The faculty believe that the practice of nursing includes knowledge in the sciences, humanities, and arts, as well as in the theory and practice of nursing. The faculty is committed to an educational philosophy that emphasizes demonstrated competency, both theoretically and clinically. The program is designed to meet the educational needs of a culturally diverse population of learners by promoting flexibility in learning that is documented through structured, objective assessment methods. The faculty believes in a simple to complex approach to learning and utilizes this approach, as well as adult learning theory, as a basis for structuring the courses within the program. Orem's Self-Care Theory and the nursing process are used to develop curriculum content.

The practice of nursing and nursing education are continually being redefined and changed as society changes. The knowledge and skills used by nurses to fulfill their roles are both increasing and changing with the modifications occurring in health care, the health-care system, and the complexity of society. Therefore, periodic evaluation of the associate degree nursing program is required to determine the need for teaching and implementing new knowledge, skills, and responsibilities. It is also important that the nurse has the ability to evaluate his/her own need for new knowledge, skills, and responsibilities. To meet these challenges, it is vital that a nursing program provide a sound knowledge base that will assist future nurses in data gathering, critical thinking, and decision making. Therefore, the faculty believes lifelong learning is an individual, as well as a professional, responsibility.

Nursing and Society

The faculty believe that nursing is an essential service to society and, as such, influences and is influenced by factors that affect society. Nursing is holistic in its endeavor to help patients achieve a state of well-being and is practiced with respect for human dignity and individual differences. We as nurses are concerned with assisting the patient (individuals, families, and groups of people) in promoting, maintaining, and restoring health to the optimal level attainable depending on the patient's stage of life, functional abilities, and environmental resources. This might also include allowing the patient to die with peace and dignity.

The faculty believes that individuals are human beings who continuously contribute to their own continued existence, health, and well-being. All humans practice self-care activities that are initiated and performed on their own behalf in maintaining life, health and well-being. Patients use nursing and other health services when they are incapable of continuous self-care or dependent care or actions that result in ineffective or incomplete care. The faculty believe that the "art of nursing is practiced by 'doing for' the person with the disability, by 'helping him to do for himself' and/or by 'helping him to learn to do for himself.'" (Orem, 1956). Nursing systems are formed when nurses use their abilities to prescribe, design, and provide nursing for patients by performing discrete actions. These actions regulate the value of, or the exercise of, patients' capabilities to engage in self-care and meet the self-care requisites of the individual therapeutically (Orem, 1985)

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