Statement of Philosophy
The Individual
The individual is unique and complex, a holistic being of biological, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual dimensions. Each individual operates within a personally determined value system which is acquired and shaped through experience, personal judgments, and interaction with others. Individuals possess deliberative abilities and have the potential to make rational decisions about their lives, their health, and their own goals. Individuals possess inherent human rights and are deserving of respect and support in accordance with their basic needs. Each person is influenced by his/her genetic inheritance, biological make-up, culture, and the physical and social environment in which he or she exists.
Environment
Environment refers to the context in which nursing occurs, which ranges from the person's home to clinical agencies to society as a whole. A person's environment is a major determinant of health. It includes the spiritual, psychological, political, legal, ethical, physical, economic, spatial, and temporal aspects in which the individual, family, community, or healthcare system exist.
Health
Health is a dynamic state that is influenced by each individual's inherited characteristics and life experiences. At any given time, a person's health status is seen as being at a point on a continuum that extends from high-level wellness to the cessation of life. Human beings possess adaptive and recuperative abilities. An individual can alter his or her health status resulting in the individual moving in either a positive or negative direction on the health continuum in response to his or her own efforts and/or through intervention of the health care system. An individual who has achieved a reasonable level of understanding has the right to information regarding their health and is entitled to make choices about his/her health care status, and the care he/she will receive. Wellness is viewed as a dynamic state of physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being. Wellness is defined by the individual's perception of wellness and influenced by the presence of disease and the individual's ability to adapt.
Nursing Practice
As a member of the health care team within the discipline of nursing, the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) provides direct individualized care with shared responsibility for the care of the individual(s) under supervision of a professional nurse, MD, podiatrist, or dentist. The LPN performs therapeutic and preventive nursing measures in structured settings within traditional and alternative health care delivery systems. Associate degree education in one of the established entry points into professional nursing practice. At the associate degree level, nursing education is directed toward facilitating the student to develop basic knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for professional practice. Upon entry into practice, the associate degree graduate is prepared to function as a novice generalist in the roles of provider of care, teacher, manager of care, advocate, and member within the discipline of nursing.
The nurse provides direct care to patients with complex health needs, adjusting care as patient situations change; collecting and analyzing data from patients, families, and other health care resources; formulating appropriate nursing diagnoses; implementing therapeutic intervention; and developing/revising plans of care based on evaluation. The ADN-RN maintains professional relationships by advocating and supporting patient decisions, and by collaborating and communicating with patients, families, and other health professionals. The ADN-RN manages the care of assigned patients and supervises care given by other licensed and unlicensed health personnel.
The baccalaureate degree nurse is distinguished from the associate degree nurse in the breadth and depth of care of the group and community as client and in leadership and research expectations.
The Profession of Nursing
Nursing is a humanistic, service discipline founded on knowledge from the sciences, humanities, and human experience. It is a scholarly profession that utilizes theories from nursing and other disciplines to guide its practice for the promotion of health, care of the sick, and support to individuals and families in the final stages of life. The focus of nursing care is to meet the needs of the individual who functions as a member of a family, culture, and society. Whatever affects any part of an individual affects the whole, hence the emphasis for the holistic nursing approach.
Nursing provides education and supportive, recuperative care for individuals needing assistance in attaining or maintaining health or coping with illness. An emphasis of nursing care is promotion of the highest level of wellness achievable by the individual and society as a whole. An attitude of empathetic caring is an essential element of effective nursing care. The nursing process is utilized by nurses within their roles, as they work cooperatively with patients, families, and groups in finding solutions to individual and community health problems. Nurses provide care without bias to all persons needing their service regardless of the individual's race, creed, culture, religious orientation, or health status. Nursing requires continuous updating of its knowledge base and treatment modalities in an effort to promote an evidence-based practice in response to emerging health care problems, scientific discoveries, and new technologies in the profession. The discipline of nursing encompasses a wide range of technical skills and scientific knowledge.
Teaching/Learning/Nursing Education
Learning is the acquisition of knowledge, understanding, and skills as demonstrated in the change of behavior that persists. Learning is the cultivation of the potential of the individual and is more effectively achieved when learning opportunities are integrated and meaningfully related to the learner's interests and level of achievement. The potential for education can exist in any situation, but the responsibility for learning lies solely with the learner.
The nursing education process is seen as a cooperative effort requiring extensive interaction between students and faculty. A variety of teaching learning strategies is utilized to meet individualized needs of students in both the academic and practice settings. Curriculum content is designed to proceed from the simple to the complex, and progresses from the known to the new material.
Nursing education is seen as a continuous, life-long process through which individuals expand learning, enhance practice ability, or qualify for advanced employment positions. Specific processes are provided to facilitate progression from the practical nurse to the associate degree professional nurse and then to the baccalaureate nurse level and are defined and validated through the Colorado Articulation Model.
Graduates of an education program offered by the Nursing Program will possess knowledge of the history, development, accomplishments, and direction of the nursing profession. They will be informed regarding the unique roles, competencies, and responsibilities expected from individuals prepared at all levels. Graduates will also be aware of advance practice positions and opportunities available to individuals prepared with baccalaureate and graduate credentials in nursing.
(Reviewed 2011)