Our Mission and Vision
Mission
The Whitson-Hester School of Nursing is a passionately engaged community of highly qualified educators, scholars, and graduates serving the health care needs of a diverse society while providing leadership in the advancement of the profession.
Vision
The WHSON will create an environment that builds on our tradition of commitment to the highest standards of excellence in teaching, research, service and nursing practice.
Philosophy
The faculty of the School of Nursing subscribes to the following beliefs:
NURSING
Nursing is an art, service and an applied science, evolving from a theoretical foundation
in the natural and social sciences. Nursing directs its therapeutic nursing interventions
by enhancing the well-being of others through the integration of nursing theories
and models. Professional nursing practice encompasses the nursing process, research,
and leadership skills. These nursing dimensions enhance accountability, critical thinking,
communication, assessment and therapeutic nursing interventions in a dynamic and ever
changing health care system.
INDIVIDUAL
Individuals are born with certain genetic attributes which are influenced by their
familial, societal, psychological and cultural environments. Individuals are dynamic
and have the potential for change. Persons have the ability to affect their own health,
and are responsible for their choices. Utilizing a variety of coping mechanisms, individuals
adapt to stress based on their current stage of growth and development.
SOCIETY
Society is composed of social/cultural systems possessing structure, values, beliefs,
and morals of which family is the basic unit. Societies as well as individuals have
the ability to grow, adapt, and change.
ENVIRONMENT
The environment affects the health and well-being of its people. Families, groups,
organizations, communities, and economic, political, and ecological systems comprise
the environment. The relationship between the various systems in the environment is
dynamic and interactive. When one system changes, it affects the other systems, including
the individual.
HEALTH
Health is a state of wholeness or integrity of the individual or larger system at
any point along a continuum of health, illness, or disability. Health is influenced
by the interrelationships among systems. Individuals and other systems may be empowered
to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of health. This level of health
may occur through education, self-care or assistance with self-care, adaptation, and
interactions with health care workers to meet the needs throughout the life span.
STUDENTS
Students are involved in a life long learning process, which encompasses interdependent/independent
and self-initiated learning. Each student brings unique past experiences, life styles,
learning patterns, and life goals to the learning environment. Faculty assist the
students in their learning by acting as facilitator, resource person, and role model
in the classroom and practice settings by stimulating intellectual curiosity, creativity,
critical thinking and professional growth. Students can grow in self-confidence and
assertiveness in an environment that supports their personal and professional growth.
Students and faculty collaborate to meet the goals and objectives of the School of
Nursing by assisting in curriculum planning, policy making, the development and evaluation
of learning experiences and instructional methods, community involvement, and participation
in professional organizations.
BACCALAUREATE EDUCATION
The baccalaureate nursing degree is the minimal educational preparation for entry
into professional nursing practice. Baccalaureate nursing education lays the foundation
for graduate study. Graduates are prepared as generalists, responsible for counseling,
health promotion, prevention of disease, and the care of the sick in the community,
hospitals, other agencies, and the home. The graduate is prepared for independent,
collaborative, managerial and leadership roles with individuals of all ages in a variety
of settings.
In classroom, laboratory, and clinical assignments, students will be expected to utilize the following:
CRITICAL THINKING is defined as interpretive, strategic, and adaptive reasoning. Critical thinking also includes critiquing one’s own reasoning skills in nursing practice through self-evaluation.
THERAPEUTIC NURSING INTERVENTION is safe, effective care to meet the physical and psychosocial needs of the client.
COMMUNICATION is the expression and transmission of information in a written and oral form.
