Overview
The philosophy of the Nursing faculty is consistent with the vision, mission, core values, and institutional commitments of East Central Community College and is based on the principles of providing a vibrant and healthy learning environment for students and assisting them in developing their full potential for achieving their life goals. The program of instruction is consistent with the institutional commitment of teaching and learning which is designed to incorporate the highest instructional and nursing standards. The program of instruction is designed to incorporate knowledge, attitudes, and skills applicable to life in a complex society. The program also focuses on the education and healthcare needs of rural East Central Mississippi. In keeping with the vision, mission, core values, and institutional commitments of ECCC, the faculty offers the following statements concerning our beliefs.
Associate Degree Nursing
The associate degree nurse is prepared to provide and manage care for individuals and groups in a variety of health care settings. Clear, concise, and timely communication with internal and external constituencies is a critical success factor for an effective nursing program. We believe the nurse of the future must encompass the core concepts of patient-centered care, professionalism, leadership, systems-based practice, informatics, communication, collaboration, safety, quality improvement, and evidenced based practice in order to provide safe and effective care.
Practical Nursing
Practical nursing is an integral component of the nursing profession. The practical nurse functions under the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed health care provider in a variety of health care settings with accountability and responsibility to the individual, the supervising professional, and society for the provision of quality, safe nursing practice. Utilizing the nursing process components, the practical nurse exercises cognitive, psychomotor, and affective behaviors to observe, report, and intervene with respect to the client’s needs within the ethical/legal framework of the profession. Additionally, as a provider of nursing care, the practical nurse must demonstrate and maintain competence through utilization of evidence-based practice.
Humans
The faculty believes that humans are unique, holistic, and dynamic beings with physiological, psychological, sociocultural, developmental, and spiritual needs. We respect the value and dignity of humans and believe they are fundamentally creative, resourceful, adaptive, and caring in nature. These needs are common to all regardless of culture, race, gender, age, and environment.
Environment
The faculty define environment as the aggregate of all internal and external elements interacting and influencing the individual and the community. We believe that society, composed of many different groups and cultures, is a component of environment. We seek to engage society by forming collaborative and innovative partnerships with healthcare institutions, education, and government and community groups to enrich the learning experiences of our students and to advance their quality of life. We seek to ensure a vibrant and healthy learning environment by respecting individuality and cultural diversity.
Knowledge
Knowledge is dynamic with common underlying principles and theories that constitute past and present learning. We respect the core value of wisdom which means following good judgment and utilizing critical thinking and intellectual knowledge in order to achieve the best possible outcome in all situations. We believe in the highest professional standards of quality, integrity, and academic performance in an environment that seeks innovative solutions to challenges through exploration, analysis, experimentation, and adaptation.
Learning
Learning is student-centered and supported by providing exemplary learning opportunities for our students through effective teaching, innovative use of technology, and diverse instructional methodologies. Learning is an individual, lifelong, and progressive process which facilitates changed behavior. The use of student learning outcomes guides student experiences and knowledge attainment.
Health
We believe that health is a process of adaptive change within the life cycle. Health is an individual’s own perception of wellness.
Nursing
The discipline of nursing may be defined as the identification and treatment of human responses to health and illness and the art of caring through compassion. The science of nursing is a compilation of knowledge from biological and social sciences. Throughout the life cycle, nurses assist patients in meeting their optimal health and wellness but also in caring for the very basic to highly complex needs.
Summary
In summary, we, the faculty of East Central Community College, are committed to excellence in education and learning for both the associate degree and practical nursing programs. Experiences will prepare students to function in various roles of nursing within a dynamic healthcare environment. As scientific and technological expansion occurs with increasing health needs of the growing population, nursing roles will be ever-evolving. The faculty believes that our mission is to provide vibrant and healthy learning experiences to produce a graduate nurse who utilizes knowledge, creativity, experience, evidence-based practice, and goal-directed/purposeful reasoning.
