The Nursing Education Unit’s Philosophy
The philosophy is derived from the nursing metaparadigm, NLN’s eight Core Competencies (2000), selected NLN Core Values (2010), and the Division’s chosen curriculum threads.
With regard to the nursing metaparadigm, the faculty believe the following:
- A PERSON is a human being of intrinsic worth and dignity, a unified whole, possessing an interrelatedness of experiences derived from biological, psychological, sociological, cultural, and spiritual needs. Persons maintain capacity and responsibility to determine his/her health care needs plus influence his/her state of wellness by increasing knowledge and altering behaviors.
- ENVIRONMENT refers to all internal plus external factors and processes continually interacting and/or affecting the person.
- HEALTH involves a dynamic process of adaptation as the person acts and interacts to physical, emotional, and spiritual stressors in the internal and external environment to achieve and maintain holistic optimum wellness.
- NURSING requires a Patient Centered Nursing Process approach which includes the application of research-based empirical, scientific and intuitive knowledge and skills implemented to assist individuals in achieving and maintaining holistic, optimal wellness. “Patient Centeredness is an orientation to care that incorporates and reflects the uniqueness of an individual person’s background, personnel preferences, culture, values, traditions, and family. A patient centered approach supports optimum health outcomes by involving patients and those close to them in decisions about their clinical care. Patient centeredness supports the respectful, efficient, safe, and well-coordinated transition of the patient through all levels of care” (NLN, 2010).
In addition, as a reflection of the NLN’s eight Core Competencies (2000), selected NLN Core Values (2010), the Division faculty selected associate degree nurse (ADN) and nursing education as an integral part of the philosophy.
- ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSE describes a nursing generalist whose practice encompasses three roles: Provider of Care, Manager of Care, and Member of the Discipline of Nursing. In order to assume the three roles, the ADN must demonstrate proficiency of the eight Core Competencies (Caring Intervention, Communication, Collaboration, Professional Behaviors/Integrity, Teaching and Learning, Managing Care, Decision Making, and Assessment) using a patient centered nursing process approach.
- NURSING EDUCATION is a shared responsibility between the nursing faculty and the nursing student. The faculty and students share expectations for communication, attitude, participation, learning, promptness, and respect. The faculty also provide the student with exposure to dynamic learning experiences directed toward growth of independent thought, core components/competencies, and critical thinking. Learning is an ongoing process, progressive, and cumulative. As nursing is an applied discipline, the nursing student assimilates and applies information learned from the humanities, psychosocial, physical, and nursing sciences in the care of persons. (rvsd030314FM)
Furthermore, the Nursing Division’s philosophy must include chosen curriculum threads.
- Safety is one of the components of the Institute of Medicine (2003) one of the competencies for pre-licensure and graduate quality includes the ability to minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance.
- Cultural Diversity includes the knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society Tylor, E. (1871). Primitive Culture. Volume 1. London: Bradbury, Evans and Co.) Ensuring the nurse continuously strives to achieve the ability and availability to effectively work within the cultural context of a client individual, family or community is of utmost importance in the Appalachian region.
- Ethics is the ability to systematize, defend and recommend concepts of right and wrong conduct while often addressing disputes of moral diversity.
- Community involves a unified body of individuals sharing common interests and goals
- Nutrition is a fundamental aspect of achieving optimal level of health.