nursing GAU has limited assistantships for full-time students and applicants who apply by the January 15 date, will be given priority for these
assistantships. Students who apply after the January 15th deadline may be considered for assistantships, if students who have been offered assistantships decline acceptance to UNB. Applicants for full-time study are
normally informed of funding awards from the GAU with the offer of acceptance.
Full-time study is available only on the Fredericton campus unless special circumstances within the GAU and/or the student cohort permit consideration
for full-time study in Saint John, Moncton.
Admission Requirements
Normally, a BN or BScN with courses in undergraduate statistics and Nursing research. Normally, a B in these courses will be considered
acceptable Applicants for the Nurse Practitioner stream also require a health
assessment course equivalent to NURS 3174, N2041 or N1142
Normally, a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 or B+ level Registration or eligibility for registration as a nurse in the province of
New Brunswick (International students may apply without Canadian registration. However, international students must be registered with the Nurses Association of New Brunswick prior to beginning any courses
that require a clinical component. International students are advised to seek information regarding eligibility for registration in New Brunswick
from:
Nurses Association of New Brunswick 165 Regent Street Fredericton, New Brunswick
E3B 7B4
Three references - one referee should be able to describe the applicant as a learner or provide an academic reference
Students who are seeking admission should provide a written
statement as indicated below to the stream to which they are applying
o Thesis/Report Option: A written statement of applicant’s
professional interests, research interests and career goals.
Applicants should indicate any ongoing competing demands on
their time and the modifications they propose to make to their
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life to integrate the extensive time commitment required to
complete graduate course work and subsequent research for a
thesis or report.
o Nurse Practitioner Option: A written statement of applicant’s
professional interest and suitability for the autonomous role of
the NP. Applicants should indicate any ongoing competing
demands on their time and the modifications they propose to
make to their life to integrate the extensive time commitment
required to complete graduate course work and concurrent
clinical practica.
o Nurse Educator Option: A written statement of applicant’s
professional interests, teaching interests and career goals.
Applicants should indicate any ongoing competing demands on
their time and the modifications they propose to make to their
life to integrate the extensive time commitment required to
complete graduate course work and related teaching practica.
Each option in the MN Program has specific nursing experience practice
requirements as outlined below:
Thesis/Report Option: o Full-time Study: Students may apply the year of their graduation
from the BN program provided they intend to study full-time on
the Fredericton campus.
o Part-time Study: Students who are seeking admission to part-
time study are required to have a minimum of one (1) full year
of clinical practice
Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator Option:
o Full-time and Part-time Study: Students must have a minimum
of two (2) years of nursing practice before being considered for
admission.
All admissions are on a competitive basis and enrolment is limited. Satisfying minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Applicants who do not meet the normal admission requirements will be required to write a 2-3 page
summary outlining why their case deserves special merit. The GAU Advisory Committee will judge each case individually and may request an interview
with the applicant.
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3. QUALIFYING PERIOD
3.1 Specific Nursing Information and Regulations in Addition to the SGS
Requirements and Regulations The Faculty of Nursing does not admit part-time students to a qualifying year.
4. PROBATIONARY PERIOD
4.1 Specific Nursing Information and Regulations in Addition to the SGS
Requirements and Regulations
When Nursing applicants are admitted on probation, the cumulative GPA may
be below 3.3 (B+) but must be greater than 3.0 (B). As per SGS regulations, full-time students on probation are required to register in a minimum of six (6) credit hours of graduate courses per term and part-time students on
probation may register in no more than one graduate level course per term.
5. APPLICATION PROCEDURES
5.1 Specific Nursing Information and Regulations in Addition to the SGS Requirements and Regulations
GREs are not required for admission to the nursing program. There is one intake per year in September for the MN program. Currently the admission to
the NP program is every second year on the uneven years. 6. PROFICIENCY IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
6.1 Specific Nursing Information and Regulations in Addition to the SGS Requirements and Regulations
The MN program includes clinical practice and therefore effective
communication in English is essential. The minimum TOEFL score is 600 for the paper based testing or 253 for computer based testing. The GAU has the
discretion to require an assessment through the UNB English Language Program either prior to admission or following admission to the program, if language skills are problematic in the clinical or classroom areas. If an
assessment is required, the Director of Graduate Studies will communicate to the student in writing and monitor the assessment process for satisfactory
language acquisition for practice.
