Philosophy

The mission of the Division of Nursing is to provide quality baccalaureate and graduate nursing education in a Jesuit liberal arts environment. Through its professional nursing courses the division prepares its students to become critical thinkers, conscientious, caring health care professionals who are committed to excellence and responsibility in service to others.

Philosophy

The Division of Nursing supports the mission and values of Spring Hill College, while educating baccalaureate and graduate students to become caring nurses who serve others. The tradition and identity of Spring Hill College have been formed from the strength of its Catholic heritage and its Jesuit spirituality and education philosophy. The Division nurtures both the personal and social dimensions of faith, seeking to draw our students into a deeper and more vital relationship with God.

The person resides in an ever-changing, culturally diverse society and assumes responsibility for decisions regarding personal health and illness. Each individual is a holistic being with intrinsic worth, who has bio-psycho-social, spiritual and cultural dimensions in interactions with their environment. Respect for individual human dignity, equality, freedom, and justice are basic rights in our society.

Health is a dynamic multidimensional state represented by a health continuum and is affected by personal choices, values, and interactions with the environment. Nursing promotes the awareness of healthy lifestyles and, compassionately assists individuals to reestablish health, cope with illness or impending death.

The environment includes the interaction of physical, ecological, political, cultural, and religious factors. Although the environment is constantly changing, a healthy environment is conducive to the quality of life for individuals, families, the community, and society.

Nursing practice is committed to promoting health and preventing disease. It involves knowledge, critical thinking skills and collaboration with other colleagues and disciplines to provide high quality patient-centered and holistic care. Nurses as caregivers, teachers, and advocates must base their practice on ethical, moral, and legal standards. Nursing education at Spring Hill College strives to awaken mind and spirit to the pursuit of truth and to an ever-deepening appreciation of the beauty of creation, the dignity of life, the demands of justice, and the mystery of God’s love. The graduate will be educated in the Jesuit liberal arts tradition to become a competent, intelligent nurse who exercises compassion and caring to a culturally diverse society. Through its professional nursing courses, the faculty prepare their students to become critical, conscientious, health care professionals, who are committed to excellence in the service to others.

Learning occurs through interactions in the classroom, online, and in a variety of clinical settings. The role of the nurse educator is to facilitate the students learning and provide opportunities to meet individual learning needs based on diverse learning styles into the teaching process. This takes place through cognitive, psychomotor and affective learning incorporating the students’ life experiences, motivation, and scholastic aptitude to reach their maximum potential.

The Division’s Program Objectives are to:

• Support the mission of Spring Hill College and encourage growth of body, mind, and spirit throughout the nursing curriculum.
• Collaborate with other departments and divisions within the college to enhance the educational experience of each individual nursing student.
• Educate professional baccalaureate nursing students to function as beginning nurses.
• Meet AACN/CCNE Standards and Board of Nursing regulations.
• Maintain and update facilities, equipment and other resources.
• Recruit and retain qualified nursing faculty who will adhere to the philosophy of Jesuit and liberal arts education.
• Foster an environment within the division that enhances open communication and collaboration.
• Assess, plan and change curriculum and program policies based on informal and formal evaluation.

Students will:

• Practice professional nursing incorporating the concept of caring and applying ethical and moral values when interacting with individuals, families, and the community.
• Analyze societal and professional problems through the application of knowledge regarding social, political, economic and historical issues.
• Practice from a holistic base and incorporate bio-psycho-social and spiritual aspects of care.
• Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for practice.
• Demonstrate management and leadership roles in the health care system.
• Collaborate in the research process for the improvement of nursing care.
• Incorporate the skills of critical thinking, communication, collaboration, negotiation, teaching and advocacy when providing care to individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations in a global society.
• Master increasingly complex skills and knowledge throughout the nursing curriculum.

Faculty will:

• Demonstrate excellence in teaching, which is the primary goal of the division and college.
• Mentor students in the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and values.
• Collaborate with other health care professionals and resource individuals in the community.
• Participate in service to the students, division, college, and community.
• Maintain expertise by remaining up to date through practice, seminars, research, and journals.
• Maintain scholarship and professional development through research, presentations, publications, and participation in nursing organizations.