Philosophy

The nursing curricula are developed and implemented based on the faculty's beliefs about professional nursing education and professional nursing practice, the nature of the client, health, and the environment. We believe that in order to meet the current and future needs of the global communities, a professional nursing education must prepare graduates to provide therapeutic and culturally congruent care in a variety of settings. Professional nursing education encourages the development of caring behaviors, therapeutic communication, social awareness, and collaborative skills that facilitate academic and personal development. The faculty believes that professional nursing education also prepares learners to be critical thinkers, to make optimal use of educational environments, and to pursue continued education as a goal-directed, lifelong process.

We believe that professional nursing practice is dynamic, complex, and integral to the health care system. Through evidence-based practice, nurses use research findings to make clinical decisions that facilitate health promotion, disease prevention, and health restoration to clients across the lifespan. The demonstration of caring behaviors, therapeutic communication, and culturally congruent care are vital in the provision of client-centered care. Professional nursing practice adheres to an established framework of ethical principles, legal regulations, and standards of practice in order provide high-quality, safe, and competent care.

We believe that the professional nursing role is not limited to the utilization of the nursing process, but also incorporates research activities, health policies, and clinical leadership in the provision of client care. Thus, lifelong education is crucial to professional growth and development.

Clients are the consumers of nursing services. They are comprised of individuals, families, groups, and communities. We believe that the client is continually responding to the internal and external environment, and is capable of achieving optimal health, or a dignified death.

Health is a variable state that exists along a continuum of wellness to illness, and is defined by the client. Health is influenced by a variety of factors such as spirituality, cultural practices, and environmental stimuli. Health outcomes are determined by the client's ability to cope with environmental factors, and to access the health care system.

Environment is the internal and external factors that impact the client's state of health. The environment influences the client, regardless of whether it is perceived or not.

We believe that baccalaureate nursing education is a composition of knowledge in the natural sciences, liberal arts, nursing technology, research, and clinical decision-making. The baccalaureate nursing educational process prepares the learner, as a generalist, to practice in various settings within the ethical and legal framework of professional nursing. Graduates are educated to become leaders, consumers of research, and collaborators as members of the health care team. The following concepts are essential to baccalaureate nursing education: caring behaviors, communication, culturally congruent care, evidence-based practice, professional nursing role, and critical thinking. Graduate education builds upon the generalist foundation of baccalaureate education to prepare nurses for advanced practice roles. Graduate education provides the student with opportunities to develop expertise and specialized knowledge in the care of clients and populations. The graduate program is organized using core, supporting, and specialty content. Graduate nursing education incorporates evidence-based practice that enables nurses to participate in health policy development, research, health promotion, and management, with emphasis on diverse and vulnerable populations. Advanced practice nursing roles include nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse administrators, and nurse educators. We believe that the advanced practice nursing roles are integral to meeting the current and future health needs of society.