The cost of an assessment is the responsibility of the student.
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7. PROGRAM (DEGREE) REGISTRATION
7.1 Specific Nursing Information and Regulations in Addition to the SGS Requirements and Regulations
UNB Nursing courses that are delivered outside of the fall and winter term fall
into the summer term category of the SGS regulations (1 May through 31 August) and will normally run for 13 weeks similar to the fall and winter
courses.
Courses External to UNB
Students may take courses for credit toward the MN program from other
universities providing they receive approval in advance from the Director of Graduate Studies. Most commonly, these will be electives. Students wishing
to take nursing courses from another university shall write a letter to the Director of Graduate Studies proposing why the course is significant for his/her program of study and discuss the transferability of the course with the
Director of Graduate Studies prior to enrolment at another university. Courses transferred from other universities are credited but do not contribute toward
the student’s cumulative GPA.
Transfer Process
Students requesting permission to take a course at another university shall
provide the Director of Graduate Studies with a course outline and contact person at the other university, and indicate when the course is to be taken. If the course is appropriate, the Director of Graduate Studies will request
approval from the School of Graduate Studies.
After the student has completed the course, the student must request transfer of credit in writing and provide an official transcript. The student is expected
to achieve a B grade or better for transfer. Upon receipt of this request, the Director of Graduate Studies will recommend to the School of Graduate Studies that credit be given.
Fee Reimbursement
Students who take courses at other universities for transfer credit while paying tuition to UNB may request reimbursement for fees paid elsewhere. The current policy is to reimburse up to the cost of a similar course at UNB.
Students must pay course fees at the other university. Once the course has been successfully completed with a B grade or better the student should
submit a receipt for fees paid and an official transcript to the Director of Graduate Studies who will recommend reimbursement to the School of Graduate Studies. Normally, reimbursement is in the form of credit to the
student’s UNB account.
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8. DEGREE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS: FULL-TIME & PART-TIME
8.1 Specific Nursing Information and Regulations in Addition to the SGS Requirements and Regulations
Since the MN program began in 1995, many students have chosen to study part-time and from a distance. This pattern of study reflects the needs of a
student demographic who are actively engaged in practice when they become a graduate student. The Faculty of Nursing in recognition of the needs of
mature learners is committed to distance education; however, they also recognize that it is imperative for graduate level study that there are opportunities for face to face meeting with faculty and other graduate
students. Each fall in late August or early September the GAU hosts a MN Day for new
and returning students. In the spring, it is our annual Nursing Research Day. Attendance at the fall MN Day and spring Research Day is mandatory.
Some thesis supervisors may require that supervision be face to face during part of the thesis/report process. This is negotiated individually with students
and students are responsible for travel costs. Students are normally required to be on campus for their proposal discussion and thesis defense.
9. COURSE REGISTRATION REGULATIONS
9.1 Specific Nursing Information and Regulations in Addition to the SGS Requirements and Regulations
Thesis/Report, Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Educator Options
In all three options there are five required common core courses plus courses specific to the stream as outlined below:
Core Courses All Options:
NURS 6011 Foundations of Graduate Study (Credit/Non-Credit)
NURS 6012 Health Research Statistics NURS 6013 Theoretical Foundations of Nursing NURS 6014 Programming in Health Care
NURS 6016 Evidence-Informed Nursing
NURS 6011, NURS 6012 and NURS 6013 are normally taken prior to or concurrent with other nursing courses. Thesis/Report Stream
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In the MN Thesis/Report Stream there are an additional four required nursing courses (Total 9 courses) and a thesis or report as outlined below.
