Philosophy
The administration, faculty and staff of Saint Luke's College support the mission of the College to provide quality education leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The faculty sets forth this philosophy as a basis for sound baccalaureate nursing education. Statement on Nursing Education Baccalaureate education in nursing draws from a broad base of general education studies and a unique body of nursing knowledge to prepare professional nurses to meet the complex and diverse health needs of society. Graduates are prepared to be change agents, and as professional nurses to utilize leadership skills and political action to impact health care needs. Through partnership faculty and students share responsibility to ensure high standards of nursing education. The faculty members, as role models and facilitators of learning, provide opportunities for students to expand critical thinking and decision-making skills. Knowledge of research and research principles are valued as means to access and utilize information and aid in the responsible practice of nursing. The faculty is responsible for the direction and implementation of the educational program and is accountable to students, the College, the community, and the profession to maintain high standards of nursing and nursing education. Effective teaching engages students in ways that generate interest and enhance learning. Students are ultimately responsible for learning and integrating knowledge in the practice of safe professional care and for self-motivation, collaboration, and sharing of their nursing knowledge. Learning is a lifelong process which occurs in the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains and leads to changes in thoughts, feelings and actions. Adult learners are self-directed and seek learning that is meaningful. A caring atmosphere enables students to use their unique learning styles as they pursue knowledge. Statement on Professional Nursing As an art and a science, nursing integrates skills and knowledge from a variety of disciplines. Nursing is a dynamic profession that is developing its unique body of knowledge through research and practice. Nursing is primarily concerned with the health of the client system and recognizes the interrelatedness between the health of the client system and the environment. Nursing is the systematic application of specialized knowledge in a caring and nurturing manner throughout the life cycle. Nursing practice is governed by professional, legal and ethical standards. With the increasing complexity of the health care system, the professional nurse assumes the roles of caregiver, counselor/teacher, critical thinker, client advocate, collaborator and change agent. It is the responsibility of professional nurses to learn, change, and grow, to care for themselves, and to promote and advance the nursing profession. Nurses collaborate with other health care providers to assist clients to retain, attain, and maintain health. Effective communication is a critical factor in establishing and maintaining a caring relationship between nurses and clients. Nurses work in partnership with clients to meet individualized health outcomes. Statement on Persons (Individuals) We believe each person has inherent worth and dignity. Each individual possesses a unique combination of physiological, psychological, sociocultural, developmental and spiritual dimensions which comprise the client system. The client system encompasses individuals, families, groups and communities. The wholeness of the individual is greater than the sum of these dimensions. Across the life span, each person develops through a process of change and differentiation that results in maturation of the whole. Heredity, society, and life experiences influence this process of development. Each person is free to make choices and to change within the context of that person's total life circumstances. With this freedom to choose, the individual is ultimately accountable for personal actions, can achieve personal life goals and can assume responsibilities as a member of society. The person is an open system that has the potential for harmonious interaction with the environment. Statement on Environment The environment embodies external and internal components. Environmental stressors impact the health of the client system both externally and internally. The client system reacts to stressors in the environment and that response determines the state of health. The quality of the environment is critical to the health of the individual and society. Society and individuals share responsibility for a healthy environment. Statement on Health Health encompasses well-being in physiological, psychological, developmental, and spiritual dimensions. As a state of being, health is both subjectively and socioculturally defined. Wellness is the realization of one's full human potential. Illness is a state in which human functioning is compromised in one or more of the five dimensions. Health care and promotion of wellness are shared among individuals, health care providers, and society. Through the use of the nursing process, nurses assist client systems in responding to stressors and meeting health needs with the goal of achieving optimal wellness.