CONNORS STATE COLLEGE NURSING PROGRAM
PHILOSOPHY
The faculty of the Department of Nursing functions as an integral part of Connors State College and is in accord with and support the mission and purpose of the college.
The goal of the program of nursing is to provide residents of this community quality career education for licensure as registered nurses which will enable students to succeed in a global society.
The faculty believes MAN has bio-psycho-social needs that fluctuate throughout the life span. Man, although unique, has similar basic needs that follow a sequential and predictable developmental pattern. In an attempt to meet the specific needs necessary for growth and development, the individual continuously interacts with a dynamic environment and requires constant adaptation to achieve optimal health.
The faculty believes that HEALTH is a dynamic state of bio-psycho-social well-being. Health is not a constant state but fluctuates on a wellness-illness continuum, based on the individual’s ability to maintain his/her optimal level of wellness. Man’s unique strengths and positive attributes afford the potential for adaptive responses to internal and external stressors, thereby maintaining an optimal state of health. When the individual is functioning and adapting effectively, he/she may be considered well. When the individual’s ability to adapt effectively becomes impaired, his/her position on the wellness-illness continuum moves toward illness, and the individual may need to enter the health care system for more aggressive assistance. The desire for optimal health may motivate man to seek out the health care system to effect prevention of illness and promotion of wellness.
The faculty believes NURSING is a practice discipline and provides a caring service to all age levels directed at prevention of health problems, maintenance of health, care of the sick, restoration to optimal health, and provision for a peaceful death. We believe that nursing is also an applied science which incorporates social and scientific principles from the liberal arts and sciences as a basis for providing care to the individual and family.
Nursing, as a profession, seeks to assist individuals and groups to meet basic human needs. Nursing care is directed toward reducing or removing stressors and enhancing the adaptive potential of the client. The need for nursing care is initiated by the client’s potential, or actual, maladaptation to stressors and the inability to meet his/her needs.
Nursing care to promote the adaptive response of the client is based on the use of the nursing process. This process is supported by application of theory, critical decision making (critical thinking), mastery of psychomotor skills, and a caring approach that requires a commitment to human well-being.
NURSING EDUCATION consists of content that has been gleaned from the competencies and skills required in the practice setting for the role of the ADN nurse. Nursing education is a complex discipline, incorporating concepts from other disciplines to build a broad base from which to practice. In response to this belief, nursing education is best suited in an institution of higher learning.
The faculty assumes responsibility for development and implementation of the curriculum and for measuring the program and educational outcomes of the curriculum. The role of the faculty is to facilitate learning by creating an environment that is conducive to learning. This is accomplished by providing experiences that meet the individual learner needs, by allowing freedom of expression, and by stimulating curiosity.
The faculty believes LEARNING is a dynamic process which occurs within the learner. It is the acquisition and synthesis of knowledge resulting in a behavioral change necessitating active participation on the student’s part to enhance the process. The faculty utilizes adult learning principles to create learning experiences that build on the students’ previous knowledge base and progress from the simple to the complex. Multiple and innovative teaching methods are used to augment learning and meet individual learning styles. Evaluation is the process utilized to determine the extent of the learning. Faculty believe that ongoing evaluation must be a shared process between the teacher and student to insure clear understanding of the expectations related to the nursing role.
The faculty believes that the graduate of an Associate Degree Nursing Program must be able to practice within three roles as defined in the National League for Nursing’s Educational Outcomes of Associate Degree Nursing Programs: Roles and Competencies.
As a provider of care, the graduate of the Connors State College Nursing Program uses the nursing process as a basis for critical decision-making as it applies to clients across the life span. The faculty believes it is essential that the graduate have current knowledge in nursing concepts, skills, and communication techniques in order to make sound nursing decisions, to implement therapeutic nursing interventions, and to practice competently.
As a manager of care, the graduate of the Connors State College Nursing Program provides and coordinates care for a group of clients in a variety of settings. To be competent in the role as manager of care, the faculty believe the graduate must possess the knowledge, skills and communication techniques necessary to make decisions regarding priorities of care, delegation, efficient use of time and resources, and when to seek assistance from more advanced nursing practitioners.
As a member within the discipline of nursing, the graduate of the Connors State College Nursing Program is committed to professional growth, continuous learning, and self-development. The faculty believes it is essential that the graduate understands ethical standards and the legal framework for practice in order to be a contributing member within the discipline of nursing and to provide quality nursing care.