NURS 6101 Advanced Nursing Practice I (35 clinical hours)
NURS 6102 Advanced Nursing Practice II (35 clinical hours) NURS 6015 Integration of Advanced Practice PLUS an NURS 6234 Independent Research Study with Thesis Supervisor or
Other Graduate Level Research course approved by Supervisor NURS 6997 Thesis OR NURS 6996 Report
In the Nurse Practitioner Stream there are an additional 12 required nursing courses (Total 17 courses) and a synthesis paper as outlined below:
NURS 6211 Advanced Health Assessment
NURS 6212 Health Assessment Practicum (100 clinical hours) NURS 6202 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics NURS 6203 Advanced Pathophysiology
NURS 6204 Roles and Issues (credit/Non-Credit) NURS 6213 Primary Health Care Management Adult I
NURS 6214 Primary Health Care Adult I Clinical Practicum (100 clin. hours) NURS 6215 Primary Health Care Management Pediatrics
NURS 6216 Pediatric Clinical Practicum (100 clinical hours) NURS 6217 Primary Health Care Management Adult II NURS 6218 Adult II Clinical Practicum (100 clinical hours)
NURS 6219 Final Clinical Practicum (300 clinical hours) NURS 6995 Synthesis Paper
Students who enter the MN Program NP Stream with a completed MN degree with a thesis normally will not have to complete a synthesis paper.
In the Nurse Educator Stream there are an additional five required nursing courses and two (2) electives (Total 12 courses) as outlined below:
NURS 6311 Learning Theory for Nurse Education NURS 6312 Curriculum Design for Nurse Educators
NURS 6313 Instructional Design in Nurse Education NURS 6314 Practicum in Nursing Education I (100 clinical hours)
NURS 6315 Practicum in Nursing Education II (150 clinical hours) ELECTIVE ELECTIVE
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10. GRADE STANDARDS
10.1 Specific Nursing Information and Regulations in Addition to the SGS Requirements and Regulations
Individual course papers submitted on the due date will be graded as written without opportunity to rewrite.
Graduate credit will be given for required courses in which a grade of B- or better is obtained. The performance of a student who obtains one or more
grades in the range of C+ to F shall be considered unsatisfactory. Where the unsatisfactory performance is due to a grade in a single course, a student may normally petition to the School of Graduate Studies to repeat the course
in which the unsatisfactory grade was received. The student must repeat the course at the next regular offering of the course.
The student will be required to withdraw from the School of Graduate Studies if an unsatisfactory grade is earned in more than one course or if the student fails to receive a satisfactory grade when repeating the course. The student may repeat one course only during the program of graduate study.
Subsequent course failures will require the student to withdraw from the School of Graduate Studies.
Full-time students are normally not permitted to progress to a subsequent
term until all requirements for all courses taken in the term immediately preceding have been completed and a grade submitted. Part-time students
are normally not permitted to progress to a subsequent course until all requirements for the course immediately preceding have been completed and a grade submitted.
11. AUDIT
Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations
12. ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations 13. SUPERVISION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS
13.1 Specific Nursing Information and Regulations in Addition to the SGS Requirements and Regulations
Students are encouraged to publish and present scholarly work and research.
A common expectation of Faculty, who facilitate a student’s publication or presentation, is to be a second author. Being named second author is
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sometimes requested in order to recognize the faculty member’s efforts to: assist the student to learn the research method or process, engage in
discussion that facilitates clarification of ideas, or edit the manuscript. Students are encouraged to discuss authorship expectations with Faculty
when planning presentations or publications that stem from the research or course work in the program. The issue of copyright is covered by Guidelines on Intellectual Property
Interests of Students involved in Research at the University of New Brunswick, excerpts of which are provided in italics below. Students should
also review the entire document available at http://www.unb.ca/research/ors/indgovtserv/iptt/guidelines.php
Essays, project reports, and other work done to satisfy course requirements will normally be regarded as the student's intellectual
property and the student may add a copyright notice if desired. In the case of joint projects among a number of students, the intellectual property will normally be divided according to the contribution of each.
Where students are required to prepare written works for non-university parties as a consequence of related course-credit
arrangements, intellectual property rights of the non-university party normally take precedence over any university, faculty, and student
rights.
