Philosophy of the Department

• The Department's mission, philosophy, and goals reflect the mission and five goals of the College of the Ozarks: Academic, Vocational, Christian, Patriotic and Cultural.
   
• The mission of the Department of Nursing is to present a Christ-centered, Biblically-based, character-driven nursing education program while preparing qualified individuals for a spiritual role as a professional nurse providing service to Christ and humankind.
   
• The philosophy of the Department of Nursing is based on a sound foundation of Christian principles, liberal arts, and understanding of civic and patriotic responsibilities, promoting a strong work ethic.
   
• Nursing is a spiritual calling and requires a character of integrity and effective critical thinking and communication skills.
   
• The BSN Program's organizing framework is grounded in the concepts of Truth (Biblical worldview), character, critical thinking, and reflects the tenets of Florence Nightingale, the visionary founder of professional nursing. Thus, there is an emphasis on holistic patient-centered care through creating a nourishing environment to foster the patient's healing journey.

Purposes (Goals)

The purposes of the Department of Nursing are to:

1. Prepare graduates for beginning professional practice as nurse generalists, adept at creating a healing environment;
2. Contribute to quality health care in the region;
3. Contribute to the academic integrity of the College of the Ozarks;
4. Prepare graduates for further study and professional growth;
5. Lead an innovative technological revolution in patient care simulation; and
6. Implement a Christ-centered, Biblically-based, character-driven, Nightingale curriculum through innovative learning experiences and student/faculty dialogue and self-reflection.

Graduate Competencies

Upon graduation, the BSN graduate will be prepared to do the following:

1. Demonstrate communication and critical thinking skills within the framework of the nursing process to provide safe, holistic, and therapeutic patient-centered care.
2. Practice caring in the context of culturally sensitive, Biblically-based service to patients across the lifespan within the legal, ethical, and moral framework of nursing.
3. Integrate knowledge from the arts and sciences to design evidence-based nursing care for individuals, families, groups, and communities in diverse settings.
4. Utilize nursing roles for interdisciplinary collaboration in health promotion and disease management, promoting a nourishing environment for healing based on the tenets of Nightingale.
5. Integrate intelligent leadership and technological strategies into professional nursing practice to improve the quality of health care delivery.
6. Demonstrate character traits necessary for sustained professional growth.

Program Outcomes

1. Practice a Biblical worldview of nursing.
2. Demonstrate development of character and professional nursing integrity.
3. Exercise sound critical thinking within the nursing process to meet changing health care needs.
4. Display effective communication skills in the administration of safe, therapeutic nursing interventions.
5. Shape the environment to promote the healing journey.
6. Integrate research and evidence-based practice to design nursing care for individuals, families, groups and communities.
7. Integrate intelligent leadership and technological strategies into professional nursing practice.
8. Practice caring in the context of Biblically-based service to individuals, families, and communities across the lifespan in many different settings, respecting cultural dimension.
9. Impact health care systems and policies to foster nursing roles and interdisciplinary collaboration in health promotion and disease management.