Undergraduate Program Philosophy

We believe nursing to be a synthesis of scientific and artful activities directed toward professional holistic caring for human beings as they experience and interpret health issues. We believe all human beings are unique in their physical, emotional, spiritual, cultural, ethnic, developmental, gender and lifestyles qualities and have a right to health care that addresses their diverse needs.

Nurses assist individuals, families, groups and communities, to be informed and exert their rights to make decisions about lifestyles and health care. As part of multidisciplinary health care teams, nurses identify health care needs and provide direct and indirect care to promote and restore health, reduce risks and preserve dignity at end of life.

We believe nurses must internalize a commitment to ethical inquiry, critical thinking, communication excellence and life-long learning. Further, nurses are proactive and adapt to changes as they occur locally and worldwide. Nurses must also commit to the professional values of altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity and social justice. In so doing nurses advocate for the highest standard of care for clients as individuals, families, groups, and communities in health care that is constantly changing and increasingly complex.

Nurses participate in individual and professional group activities for the promotion of professional nursing and the development and application of nursing’s knowledge base. Baccalaureate prepared nurses are able to use scholarly evidence to direct their professional activities and provide leadership in the provision of health care. Nurses with graduate preparation participate in the creation of new knowledge and provide leadership in the application of scholarly evidence.

To cultivate professional values, critical thinking, communication and life-long learning, nurses must be taught and learn in an environment open to diverse ideas and learning styles. We believe that teachers and students are partners in their quest for growth as they constantly integrate new knowledge from theory, research, and practice into the dynamic knowledge base of nursing, the design of care and the delivery of service to societies.

College of Health and Human Services' Vision and Mission