Copyright refers only to the written document; ownership of the expression of ideas themselves, including any advances in theory, hypotheses, data,
patentable ideas, or commercial exploitation of the work will normally be shared among those who have made material or significant contributions to
the work.
14. TIME LIMITS ON DEGREES
14.1 Specific Nursing Information and Regulations in Addition to the SGS
Requirements and Regulations
The MN program has the same time limits on completion of degrees as the School of Graduate Studies (4 years for full-time and 5 years for part-time). The required period for completion shall remain at four years from admission
for students switching from full-time to part-time status after completion of seven (7) or more courses. Students who switch from full-time to part-time
with less than seven (7) courses completed shall have their period of completion extended to five (5) years from admission.
Students registered part-time are permitted to register for up to two courses per term, in addition to the thesis. Thus, the rate of completion of course
work may be accelerated if the student so wishes. However, students are advised that normally students who are employed full time find that one master's level course is quite demanding. Part time students who are
considering taking more than one course per term should consult the Director of Graduate Studies, Nursing, prior to registration.
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15. LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations
16. MATERNITY/PATERNITY/PARENTAL LEAVE
Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations
17. EXTRACURRICULAR GRADUATE INTERNSHIPS Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations
18. DUAL REGISTRATION
Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations
19. SECOND POSTGRADUATE DEGREES
Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations
20. GENERAL POST GRADUATE DEGREE REGULATIONS Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations
21. PhD REGULATIONS
Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations
22. MASTER’S DEGREE REGULATIONS
22.1 Specific Nursing Information and Regulations in Addition to the SGS Requirements and Regulations
Thesis/Report supervisors and Synthesis Paper Supervisors are not normally assigned on admission to the program.
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Thesis/Report Stream
Students should select supervisors and committee members according to the expertise required for the thesis or report process and considering the efficacy
of working relationships. In addition, the student is advised to refer to the graduate calendar for Graduate School regulations regarding the master's thesis/report.
The thesis committee will consist of a supervisor from the GAU of the Faculty of Nursing and a minimum of one other committee member,
who may be a member of the Faculty of Nursing’s GAU or that of any other Faculty. The student may select the committee members but is advised to collaborate with the supervisor in this process.
The report committee will consist of a supervisor from the GAU of the Faculty of Nursing, one other GAU faculty member and, if appropriate, a stakeholder(s). If the stakeholder is not a GAU member, a member of
the Nursing GAU in addition to the supervisor shall also be on the report committee (minimum of 2 Nursing GAU members must be on
the committee).
Within three (3) months of completion of course work, the student will complete the Thesis Committee and Proposed Topic form or Report Committee and Proposed Topic form
http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/nursing/graduate/forms.html and submit it to the Director of Graduate Studies for the information of the
Graduate Academic Unit Committee.
The thesis proposal may not be presented for discussion until course
work is completed however with agreement of the Director of Graduate Studies and supervisor; students may have committees in place and
begin work on their proposals prior to completion of their course. Students completing reports may begin on their report proposals before completing all course work, although normally research courses are
completed. Report proposals may not be presented prior to completion of course work.
Examples of report projects include: addressing a clinical practice issue, establishing an evaluation plan for a program, and facilitating policy
development. For example, a student choosing the report option may: focus on a specific concern of nursing education, such as identification
of essential content and teaching strategies for an undergraduate nursing informatics course.
focus on a specific concern of nursing practice, such as development of
a clinical pathway pertinent to acute-care and community-based care of patients with CHF.
use of secondary data sources, such as a synthesis of previous research.
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illustrate a specific issue, such as a case study of innovative staffing strategies.
conduct a quality assurance project. facilitate policy development and evaluation of a strategy to facilitate
collaboration between community-based organizations and governmental agencies concerning the appropriate provincial subsidization of medications.
Thesis/Report Proposal Submission of a thesis or report proposal is the decision of the student in
consultation with the supervisor. Submission does not imply recommendation/endorsement of the committee. The student will provide the
Director of Graduate Studies with two (2) copies of the thesis/report proposal, an electronic copy of the proposal and an ethical review submission for the Internal Reader and the Chair of the examining committee. The Director will
appoint an Internal Reader. The following statement shall accompany requests for Internal Readers.
