Indiana University 's Philosophy for Associate Degree Nurse:
Consistent with the ideals of the School of Nursing philosophy, the faculty of the Associate of Science in Nursing Program accepts as a primary responsibility the effective teaching of the men and women who enroll as students. The faculty accepts the responsibility of contributing to the profession of nursing through teaching, research, and service. Faculty further subscribes to the democratic setting as the most favorable environment for hum endeavor, experience, and personal satisfaction.
The faculty believes that individuals are unique, holistic beings. Their expression of physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs arises from their genetic endowment and system of values. Individuals possess the ability to reason and have both a historical perspective and a sense of the future. they have the potential for goal-directed behavior. In their ongoing development, individuals continue to be in a reciprocal process of change and adaptation with the environment.
Individuals in this country live in a pluralistic society, where unique cultural differences exist as a result of multiple ethnic origins. Cultural influences affect the interactions between and among individuals, families, groups, and communities. In such a society respect for cultural differences and influences is essential to realizing the democratic ideal.
Society has the responsibility to its members individually and collectively for the provision of an environment which promotes health and well being. Limits resources must be protected and used wisely. Society must continue to develop and maintain an ethical framework which addresses the challenges posed by economic restraints and the rapid technological advances in health care.
Health is the dynamic state in which a person adapts to changes in the internal and external environments to maintain physical, psychological, social and spiritual well-being. An individual's health status reflects movement on the health-illness continuum based upon one's adaptation to environmental influences. Responsibility for the use of health-illness care is shared mutually by providers and consumers. Health care providers have the responsibility to deliver quality care regardless of the consumer's age, race, sex, creed, life style, socioeconomic status or health problems. Nurses as members of the health care team must recognize the right and responsibility of individuals to determine their won behavior in relation to their own goals for health, quality of life, and death. In addition, they need to be aware of the consumer's health beliefs and to modify practice styles in order to be sensitive to the socio-cultural needs of the consumers. Finally, they must assume the responsibility to serve as advocates for consumers who are unable to assert their own needs and desires related to health care.
The goal of nursing is to assist individuals and their families to attain mutually established health goals relative to their adaptive patterns of functioning through the use of the nursing process. The practice of nursing is based upon a strong foundation in the biological, physical, and social sciences. It reflects commitments to the professional standards expressed in the American Nurses' Association's Standard of Nursing Practice and Code of Ethics. The provision of nursing care requires a strong commitment to excellence through the use of the nursing and creative use of self. Nursing is practiced with a sound legal and ethical framework which is flexible and responsible to changing obligation to participate in decision-making processes and to contribute to policy formation decisions related to the delivery of health care and the role of the nurse in that health care.
Learning is a lifelong process that is essential for survival, maturation, self-fulfillment, and productivity in a complex society. Learning has occurred when there has been a change in behavior, values, attitudes, or thought patterns resulting from experience. learning experiences which promote active participation, creativity, and satisfaction lead to continued self-directives ness in later development. Teaching is the art and science of imparting knowledge and creating the environment and the tools which facilitate learning. Sensitivity to individual learning needs enhances learning and provide a role model for students' interactions with health care consumers.
Nursing education is based on concepts drawn from models and theories in nursing, natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. Knowledge form the models and theories is translated into the practice skills and judgments required to assist individuals in obtaining their maximum potential for health. Associate degree education prepares technical nurses for employment in beginning stall level positions and is best provided in institutions of higher learning. In Associate Degree nursing education, the need to accommodate learning needs of students who have changing career goals should be recognized. Therefore, the opportunity for students to validate previous learning for advanced placement should be facilitated.
Associate Degree nurses are prepared to provide nursing care to individuals with commonly occurring problems in a health care setting with established protocols and polices where there is availability of assistance and support from the full scope of nursing experience. they are responsible for he management of care for multiple patients and collaboration with health team members to implement the nursing care plan in an efficient and effective manner. In addition, Associate Degree nurses assume responsibility for continued personal and professional growth to maintain competence within their scope of practice in a changing health care environment.
Adopted by the Associate Degree Council on February 3, 1996
