NURS 617 is the first nurse educator course in Liberty's MSN, where practicum hours begin. This site covers its graded writing: four written assignments, two reflection papers, two forums and a simulation development plan. The practicum goals and objectives, clinical logs in Typhon and the end-of-course evaluations are practicum documentation and have no guides here.
Liberty's catalog lists the course as NURS 617 Nurse Educator I: Advanced Clinical Applications, 3 credit hours; Canvas and the course guide file print it as NURS617.
What NURS 617 covers
The catalog description: This course provides the student advanced health assessment skills within a selected population. Biopsychosocial, cultural, spiritual, physical, ethical concepts, and systems theory will be integrated into managing advanced health care needs of the client. Students will apply the nursing process and focus on improving patient outcomes. The theoretical framework for simulation design for nursing education, the nursing process, collaborative learning and guided reflection will be explored to create student-centered educational experiences for attainment of clinical skills and critical thinking. An educational site affiliation agreement with a student selected approved facility is secured and a practicum contract is developed and established with an approved nurse educator preceptor prior to enrollment in this course; advanced clinical application practicum hours are initiated in NURS 617 . Students must meet all pre-practicum requirements prior to enrollment in NURS 617 ; refer to Graduate Nursing Handbook for pre-practicum requirements.
The course combines advanced clinical application within a selected population with the theory of simulation design in nursing education, the nursing process, collaborative learning and guided reflection. The texts are Billings and Halstead, Teaching in Nursing, and Jeffries' Clinical Simulation in Nursing Education and The NLN Jeffries Simulation Theory.
The written work leans on recent evidence: written assignments need three peer-reviewed references from the last five years, reflection papers four to six, and forum posts integrate biblical principles alongside recent peer-reviewed sources. Practicum hours (50 of the program's 200) are documented separately in Typhon.
Textbook named in the published guide: Billings & Halstead, Teaching in Nursing (2016). Jeffries, Clinical Simulation in Nursing Education (2014). Jeffries, The NLN Jeffries Simulation Theory (2016). Check the current edition in your Canvas section.
NURS 617 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 Assignment 1 | 75 | 3 to 5 pages, title and reference pages not counted |
| 2 | Reflection Paper 1 | 100 | At least 5 pages, title and reference pages not counted |
| 3 | Discussion Board Forum 1 | 50 | Thread at least 500 words |
| 3 | Written Assignment 2 | 75 | 3 to 5 pages, title and reference pages not counted |
| 4 | Discussion Board Forum 2 | 50 | Thread at least 500 words |
| 5 | Written Assignment 3 | 75 | 3 to 5 pages, title and reference pages not counted |
| 6 | Written Assignment 4 | 75 | 3 to 5 pages, title and reference pages not counted |
| 7 | Simulation Development Plan | 150 | The provided template, completed in full |
| 8 | Reflection Paper 2 | 100 | At least 5 pages, title and reference pages not counted |
Week 1: Written Assignment 1
A 3 to 5-page response to a prompt on the week's reading, with 3 recent peer-reviewed references. How to write NURS 617 Week 1 Written Assignment 1.
Week 2: Reflection Paper 1
A 5-page-plus reflection on an instructor-posed topic and your role as a nurse educator, with 4 to 6 recent peer-reviewed references. How to write NURS 617 Week 2 Reflection Paper 1.
Week 3: Discussion Board Forum 1
A 500-word thread with 2 recent peer-reviewed references and biblical principles, and two 250-word replies. How to write NURS 617 Week 3 Discussion Board Forum 1.
Week 3: Written Assignment 2
The second 3 to 5-page written assignment, on clinical teaching, with 3 recent peer-reviewed references. How to write NURS 617 Week 3 Written Assignment 2.
Week 4: Discussion Board Forum 2
The second forum, in the first simulation week: a 500-word thread with recent references and biblical principles, and two replies. How to write NURS 617 Week 4 Discussion Board Forum 2.
Week 5: Written Assignment 3
The third written assignment, on simulation theory, with 3 recent peer-reviewed references. How to write NURS 617 Week 5 Written Assignment 3.
Week 6: Written Assignment 4
The fourth written assignment, on simulation design, with 3 recent peer-reviewed references. How to write NURS 617 Week 6 Written Assignment 4.
Week 7: Simulation Development Plan
The largest writing task in NURS 617: a simulation plan on the provided template with learning outcomes, scenario design and an evaluation plan. How to write NURS 617 Week 7 Simulation Development Plan.
Week 8: Reflection Paper 2
The closing reflection on an instructor-posed topic and your growth as a nurse educator, with 4 to 6 recent peer-reviewed references. How to write NURS 617 Week 8 Reflection Paper 2.
How NURS 617 is graded
The published guide totals 1,010 points. The four written assignments are 75 each (300), the two reflection papers 100 each, the simulation development plan 150 and the two forums 50 each. Practicum goals and objectives (draft 25, final 75), three clinical logs (50 each) and the checklist (10) make up the rest; the three evaluations carry no points but must be submitted.
| Graded item | Points |
|---|---|
| Written Assignments (4) | 300 |
| Reflection Papers (2) | 200 |
| Simulation Development Plan | 150 |
| Discussion Board Forums (2) | 100 |
| Practicum Goals and Objectives | 100 |
| Practicum/Clinical Logs (3) | 150 |
| Course Requirements Checklist | 10 |
The published scale puts an A at 940 to 1010 points.
Week timing in the published guide: Each course 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 617
The simulation development plan in Week 7 is the course's largest writing task, and the Jeffries readings in Weeks 4 to 6 build toward it. Choose your scenario by Week 5, suitable for undergraduate nursing students or registered nurses, so you can design learning outcomes, the scenario and the evaluation plan on the provided template.
Use your practicum experiences as material for the reflection papers, which ask for personal reflection on your role as a nurse educator.
Questions students ask
Does NURS 617 include a practicum?
Yes. The catalog says advanced clinical application practicum hours begin in NURS 617; 50 of the 200 practicum hours are completed in this course and documented in Typhon.
How long are NURS 617 written assignments?
3 to 5 pages each, with three peer-reviewed references from the last five years, in current APA; the title and reference pages do not count.
Working through NURS 617 now?
Tell us the week and the assignment. A tutor who knows the course replies with a plan for the draft.