“Submission of a thesis or report proposal is the decision of the student in consultation with their supervisor. Submission does not imply
recommendation/endorsement of the committee. Internal Readers shall judge whether the proposal is ready to proceed to discussion based on the merit of the proposal.”
The Internal Reader will be given 10 working days to review the proposal.
The date for the proposal discussion will only be set after the Internal Reader gives the feedback.
The successful completion of a Thesis/Report requires a significant level of autonomy on the part of the graduate student. The expectation at the
proposal stage is that the student’s ability to write is at a level where the committee members can focus on substantive content rather than grammar, syntax and APA format. The type of research approach (qualitative or
quantitative) used requires a differing timeline from preparation of proposal to conclusion of research and defense of the thesis. In recognition of the
necessity of maintaining flexibility in timelines for completion of research, ensuring academic rigor and adherence to School of Graduate Studies time limits on completion of degree, students who have not completed a successful
proposal discussion 10 months prior to their required date of completion shall be deemed to have made unsatisfactory progress and be withdrawn from the
MN Program.
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Internal Reader
The role of the internal reader is to read the thesis/report proposal with a fresh perspective and to raise questions about problematic areas particularly
in research and/or program design that may need modification before the research or work on the report proceeds. The expertise of the internal reader normally is related to some aspect of the project (i.e. the research method,
the theoretical framework, or the substantive area under study). Hence, assessment of the proposal will be guided by the particular expertise of the
reviewer as well as by broad standards of credibility. The internal reader may also have suggestions to strengthen the proposal that may be offered to the student for her/his consideration.
Normally the internal reader will provide written comments to the Chairperson
of the proposal discussion and to the student a few days in advance of the discussion. This process provides the student with an opportunity to consider the issues raised and prepare to speak to those issues when they are raised in
the discussion. The internal reader is only involved in the thesis or report process at the proposal discussion stage and as an examiner of the completed
thesis or report.
Proposal Discussion The student will be required to orally present the thesis or report proposal
to the thesis/report committee and one internal reader. Students may choose to open the proposal discussion to other faculty and students or to
professional colleagues, the larger university, or community. Students are strongly urged to attend proposal discussions prior to their own to familiarize themselves with the process and to increase opportunities for
scholarly interaction with nursing colleagues.
The Chairperson of the Proposal Defense will introduce the student, the supervisor, the committee member(s), and the internal reader.
The student will have 30 minutes to present the proposal. PowerPoint,
Overheads, slides, etc. are helpful for the audience, provided the font size of the print is large. If the student has selected an open discussion, the
Chairperson will then allow approximately 15 minutes of questions and discussion with the audience. Supervisors, committee members, and readers will hold their questions. After 15 minutes, the Chairperson will
close the discussion and ask the audience to depart.
Discussion will continue with the examining committee for approximately
30 minutes with the Chairperson asking for one question in turn from each member, beginning with the internal reader, continuing until all major concerns have been addressed. Normally, issues discussed are those seen
as problematic for the research design or implementation, and the intent is to give the student an opportunity to speak to the concerns and engage in
36
discussion with the committee. The intent of the proposal discussion is that the process will be helpful to the student. The examining committee will
indicate whether the concerns have been adequately addressed or whether changes are required.
Suggestions for modifications to strengthen the proposal will be given to the student orally during the discussion and in writing within five (5) days by the Chairperson (copy to the supervisor, committee members, internal
reader, and student file) using the Proposal Completion Form http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/nursing/graduate/forms.html
Audio or video tape recording of the post oral presentation discussion is not permitted.
