Associate Degree Nursing Program: Philosophy/Mission
(Applies to Spring 2008 Graduates)

Mission Statement

The faculty of the Associate Degree Nursing Program of Western Kentucky University ascribe to the University's commitment to produce nationally and globally competitive graduates and to provide continuing education opportunities for lifelong learning to our constituents. The mission of the Associate Degree Nursing program is to provide the educational resources to meet the regional needs for registered nurses. The program prepares the graduate as a generalist to give nursing care in a variety of health care settings and provides the knowledge base for career mobility.

Philosophy

The faculty believes that nursing is a professional discipline, an art and science, which applies knowledge from the psychological, biological, physical, and social sciences to meet the needs of clients within an ever-changing health care environment. Nursing practice encompasses the application of nursing process, critical thinking skills, therapeutic communication and cultural sensitivity in the delivery of nursing care in various health care settings. The goal of nursing practice is to use caring behaviors and therapeutic nursing interventions to assist clients to achieve an optimal level of health or to die with dignity within the environment. Nurses respect the client's right to self-determination as it relates to health care decisions. The unique interaction between the nurse and the client is the essence of nursing practice.

The faculty believes that education for associate degree nurses is built upon a balance of knowledge from general education, sciences and nursing that occurs within institutions of higher learning. Nursing education is a dynamic process that fosters the mutual exchange between faculty and learner in the attainment and application of knowledge for nursing practice. It is a process that fosters critical thinking, independence and a quest for life-long learning. The learner is an active and responsible partner within the learning process. The faculty acts as a facilitator and resource that directs the learner toward self-discovery.

Organizing Framework

The organizing framework reflects the philosophy of the Associate Degree Nursing Program and identifies the basic structural components of the curriculum. The organizational framework of the curriculum is based on the concepts of nursing, client, health, environment, and is guided by theoretical principles including Maslow and Erikson.

Nursing practice encompasses the application of nursing process, critical thinking skills, therapeutic communication and cultural sensitivity in the delivery of nursing care in various health care settings. The role of the associate degree nursing graduate includes provider of care, manager of care, and member within the discipline of nursing. Integrated concepts inherent in these three roles focus on the nurse as caregiver, teacher, coordinator, communicator, collaborator, and advocate. professional nurses are accountable for their practice within the ANA's Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, ANA's Code of Ethics for Nurses, licensing laws, and established policies and procedures. The client is defined as an individual, family, or group that is unique with intrinsic worth and dignity. Clients come from diverse backgrounds that influence the delivery of nursing care. Health is a dynamic process that reflects the client’s optimal level of functioning which can be enhanced by therapeutic nursing interventions. Health is influenced by biological, developmental and environmental factors, client values, societal interactions, and health behaviors. The client is in constant interaction with his or her environment. The environment consists of biological, cultural, economic, psychosocial, and spiritual factors having the potential to influence the client’s health.

Operational Definitions

Critical Thinking - "In nursing, critical thinking for decision making is the ability to think in a systematic and logical manner with an openness to question and reflect on reasoning processes used to ensure safe nursing practice and quality client care" (Heaslip, P.: Critical thinking and intuition in nursing practice Journal of Advanced Nursing 18 (21): 114-119, 1993.)
Teaching - "Teaching is an interactive process that promotes learning. It consists of a conscious, deliberate set of actions that help individuals gain new knowledge, change attitudes, adopt new behaviors, or perform new skills (Potter, P. & Perry, A. (2201) Fundamentals of nursing (5th ed.) St. Louis: Mosby)
Therapeutic Communication - "Therapeutic communication is an interpersonal interaction between the nurse and client during which the nurse focuses on the client's specific needs to promote an effective exchange of information" (Videback, S. L. (2006). Psychiatric mental health nursing (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.)
Cultural Sensitivity - "Cultural sensitivity means being aware that cultural differences and similarities exist and have an effect on values, learning, and behaviors" (Staffod, Bowman, Eking, Hanna, & Lopoes-Defede, 1997).
Nursing Process - "Nursing process is an organized, systematic approach used by nurses to meet the individualized health care needs of their clients, families, and communities" (Ignatavicius, D. & Workman, M. L. (2006) Medical-surgical nursing: critical thinking for collaborative care (5th ed.) St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders.). . . The nursing process includes assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
Caring - Caring is . . . "actions and an attitude that conveys physical care and emotional concern for others" (Ignatavicius, D. & Workman, M. L. (2006) Medical-surgical nursing: critical thinking for collaborative care (5th ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders.)
Therapeutic Nursing Interventions - Therapeutic nursing interventions are actions based on scientific rationale that are executed to benefit the client in a predicted way. These interventions include psychomotor and psychosocial skills.

ASSOCIATE DEGREE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES

The Graduate:

1. Functions within the ANA Scope and Standards of Practice, Code of Ethics, licensing laws and established policies and procedures.
2. Provides safe, competent care utilizing nursing process, critical thinking skills, therapeutic communication and cultural sensitivity in a variety of settings.
3. Utilizes caring behaviors and therapeutic nursing interventions to assist clients to achieve an optimal level of health or to die with dignity.
4. Uses organizational and priority-setting skills to effectively manage multiple nursing demands.
5. Seeks appropriate resources when encountering situations beyond knowledge and experience.
6. Demonstrates accountability for nursing care given by self and/or delegated to others.
7. Collaborates with other health care providers to coordinate care.
8. Provides the client with the information to make choices regarding health.

Effective Fall 2006