Comprehensive Examination
Successful completion of a comprehensive exam is
required for graduation from the M.S.N. program. The purpose of
the required comprehensive examination is for you to demonstrate a
synthesis of knowledge about nursing theory, research, and
clinical practice in your specialty area.
committee:
- Your examining committee is designated by the
assistant dean for advanced practice nursing. The faculty in
your specialty area recommend members for the committee to the assistant dean for advanced practice nursing, who makes a
recommendation to the Graduate School. The Graduate School
formally appoints the committee.
- Your committee usually is chaired by your
faculty advisor, and includes two other faculty members. At
least two members must be from your specialty area, and two must
be full or associate members of the Graduate School faculty.
- Each member of your committee evaluates your
examination, and designates pass or fail. The committee chair evaluates the judgments, and recommends to the
assistant dean for advanced practice nursing that you pass or fail the
comprehensive examination.
- If you fail the examination, your committee may recommend to the
assistant dean for advanced practice nursing the conditions for a second examination. The
assistant dean for advanced practice nursing then recommends conditions
for re-examination to the dean of the Graduate School and the
Graduate Council of the University Senate. The examination
may not be taken more than twice.
Content:
- The questions for your exam are written by
the faculty in your area of study. These exam questions are
reviewed by the Masters Program Committee to insure consistency
in content across specialty areas.
- The questions focus on theory, research, and
clinical practice in your specialty area. The intent is for you
to demonstrate a logical fusion and application of knowledge
across these three areas.
Exam:
- To sit for the exam you must have completed
all courses other than those in which you are enrolled. All "S"
or "I" grades must be replaced with final letter grades no later
than three weeks before the exam date.
- Comprehensive exams are normally scheduled
the second or third Mondays of November, April, or June for
students anticipating graduating in December, May, or August
respectively.
- Six weeks prior to the comprehensive exam
date, you should request approval from your faculty advisor to
sit for the examination. If your advisor judges you ready for
the exam, a recommendation is forwarded to the assistant dean for advanced practice nursing. A recommendation for you to take
the exam must be forwarded by the assistant dean for advanced practice nursing
to the Graduate School at least two weeks prior
to the exam date.
- The assistant dean for advanced practice nursing
is notified of the results of your examination within
two weeks after the exam date. The assistant dean for advanced practice nursing
notifies you and the Graduate School in writing
of those results.
- If you do not pass the comprehensive exam, a
second examination may be scheduled upon the recommendation of
the faculty committee during the regularly scheduled examination
period the following semester. Students may not retake the
examination more than once (University of Kentucky Graduate
School policies).
Helpful Hints:
Preparation strategies:
- Study in groups.
- Anticipate questions.
- Quiz each other.
- Relate theory to clinical phenomena.
- Relate research to clinical phenomena.
- Practice organizing and writing answers to
questions you've developed.
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