Ethical Review
All research proposals must undergo ethical review by UNB’s research ethics
board. The thesis or report committee and internal reader will review the ethics submission and approve it for submission to the Faculty of Nursing
Ethics Committee. The proposal will then be reviewed by the Chair or his/her delegate and approved for submission to the UNB Ethics Committee. A research project may not proceed nor may submission be made to a Regional
Health Authority Research Ethics Board until ethical approval from the UNB Ethics Committee has been received. Ethical forms for downloading can be
found at http://www.unb.ca/research/vp/ethics.html
Ethical approval may not be necessary for MN Reports dependent on the nature of the report. Students are however expected to negotiate the project
with the agency and to develop a written agreement with the agency regarding the project, including the scope of the project, the time-line, who
will own the data and on what basis publication of the report may occur. Thesis/Report Final Examination Process
The Master's thesis in Nursing must demonstrate the candidate's competence
to undertake research, with the guidance of a committee, that enables them to learn and apply the research process; it must demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the current knowledge in the chosen field of
study; it must show that the candidate is fully aware of the pertinent published material; and it must be written in a satisfactory literary style. As
well, it should be free of typographical and other mechanical errors. Submission of a thesis or report is the decision of the student in consultation
with his/her supervisor. If there is a discrepancy in the readiness of the paper for submission between the student and the supervisor, the student
may consult with the Director of Graduate Studies. The student will provide the Director with three (3) copies of the thesis/report as well as an electronic
copy for Internal Reader, External Reader and the Chair of the examining
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committee. The Director will appoint the External Reader. The following statement shall accompany requests for External Readers and shall also be
transmitted to the Internal Reader. “Submission of a thesis or report is the decision of the student in
consultation with his/her supervisor. External and Internal Readers shall judge whether the thesis/report is ready to proceed to defense based on the merit of the thesis or report.”
Copies of the thesis/report are sent to the internal and external examiners for review. The examiners will be given 3-4 weeks to read the thesis/report. If the examiners do not consider the thesis/report ready for defense, they will
meet with the supervisor and the Director identifying changes that are required prior to defense.
If the examiners judge the thesis/report suitable for examination, a minimum of ten (10) working days notification of the defense shall normally be
required.
Students are strongly urged to attend thesis or report defenses prior to their own to familiarize themselves with the process and to increase opportunities
for scholarly interaction with nursing colleagues. The Examination will proceed according to the process outlined below; the
thesis will, in the first instance, be examined by the GAU-Nursing committee (comprised of supervisor and committee member (s) and, if approved, will
then be submitted to an Examining Board appointed by the Director of Graduate Studies of the GAU-Nursing. The Examining Board will consist of three voting members:
(1) Only one of the members of the GAU-Nursing committee, determined by that committee;
(2) The Internal Reader who will be a non-supervising member of the Examining Board from the GAU-Nursing,
(3) The External Reader who must be from a GAU other than that in which the
candidate has studied.
The Chair of an Examining Board, normally the Director of Graduate Studies-Nursing, will be a member of the candidate's GAU and will not have been
formally involved in the supervision of the candidate.
Following approval of the thesis by the Examining Board, the candidate will be examined orally. The oral examination will be chaired by the Director of
Graduate Studies in the student's GAU, who will not vote. The oral examination is open to the public and members of the university. At the
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discretion of the chair of the oral defence, members of the public and the university will be permitted to question the candidate but will have no vote.
The Director of Graduate Studies of the specific GAU will report the decision of the Examining Board to the Dean of Graduate Studies.
Examination Process
1. The Chair will introduce the student and the Examining Board. 2. The student will have 30 minutes to orally present the thesis.
3. The Examining Board will then examine the student, beginning with the External Reader, followed by the Internal Reader and GAU-Nursing committee member. Generally there will be two rounds of questions.
4. At the conclusion of questions from the Examining Board, the Chair will accept questions from the audience in the following order: GAU-
Nursing committee members, GAU-Nursing members, others in attendance.
5. The audience and student will be excused and the Examining Board will
meet to render their final decision.
6. The student will be invited back to the table to hear the decision and
for feedback. The thesis must conform in all respects to the regulations governing the
presentation of theses approved by the School of Graduate Studies. The dates for presentation of Master's theses to the GAU, posted on the website and
available from the School of Graduate Studies, should be noted. However, theses may be submitted at any time of the year.
