University of New England

Nursing

Philosophy

The philosophy of the Department of Nursing is consistent with the mission and goals of the University of New England and based on faculty-maintained values and beliefs.

Nursing - a caring art and science - encompasses the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to health and illness. The faculty believes that nurses use the nursing process to guide people of many cultures toward identifying their own health care needs. Nurses also support people in the decisions they make about their health.

Multiple Roles
Nurses assume many roles as they work collaboratively with clients, families, and other interdisciplinary health care professionals in providing care. These multiple roles include being an advocate, a teacher, a caregiver, a counselor, a case manager, a leader, a change agent, and a researcher.

As health care resources, nurses are available to people assisting them to attain and maintain health in whatever setting they may be found. The society in which nurses function is rapidly changing and is technologically-oriented. Nurses therefore use knowledge gained from theory, research, evidence and clinical experience to guide their practice.

The faculty believes the practice of nursing must be in accordance with established standards of clinical practice and the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics.

Outcomes
The outcomes of nursing practice include: the prevention of illness, the promotion, support, and restoration of health, the provision of quality safe care and the preparation for a dignified death.

We believe that clients, as partners in their care, may be individuals, families, groups, or communities. As such, we value the uniqueness, worth and integrity of all people and believe that each human being is a dynamic holistic system.

Holism
Holism is viewed as the integration of spiritual, physical, emotional, social, cultural, and cognitive dimensions. As people grow and develop they strive to meet the needs of these interconnected dimensions to achieve a sense of harmony and balance between self and environment. The environment is a dynamic set of interacting internal and external systems.

Faculty view health as a personally perceived state of wellbeing. Health is an ever-changing interplay among the spiritual, physical, social, cultural, and emotional dimensions of people. As a concept, health applies to individuals, families, groups, communities, and all of society.

Intellectual Inquiry
The essence of professional nursing education lies in the academic experience, which provides the foundation for intellectual inquiry. The process of learning is a continuous one wherein the student develops a unique understanding of theories and concepts from the natural and behavioral sciences as well as the liberal arts. The acquisition of this knowledge moves from novice to expert and is evidenced by the student's integration of theory into practice at all levels, including but not limited to, leadership and management.

The faculty, committed to liberal education as fundamental for the development of critical thinking, decision making, and communication skills, strives for a balance between arts, sciences, humanities, and professional studies.

A Partnership between Student and Teacher
Optimal learning occurs in a supportive, caring and interactive environment that takes into account the diversity of culture and experience that students bring to the learning situation. We believe that education is a partnership between student and teacher, where the teacher serves as a facilitator and guide. Teaching learning is a collaborative process whereby students and faculty learn from each other, clients, peers, mentors, preceptors, as well as other health care disciplines.

Faculty is receptive to individual student needs, flexible to individual learning styles and committed to a continuum of nursing education, which begins with the associate degree and culminates with the doctoral degree. Faculty believes that the availability of multiple entry and exit points in professional education is critical for students to meet varied career aspirations.

The nursing program options of the University of New England provide the foundation for students to move from novice toward expert practice within the profession and allow students to explore expanded professional role opportunities.

Two Campuses: Biddeford and Portland, Maine · 207.283.0171