Philosophy

The philosophy of the College of Nursing is consistent with the mission, goals, and objectives of East Carolina University. Nursing faculty value exemplary teaching, and human and intellectual diversity. The purpose of the nursing program is to educate individuals for professional nursing roles in a variety of health care settings, fostering within each graduate a commitment to lifelong learning and professional development. The faculty believe that nursing is a dynamic profession which is scientifically based and directed toward assisting persons wherever they are along the health care continuum. The practice of nursing is based on the concept of holism and includes beliefs about the client/person, health, environment, nursing, teaching and learning, and nursing education.

Client/Person

A client/person is a holistic entity, a dynamic interacting whole within society. Clients are individuals, families, communities or populations that possess unique strengths. Each client represents diversity in relation to variables such as age, gender, sexual orientation, culture, ethnicity, race, religion, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, values, and functional ability level. Clients are active partners in their health care.

Health

Health refers to the level of biological, physical, psychological, social, and spiritual functioning on a wellness-illness continuum, not merely the absence of disease. Health is influenced by developmental stages, social, economic, and cultural factors, personal choices about lifestyle and values, genetic and environmental factors, and generational patterns. The health of individuals is interdependent, interactive and constantly changing in relation to the health of the community.

Environment

The environment encompasses internal and external conditions, circumstances and influences that interact with and affect the client. Environment influences beliefs and health and consists of physical, psychological, biological, social, spiritual, and cultural components. We believe access to health care is a human right. Ever-changing health care delivery systems must adapt to meet the needs of clients. A reciprocal relationship exists between the environment and health care delivery systems.

Nursing

Nursing is an art, science, discipline and profession with practice and service components. Nursing interacts with and responds to the environment. Professional nursing is based on caring therapeutic relationships, and includes evidence-based interventions for effective outcomes. Nursing uses theory and research based knowledge in the direct and indirect delivery of care through partnerships with clients and as members of interdisciplinary teams. Nursing promotes health, maximizes the quality of life and maintains optimal functioning throughout the lifespan including the end of life. Roles of the professional nurse include but are not limited to: care provider, communicator, advocate, collaborator, manager, educator, information manager, researcher (consumer, user and producer) and change agent.

Teaching and Learning Environment

Learning is a lifelong process. The faculty is committed to the education of nurses whose practice demonstrates caring, collaboration, and the pursuit and application of knowledge. The faculty serve as role models to influence student development in moral, ethical, cultural, economic and political dimensions of the profession. Faculty facilitate the development of critical thinking and scientific reasoning, diversity of perspectives and making informed moral and ethical decisions. Nursing faculty use various learning principles, human and material resources, technological and informational systems to enhance learning. Students are responsible and accountable for their own learning.

Nursing Education

The faculty believe that baccalaureate education in nursing is the basis for professional practice as a nurse generalist and fosters the ability to coordinate care for clients. Baccalaureate nursing education focuses on the synthesis and the application of knowledge and research from nursing, social and natural sciences and the humanities. This education prepares a nurse generalist with the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary for professional practice as a provider, manager, and/or coordinator of care in a variety of environments. Baccalaureate nursing education fosters a professional identity and serves as a foundation for graduate study in nursing.

Master's education in nursing prepares the graduate for advanced roles in nursing. It fosters the ability to direct care to culturally relevant diverse populations within an interdisciplinary framework. Graduates are clinical scholars who can integrate the science and art of nursing, articulate the unique contributions of nursing and apply knowledge in dynamic environments.

Doctoral education in nursing focuses on research and theory development related to nursing phenomena in order to prepare nurse researchers and scholars who advance nursing science and nurse leaders who contribute to the continual development of the discipline and profession of nursing. Graduates collaborate with other disciplines in health-related research, practice and leadership responsive to the needs and concerns of society.

This site is maintained by Yolanda Pritchard
Last updated: 10/12/2008
(Individual pages updated on as needed basis)
Copyright 2000 - 2004 School of Nursing, East Carolina Univeristy