Forms required to graduate are provided at the time of the thesis defense by the MN Program Assistant. Deadlines for submission for spring and fall graduation are available from the School of Graduate Studies and students
should plan their deadlines with these dates in mind. Only in exceptional circumstances will the Director request the external and internal readers to
shorten the time frame for setting the thesis defense. It is the student’s responsibility to complete all required paperwork and submit required copies of the thesis to the Graduate School.
Synthesis Papers for NP Students Nurse Practitioner (NP) students will be required to complete a capstone
project which is a synthesis paper (NURS 6995). The synthesis paper will focus on the implementation of the NP role within a Primary Health Care
environment. The topic of the paper, prepared as a completed manuscript for a target journal, is to be chosen by the student and approved by the
supervisor, and should reflect a practice issue or challenge relevant to NPs practicing in a Primary Health Care context. NP students who wish to complete a thesis (NURS 6997) shall also complete an additional Independent
Study in Nursing Research course.
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Supervision of Synthesis Papers The student selects a single faculty member from the GAU who will
supervise the writing process. Once the student has reached agreement with a faculty member to
supervise, the student will complete the Synthesis Proposed Topic form http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/nursing/graduate/forms.html, obtain the supervisor’s signature, and submit it to the Director of Graduate
Studies. This form may be completed in January of the first year of NP study for full time students.
The synthesis paper supervisor will be included as the second author on the paper, related abstracts and presentations.
Students are expected to follow the timeline for completion of the
synthesis paper outlined on the Synthesis Proposed Topic form. Papers are to be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies for
review by the Internal Reader no later than the end of the first week of April of the graduating year.
The decision of when to submit the completed synthesis paper for
review by the Internal Reader is the responsibility of the student in
consultation with the supervisor. If there is a discrepancy in the
readiness of the paper for submission between the student and the
supervisor, the student may consult with the Director of Graduate
Studies.
The student will provide the Director of Graduate Studies with two (2)
copies of the synthesis paper as well as an electronic copy for an
Internal Reader and the Director of Graduate Studies. The Director of
Graduate Studies will appoint an Internal Reader. The following
statement shall accompany requests for Internal Readers.
“Submission of a completed thesis or a Synthesis Paper is the decision of the student, in consultation with the supervisor. The
Internal Reader shall judge whether the synthesis paper is acceptable for credit or not based on the merit of the paper.”
The Internal Reader shall be given 10 working days to read and
determine whether the synthesis paper is acceptable. If the Internal Reader does not consider the synthesis paper acceptable
for credit, a meeting shall be held with the supervisor and the Director of Graduate Studies identifying changes that are required. The Director of Graduate Studies shall then meet with the supervisor and student to
review the required changes and determine the process for re-submission.
It is the responsibility of the supervisor to work with the student to ensure that the revisions requested by the Internal Reader are complete. The student shall not consult the Internal Reader about
requested changes to the synthesis paper. Questions will be fielded via the supervisor or through the Director of Graduate Studies.
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Normally Synthesis papers may be re-submitted to the Internal Readers only once for review.
Final Papers, approved by the Internal Reader, will be submitted to the target journal by May 30th. Two copies must also be submitted to F.
Perry who will then ask that you receive credit for N6995 on your transcript.
Deadlines for completion for graduation will be the same as those
established by the School of Graduate Studies. Students should be aware the NANB does not permit writing of the
Canadian Nurses Association NP Registration exams until all requirements for the degree are completed.
Internal Reader
The internal reader is selected by the Director of Graduate Studies and is a member of the GAU who has not been consulted or involved in the preparation of the synthesis paper. The expertise of the internal reader is
related to some aspect of the paper, however, he or she is not necessarily a NP faculty member. The role of the internal reader is to read the synthesis
paper from a fresh perspective and to determine whether the paper is acceptable for credit based on the merit of the paper. The internal reader will
examine the paper according to the approved Description of the Synthesis Paper. The internal reader will submit written comments and a recommendation of whether the synthesis paper is acceptable for credit or if
revisions are required.
