American Public University System

By using various assessment tools and/or rubrics within the classroom, American Public University System (APUS) is able to capture a snapshot of students’ success in fulfilling their program outcomes. Signature assignments, generally in the final course of a program, are used to assess students’ proficiency in meeting each program outcome (PO). In order to show proficiency in an area, a student must achieve a score of 85% or greater. American Public University System strives to have 70% or more (university benchmark) of our students reaching the 85% proficiency standard. When this benchmark isn't met, action is taken to improve curriculum and instruction to better serve our students. The below chart shows combined results of M.S. Nursing – RN to MSN students at APUS.

• PO#1- Improve performance in the professional nursing role by developing leadership, management, sound clinical judgment, and communication skills to promote the health of individuals, families, and communities.
• PO#2- Utilize evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and leadership principles to promote a culture of safety and achieve outcomes that are grounded in institutional values and professional ethics.
• PO#3- Apply informatics and healthcare technologies to access critical information, to collaborate with other professionals, and to facilitate optimal patient-centered care.
• PO#4- Apply scientific principles and the nursing process to evaluate responses to therapies and changes in patient health status.
• PO#5- Integrate knowledge of human and organizational behavior to lead teams and to promote cultures of safety.
• PO#6- Analyze the impact of financial, regulatory, and political decisions on local, national and global health outcomes.
• PO#7- Synthesize knowledge of ethical, socioeconomic, and cultural factors to decrease health disparities, to advocate for diverse populations and to provide culturally relevant healthcare to individuals, groups and communities.
• PO#8- Employ a spirit of inquiry to embrace the value of lifelong learning and to participate in professional activities that promote and shape the future of nursing.
• PO#9- Apply the principles of ethical decision making to the practice of the master’s prepared nurse
• PO#10- Demonstrate leadership skills to support safe nursing practices continually improve patient-centered care.
• PO#11- Advocate for healthcare policies that improve healthcare outcomes across the lifespan.
• PO#12- Apply data management principles in the delivery of cost-effective care to improve health outcomes.
• PO#13- Analyze how healthcare policy and health care economics affect change within the healthcare system.
• PO#14- Demonstrate effective inter-professional communication and collaboration to support safe and efficient coordination of care.
• PO#15- Reflect on personal commitment to lifelong learning to gain the competencies needed to lead the provision of care in a complex and changing healthcare environment.