As an integral part of Weber State University, nursing faculty assumes responsibility for maintaining broad University and College missions and objectives which are teaching, community service, and research. Changing needs of society require varying patterns of practice and delivery of health services which occur in a variety of health care environments. Nurses must be sensitive to these changing social needs; therefore, faculty believes in the value of integrating general education basic to citizenship and personal growth in a program which promotes educational mobility through three separate but coordinated units of study (Practical Nursing, Associate Degree Nursing and Baccalaureate Nursing). Education affords opportunity for individuals to develop in social, cultural, professional and personal roles.

Faculty have defined the following terms as part of their beliefs regarding nursing and nursing education:

INDIVIDUALS are unique biological, thinking, and feeling beings. An individual cannot be fragmented into separate parts. An individual interacts holistically with the environment, and strives for balance and a sense of well being within personal and societal contexts. Individuals have the right and responsibility to make choices.

FAMILIES are social groups made up of individuals who are united by a common bond. Ideally, family interactions contribute to the well being of each member.

COMMUNITIES are groups of people who have a common location and/or purpose. Through communities, individuals gain access to resources which cannot be readily obtained by an individual. Communities impact an individuals quality of life in a variety of ways.

SOCIETY is composed of dynamic and interactive systems involving individuals, families, groups, and communities. These systems interact to fulfill perceived needs. These needs are influenced by variables such as learned behaviors and cultural expectations. Nurses recognize and respect the human differences and diversity of populations within society.

HEALTH is a dynamic state in which the individual, family, or community seeks equilibrium in all aspects of life. Health is a subjective perception of what makes life meaningful and manageable. Health is influenced by many factors, including: heredity, culture, lifestyle, environment, and health care.

Individuals, families, and communities retain responsibility for personal health and for development of potential for achieving health states. Health care systems are founded on respect for human dignity, recognizing individual freedom of choice, and opportunities for self direction. The primary contribution of nursing is to assist individuals, and communities to attain, maintain, and regain optimal health.

NURSING is an art and a science concerned with promoting and restoring health, rehabilitation, and support to the dying. Nurses provide care throughout the life-span. Nurses assess, diagnose, manage, and evaluate human responses to actual or potential health problems within a caring context. A holistic nursing perspective is enhanced by recognition of environmental factors and human needs. The use of skilled communication facilitates all aspects of holistic nursing care. All nurses are responsible and accountable for maintaining safe and effective nursing care within their scope of practice.

NURSING EDUCATION is a life-long process which promotes the development of knowledge, skills, and personal values. The process empowers the learner to reach their fullest potential. Nursing education is based upon knowledge derived from liberal arts; nursing science; and social, biological, and physical sciences. Nursing education is concerned with helping individuals to understand and utilize the nursing process, and to incorporate standards of professional nursing practice. Through a process of self realization, adults assimilate and synthesize knowledge, cultivate critical thinking abilities, become adept with technical skills, develop nursing care strategies based on standards of care, evolve personal potential, and establish values.

TEACHING/LEARNING Faculty are cognizant of teaching/learning theories and use this knowledge to organize and evaluate learning situations. Faculty believe learning is an inherent process which fosters the acquisition of knowledge, understanding, and skills. Higher-order learning can be facilitated when an individual gains a picture of the whole, assimilates the content, and integrates the information by comparison to past or recent experience. Faculty recognize the need for individuals to develop the skills of creative/critical thinking for higher-order learning to occur.

Teaching is the process of providing guidance for learning. Teachers are given the charge of facilitating a student's natural ability to learn. Teachers use various models, theories, and strategies for providing learning experiences. The use of a variety of teaching strategies, combined with the diversity of faculty members, enhances student understanding. Learning takes place more readily in an accepting and stimulating environment where students are free to express themselves. Sharing of ideas and experiences between faculty and students facilitates learning and encourages quality of student/faculty interaction. As facilitator and consultants for learning, faculty view each learner as unique.

Education is an integral part of life and a continuous process. Weber State University nursing faculty support educational mobility through three separate, but coordinated, units of study: Practical Nursing, Associate Degree Nursing, and Baccalaureate Nursing. The nursing faculty recognize common foundations and areas of achievement for all nurses. An orderly progression from practical to associate, to baccalaureate, and then to graduate level nursing is possible by building on nursing competencies at each preceding level. Education based on specific competencies at each level of nursing leads to measurable outcomes, and will result in graduates who have the ability to function within an appropriate scope of practice.

PRACTICAL NURSES (PN) provide direct care for patients who have common, well-defined health needs, collect basic data, utilize established nursing diagnoses, and modify nursing care based on evaluation. Practical nurses maintain professional relationships by being advocates for patients, and by collaborating and communicating with patients, families, and other health team members. Practical nurses manage and are accountable for the care of their own patients, and at times, unlicensed auxiliary nursing personnel. Practical nurses practice with supervision of registered nurses and/or other licensed health care professionals. As a member of the discipline of nursing the Practical nurse functions within the legal and ethical scope of their practice.

ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSES (ADN) practice in the roles of provider of care, manager of care, and member within the discipline of nursing. ADN’s provide direct care to patients with more complex health needs, adjusting care as patient situations change; collect and analyze data from patients, families, and other health care resources; formulate appropriate nursing diagnoses; and develop plans and revise plans based on effectiveness. Associate degree nurses maintain professional relationships by advocating and supporting patient decisions, and by collaborating and communicating with patients, families, and other health professionals. Associate degree nurses manage and are accountable for care of their own patients, patients delegated to others, and at times, other licensed and unlicensed health professionals.