If revisions are required, it is the responsibility of the supervisor, not the internal reader, to work with the student to make relevant changes. Internal readers are not expected to be involved in revising returned
papers. Papers resubmitted at the request of the internal reader will be reviewed only once. The internal reader will have 5 working days to
review resubmitted papers. Normally, if papers are not considered acceptable after the second revision, the student will receive a grade of no credit for the paper.
Public Presentations for NE Students Nurse Educator students, as a part of NURS 6315 Practicum in Nursing
Education II, are required to complete a formal presentation for the wider university audience on some aspect of teaching/learning. These presentations
are advertised to the university in the same way that theses defenses are advertised. The presentations will be developed as part of NURS 6315 and will be
scheduled through the office of the Director of Graduate Studies. The office of the Director of Graduate Studies Graduate and Advanced RN Students must
receive notice of the presentation two weeks in advance of the scheduled
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date. All presentations are to be scheduled prior to the last day of classes for the term.
23. CONFIDENTIALITY, SECURITY AND RELEASE OF STUDENT ACADEMIC RECORDS
Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations
24. REVIEW OF GRADES
Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations
25. PETITION FOR RELIEF – APPEALS
Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations
26. REPEATING COURSES
Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations
27. ACADEMIC APPEALS
Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations
28. PETITION FOR RELIEF
Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations
29. ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations
30. SENATE REVIEW
Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations
31. GENERAL REGULATIONS ON CONDUCT
Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations
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32. GENERAL
Refer to SGS Requirements and Regulations
Appendix A
Nurse Practitioner Student Guidelines for Arranging Clinical Practice Experiences
Socialization to the Nurse Practitioner (NP) role and acquiring skills and abilities that support inter-professional collaboration are foundational to the
development of professional and competent NP practice. We also recognize that there are challenges arranging clinical practica with suitable preceptors
associated with competition with other NP and medical programs and geographical requirements of students. To ensure that all students have
opportunities to work in various settings that best prepare them for the role of Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, the following guidelines must be followed when arranging clinical practice experiences.
Over the course of the program, all NP students require:
At least two clinical practica with a Nurse Practitioner preceptor. At least one clinical practicum in a clinic that supports inter-professional
practice OR at least one clinical practicum with a physician preceptor. The majority (>50%) of the NURS 6219: Final Practicum be completed
with a Nurse Practitioner preceptor.
Guidelines for Logging Clinical Practice Hours
The Faculty of Nursing must provide the Nurses Association of New
Brunswick (NANB) with confirmation that each student has successfully completed the NP program including 700 required hours of clinical practice. Students who have not completed 700 hours will not be eligible to write the
registration exam and register with NANB. Therefore, it is very important that each student accurately log and submit all practice hours for each clinical
practicum. The following guidelines apply to logging hours:
Logs must be submitted at midway and final points of EACH clinical
practicum. Only patient contact hours are counted toward the 700 required
practice hours. This includes time spent with patients, on-site collection of relevant data, collaboration with health care professionals and documentation related to patient care. Hours logged must
represent reasonable contact time. As practice progresses throughout
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the program and students develop their practice, it is expected that contact time will decrease. For example, during NURS 6212: Advanced
Health Assessment Practicum students might spend 60 minutes doing a thorough health assessment, however by NURS 6219: Final Practicum,
most students would spend 30-40 minutes which would include the time for collaboration and documentation of the visit for a routine patient visit. What constitutes a “reasonable” amount of time per
patient visit during a rotation will be determined through consultation with the student, preceptor and faculty liaison.
Attending continuing medical education (CME) events is encouraged, however, hours cannot be counted as practice hours. Meeting with pharmaceutical representatives do not count toward practice hours.
For NURS 6216: Primary Health Care Management Paediatric Clinical Practicum and NURS 6218: Primary Health Care Management Adult II
Clinical Practicum 75 percent of the required 100 practice hours must be completed in the area of course focus. Hours logged during the rotation with those who do not fit the course patient demographic and
that are in excess of the 100 required hours for the course may be carried forward to NURS 6219: Final Practicum.
