NURS 502 is Liberty's MSN course on nursing theory and advanced practice. Its centerpiece is the Theory-Based Exemplar Paper (TEP), built in four graded stages from Week 3 to Week 7, alongside a personal philosophy paper, two written responses, a theoretical framework assignment and three discussion forums.
Liberty's catalog lists the course as NURS 502 Nursing Theory and Advanced Practice, 3 credit hours; Canvas and the course guide file print it as NURS502.
What NURS 502 covers
The catalog description: Emphasis is placed on the critique, evaluation, and utilization of nursing and other relevant theories that apply to advanced nursing practice and a comprehensive approach to care. Professional role development, interdisciplinary relationships, and issues relevant to advanced practice are studied.
The course asks two things of an MSN student: understand nursing theories well enough to critique them, and use one to explain real practice. The TEP does the second in stages (theory analysis, first draft, peer review, final paper), while the Personal Philosophy Paper asks you to state your own worldview and framework for practice, a paper the guide says becomes part of your Graduate Portfolio.
The textbooks are McEwen and Wills, Theoretical Basis for Nursing, and Shelly and Miller, Called to Care, which brings a Christian worldview to the concepts of person, health, environment and nursing.
Textbook named in the published guide: McEwen & Wills, Theoretical Basis for Nursing (2014). Shelly & Miller, Called to Care (2006). Check the current edition in your Canvas section.
NURS 502 assignments, week by week
Every graded written assignment in the published guide has its own how-to guide below. Quizzes, exams, checklists and class introductions are left out because there is nothing to write.
| Week | Assignment | Points | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Written Responses to Questions 1 | 50 | Not set in the guide; answer every question fully |
| 2 | Personal Philosophy Paper | 150 | 4 to 7 pages |
| 3 | TEP Theory Analysis | 150 | 6 to 8 pages |
| 4 | Written Responses to Questions 2 | 50 | Not set in the guide; answer every question fully |
| 5 | Discussion Board Forum 1 | 50 | Thread at least 500 words |
| 5 | TEP First Draft | 75 | A complete draft toward the 8 to 10-page final paper |
| 6 | TEP Peer Review | 75 | Answers to the prescribed review questions (no length set in the guide) |
| 6 | Theoretical Framework Assignment | 50 | Answers to the assignment questions (no length set in the guide) |
| 7 | Discussion Board Forum 2 | 50 | Thread at least 500 words |
| 7 | TEP Final Paper | 150 | 8 to 10 pages |
| 8 | Discussion Board Forum 3 | 50 | Thread at least 500 words |
Week 1: Written Responses to Questions 1
The first of two written responses: answers to specific questions on the week's content, in a double-spaced Word document with an APA title page. How to write NURS 502 Week 1 Written Responses to Questions 1.
Week 2: Personal Philosophy Paper
A 4 to 7-page personal narrative on your worldview and philosophy of nursing, with at least three components of your framework and an example encounter. How to write NURS 502 Week 2 Personal Philosophy Paper.
Week 3: TEP Theory Analysis
The first TEP stage: research, summarize and critique the nursing theory you will use, in 6 to 8 pages with at least 2 scholarly sources. How to write NURS 502 Week 3 TEP Theory Analysis.
Week 4: Written Responses to Questions 2
The second written response: specific questions on the week's content in a double-spaced APA document with a title page. How to write NURS 502 Week 4 Written Responses to Questions 2.
Week 5: Discussion Board Forum 1
The first forum, alongside Called to Care: a 500-word thread with 2 citations and two 250-word replies with 1 source each. How to write NURS 502 Week 5 Discussion Board Forum 1.
Week 5: TEP First Draft
A full first draft of the Theory-Based Exemplar Paper, also shared for peer review in a forum, with at least 3 current professional sources. How to write NURS 502 Week 5 TEP First Draft.
Week 6: TEP Peer Review
A constructive review of a classmate's TEP draft, answering the prescribed questions. How to write NURS 502 Week 6 TEP Peer Review.
Week 6: Theoretical Framework Assignment
Answer questions about the theoretical framework of a selected research article, using at least the textbook and the article. How to write NURS 502 Week 6 Theoretical Framework Assignment.
Week 7: Discussion Board Forum 2
The second forum, in the week of the TEP final paper: a 500-word thread with 2 citations and two 250-word replies. How to write NURS 502 Week 7 Discussion Board Forum 2.
Week 7: TEP Final Paper
The finished Theory-Based Exemplar Paper: 8 to 10 pages applying a nursing theory to an actual practice situation, with at least 4 scholarly sources. How to write NURS 502 Week 7 TEP Final Paper.
Week 8: Discussion Board Forum 3
The final forum, with McEwen and Wills chapter 22 and Called to Care chapter 15: a 500-word thread and two 250-word replies. How to write NURS 502 Week 8 Discussion Board Forum 3.
How NURS 502 is graded
The published guide totals 1,010 points. The four TEP stages are worth 450 together (theory analysis 150, first draft 75, peer review 75, final paper 150). The Personal Philosophy Paper is 150, the two written responses 50 each, the theoretical framework assignment 50, and the three forums 50 each. Two quizzes (50 each) and the checklist (10) complete the total.
| Graded item | Points |
|---|---|
| TEP Theory Analysis | 150 |
| TEP First Draft | 75 |
| TEP Peer Review | 75 |
| TEP Final Paper | 150 |
| Personal Philosophy Paper | 150 |
| Written Responses to Questions (2) | 100 |
| Theoretical Framework Assignment | 50 |
| Discussion Board Forums (3) | 150 |
| Quizzes (2) | 100 |
| Course Requirements Checklist | 10 |
The published scale puts an A at 940 to 1010 points.
Week timing in the published guide: Each course module/week begins on Monday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Sunday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.
How to approach NURS 502
Pick your TEP theory by the end of Week 2. The guide provides a list of theories and theorists in the course, and the theory analysis is due in Week 3, so the choice has to come early. Choose a theory you can see in your own practice: Orem's self-care deficit theory on a rehab unit, Watson's caring science in hospice, Benner's novice to expert in precepting new graduates.
Keep the exemplar situation in mind from the start. The final paper applies the theory to an actual practice situation, and an exemplar you know well makes the draft, the peer review and the final paper far easier.
Questions students ask
What is the TEP in NURS 502?
The Theory-Based Exemplar Paper: you analyze a nursing theory (Week 3), submit a first draft and share it for peer review (Week 5), review a classmate's draft (Week 6), and submit a final paper of 8 to 10 pages that applies the theory to an actual practice situation (Week 7).
How long is the NURS 502 Personal Philosophy Paper?
4 to 7 pages in current APA, with at least three main components of your personal framework and an example encounter that shows it in practice.
Working through NURS 502 now?
Tell us the week and the assignment. A tutor who knows the course replies with a plan for the draft.