UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

COLLEGE OF NURSING
Portfolio Guidelines
Throughout the BS program the student is required to create and maintain an eportfolio. The purpose of the portfolio is to demonstrate your progress in the
program and the achievement of the baccalaureate program outcomes. It also is a
tool for self-reflection and evaluation, and links the course content with program
outcomes and your professional experiences. The portfolio showcases your
accomplishments, competence and professional growth. You will build on this
portfolio throughout the program: it will be started and submitted in NUR 4216L
Med Surgical Nurse Clinic II for a summative evaluation, and submitted again in NUR
4948L Preceptorship for an S/U grade.
The portfolio guidelines will provide information about the sections to include in the
portfolio and specific documents required in each section. The contents of the
portfolio will build throughout the program with individual submissions focusing on
attainment of the program outcomes.
Rubric
5 points
#1
Table of
Contents
#2
Personal
Introductory
Statement

Table of contents included

_____/5

10 points
Included a narrative introduction. You may want to
share about you, your family hobbies, where you
work or anything that will help the reader
understand what makes you, you.

_____/10

10 points
Proper business letter
Introduction paragraph with why you are writing
and the position you are applying for
10 points
#4
Resume contain all components required
Professional
Resume is well organized; evidence that student
Resume/Vitae.
attends to essential detail (form and content)
creating an impressive product.
5 points
#5
Goal statement adheres to the SMART model of
Personal and
goal writing
Professional
Goals
5 points
#6
Includes a clinical exemplar
Includes a
clinical
exemplar
10 points
#3
Cover Letter

Portfolio Instructions revised 8/14

_____/10

_____/10
_____/5

_____/5

#7
Evidence of
Leadership/
Professional
Activity

Strong evidence of leadership (honors, awards,

school/community leadership responsibilities)
Superior evidence as a leader potential in clinical
practice Conferences or Publications (optional)
Community involvement (optional)
Certifications/MOSS points (all below are
required)
o AHEC modules certificate (Psych)
o FEMA (MSII)
o Medication Errors (Leadership)
Student Council Activity (optional)
Anecdotal form (required)
Thank you Notes/Compliments (optional)
o Patient
o Family Members
o Faculty
10 points
#8
Includes specific artifacts
Artifacts
o Clinical documents from each course listed,
Course/Work
such as PAT or project
Specific
Fundamental
MS I
MS II
o Quality and Safety Synthesis
Paper/Presentation
10 points
#9
Writing sample is appropriate for portfolio;
Sample of
sample is clear, succinct and understandable;
Academic
expression demonstrates superior command of
Writing
the written word and rich, complex, and creative
thought. APA format including a title page
o Inquiry (EBP) Synthesis Paper
o Community Capstone (both required)
10 points
#10
Evidence of student success
Evaluation
Include summaries of preceptor evaluations
Artifacts
and/or instructor evaluations
o Final Evaluation with faculty evaluation
filled out (one final evaluation required)
o NPW or PAT with instructor
feedback/evaluation (showing progress
throughout the program)
10 points
#11
Created in web format
Overall
Highly organized with a table of contents and
Appearance
professional introductory statement.
and Content of Information carefully selected.
Portfolio
Easy to read, streamlined.
Portfolio Instructions revised 8/14

_____/10

____/10

_____/10

_____/10

_____/10

5 points
Superior use of grammar, spelling, syntax and
structure
Writing is varied and expression of complex
concepts is apparent
Writing has a logical flow; writing demonstrates a
strong and varied vocabulary
Superior command of the written word.
Total
> 75 = Satisfactory
< 75 = Unsatisfactory
#12
Writing
Mechanics

Portfolio Guidelines for Preceptorship

#3 Create a cover letter to a fictitious person.
Follow the criteria below:

The cover letter is to be in a business letter format

The letter is to include an introductory paragraph

o

Introduce yourself

Tell them why you have contacted them

Tell them why they should meet you

Body of the letter

o

Do not review your resume

Describe what you can bring to the employer

Final paragraph
o

State your plan for follow up

Thanks them for considering you

#4 Suggestions to include the following in your Resume:

Name and Contact Information

Education

Work Experience

Portfolio Instructions revised 8/14

_______/5

______/100

Active and Inactive RN Licensure

Certifications

Publications

Presentations

Research Activities

Active Professional Memberships

Relevant Volunteer or Community Service

Foreign Language

You may not have all of the above components to include in your resume at this time. Over the
course of your career you can add these to your resume as you obtain them.
# 5 Personal Goals
This assignment calls for 2 long term goals and 2 short term goals which relate to what you
want to achieve professionally. The short term goals can be from 1-2 years and long term goals
can be what you want to achieve in 4-5 years. CLICK HERE and you will be directed to a
website that provides information how to write goals according to the criteria below. Pay
attention to the criteria below. These criteria will be used to grade your assignment. I would
suggest when you begin to think about your goals you write out the letters SMART and make
sure your goals meet all the criteria. Include in this assignment:

Title page

A short introductory paragraph introducing your goals and why they are important

Your goals are to be in complete sentences and can be bulleted under the headings
short term goals and long term goals.

A reference page only if you need to support something in your introduction with
literature.

S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Attainable
R = Realistic
T = Timely

CLICK HERE

to view an example of a paper about goal setting.

Portfolio Instructions revised 8/14

#6 Clinical Exemplar
The purpose of this assignment is to provide the student with the opportunity to reflect on
previous clinical experiences that convey something memorable or significant to you. The
clinical situation can be one that has taught you something, made you understand and change
your practice or was particularly demanding. The situation may be one that went particularly
well or not well. Your journal in preceptorship can be a great example of a situation that can be
used for your clinical exemplar.
Required components of the paper:
1. Use at least one peer reviewed publication to define the term "clinical exemplar" in your
introduction.
2. Title page
3. Introductory paragraph which follows the title of the page (heading in APA format)
4. The body of the paper includes your story
5. Paper can be written in the first person
6. Conclusion
7. Reference page
The paper should not be more than 2-3 pages in length (not including the title page and
reference page).

Portfolio Instructions revised 8/14