The Nursing Department believes that each individual is a unique person having dignity and worth. Individuals, as members of the family and the community, are shaped by cultural, physiological, psychosocial, spiritual, and developmental forces. The family and the community influence early beliefs and values of individuals, and in turn individuals contribute to the effective functioning of the family and community.

We believe that Nursing is both an art and a science grounded in a social context and related to experiences with people in need. It is based on a specific body of nursing theory and principles from behavioral and social sciences. Nursing is an interpersonal process and involves the application of knowledge, technical and collaborative skills, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving. The focus of nursing is on individuals, families, or client groups. By using the nursing process, nurses promote, maintain and restore clients' health as well as provide compassionate care to the dying. As healthcare providers, nurses engage in a collaborative practice that focuses on outcomes and adheres to practice guidelines that ensure quality and access.

We believe that professional values and value-based interventions are fundamental to nursing education. As the basis for professional nursing practice, values and value-based actions may be viewed as ethically reflective practice that the nursing student uses to interact with patients, healthcare professionals, and society.

We believe that teaching/learning is a life-long interactive process through which active inquiry and participation result in a change in behavior. The teaching/learning process is facilitated when the learner and teacher share responsibility for outcomes. Learning is facilitated when content is presented in an orderly sequential manner, i.e. simple to complex, known to unknown, normal to abnormal, general to specific.

We believe that critical thinking, clinical competence, accountability, and a commitment to the value of caring is necessary to maintain or restore clients their optimum state of health and to provide the support which allows death with dignity. As the provider of care, the nurse's commitment to client/family-centered care will facilitate successful preparation for practice in various healthcare settings where policies and procedures are specified and guidance is available.

We believe it is essential that the nurse have current knowledge in nursing concepts, principles, processes, and skills. Supportive of that knowledge is an understanding of health, acute and chronic health deviations, nutrition, pharmacology, communication, human development, teaching/learning principles, current technology, humanities, and biological, social, and behavioral sciences.

We believe the nurse is the manager of care in various healthcare settings where policies and procedures are specified and guidance is available. To be competent in the role as a manager of care, the nurse must possess the knowledge and skills necessary to make decisions regarding priorities of care, to delegate some aspects of nursing care, direct others to use time and resources efficiently, and to know when to seek assistance. Supporting this knowledge is an understanding of the principles of client-care management, communication, and delegation, legal parameters of nursing practice, and roles and responsibilities of members of the healthcare team.

We believe that the entry level practice of a graduate from the Associate Degree in Nursing program is characterized by collaboration, organization, delegation, accountability, advocacy, and respect for other healthcare workers. As a coordinator of care, the entry level registered nurse demonstrates caring and compassion and provides and coordinates holistic nursing care for groups of clients who have healthcare needs.

Conceptual Framework

Nursing, Individual, Environment, Health. Professional Behaviors, Communities, Assessment, Clinical Decision-Making,

Nursing (ADN)

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