School of Nursing

The School of Nursing mission, philosophy and program outcomes are congruent with those of Jacksonville University and consistent with the professional nursing standards and guidelines for the preparation of nursing professionals.

Mission of the School of Nursing

Jacksonville University School of Nursing values the diverse backgrounds and experiences of its students and emphasizes the importance of a liberal arts foundation, scholarly inquiry, engaged learning opportunities and clinical application in the professional socialization and development of nursing students.

The mission of Jacksonville University School of Nursing is the success of each student as a self-assured, competent professional nurse, who can practice in dynamic health care environments, provide leadership to promote and improve global health, is committed to the advancement of nursing knowledge and practice, and aspires to life-long learning and achievement in advanced studies.

School of Nursing Philosophy

The philosophy of the School of Nursing is derived from the faculty’s beliefs regarding person, environment, health and illness, professional nursing, baccalaureate and graduate nursing education, and teaching-learning.  The philosophy reflects the mission statements of Jacksonville University and the School of Nursing.

People are unique in their capacity for self-awareness, rational thinking, creativity, response to illness, and deliberate action to resolve problems and meet valued goals.  Each person evolves from a diverse background and has innate and acquired internal resources to meet multidimensional needs.  People interact continuously with the environment and are the essence of a dynamic global community.

Environment is any facet of the community and culture external to the person.  The interaction between the person and environment may affect the person’s health, illness and access to services.  Nursing and health care delivery will be responsive to the person and environment.  People become clients of nursing when they actively seek or participate in any sector of health care services.  Nursing forms partnerships in collaboration with community resources to shape health policy and effect change in health care.

Health is the expression of physical, psychological, spiritual, and social well being manifested and determined by the adaptive abilities of persons.  Perceptions and levels of health vary among people throughout the life span. Health is affected by personal initiative and interaction between health care providers and persons as they access complex, dynamic health care systems.  Nursing has a major role in being culturally sensitive to the needs of increasingly diverse populations and in helping people access health care services.

Professional nursing is an art and science, which facilitates health promotion, risk reduction, disease prevention, and management of disease and illness in individuals, families and communities. Critical thinking and the application of theory and research are inherent in the professional nursing role and provide the basis for judicious decision-making, problem solving and health planning.  Professional nurses embrace values, behaviors, and recognized standards that are the foundation for ethical and legal practice.  Professional nurses advocate for clients in providing compassionate, culturally sensitive care.

Nurses use critical thinking and problem solving to assess, design, manage and evaluate care in collaboration with clients and health professionals.  Professional nurses assume many roles in the provision of direct and indirect care to individuals, families, and communities in a variety of settings.  The professional nurse is accountable for the delivery of competent, cost-effective care that will result in expected outcomes.
The faculty believes that baccalaureate nursing education is the basic entry level into professional practice and that graduate education is necessary for advanced nursing practice.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program prepares professional nurses as self-assured, competent generalists who think critically, communicate effectively, and assess and manage the health care needs of clients in a variety of settings. The curricular progression fosters professional socialization for future roles and responsibilities within the global community.  As students learn and mature in nursing knowledge and ability, they practice as professional nurses, are adept in the use of information and health care technology, provide leadership to promote and improve health, and aspire to life-long learning and achievement in advanced studies.

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program prepares graduates who are able to assume leadership roles in a global society, think critically, communicate effectively and negotiate advanced practice roles.  Graduates are able to evaluate health issues of clients and institutions and develop collaborative, innovative strategies that effect change and promote researched based, positive outcomes.  Graduates of the MSN program are responsible citizens who promote health, advance nursing knowledge, impact health policy, and commit to life long learning in the communities in which they practice.

Learning is viewed as a life-long process facilitated by creative thinking and creative inquiry.  Faculty view teaching as a process that actively engages the student.  Clearly defined learning objectives are accomplished through expert blending of a variety of interactive, experiential methods and traditional classroom approaches.  Students are responsible for their own learning and achievement of outcomes.  Faculty serve as role models and mentors and are responsible for creating an environment conducive for learning.  A supportive environment is fostered through close interaction among students, faculty and staff.  Collaborative relationships with health care systems and organizations are encouraged.  Students and faculty share responsibility in contributing to the development and support of persons associated with the Jacksonville University School of Nursing community.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program, the graduate will be able to:

  1. Synthesize knowledge from the liberal arts and sciences and nursing science in understanding global perspectives, stimulating critical thinking, and using current technologies.
  2. Make sound decisions in advocating for clients and when designing, coordinating, and managing nursing care for individuals, families and communities.
  3. Provide compassionate, culturally sensitive, direct and indirect care to clients in a variety of settings.
  4. Communicate, collaborate, and negotiate in an effective manner.
  5. Exhibit professional values and behaviors as affirmed by a professional code of ethics, professional standards, and legal statutes.
  6. Employ principles of teaching and learning to promote healthy lifestyles through health promotion, risk reduction, and disease prevention education.
  7. Base practice on current knowledge and theory by participating in and using research.
  8. Provide leadership within interdisciplinary health care partners and professional,
    political, and/or regulatory organizations to effect change in health care.
  9. Use managerial skills to allocate and manage resources and evaluate nursing care outcomes.
  10. Assume responsibility for life-long learning and professional career development.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master of Science in Nursing Program, the graduate will be able to:

  1. Synthesize knowledge from a variety of disciplines to support advanced practice nursing roles as administrators, educators and practitioners.
  2. Formulate collaborative approaches in developing programs that address health promotion and disease prevention needs of populations.
  3. Utilize principles of ethics in relation to educational, administrative, or clinical problem solving and decision-making.
  4. Utilize a leadership role in influencing regulatory, legislative, and public policy in private and public arenas to promote and preserve healthy communities.
  5. Advance nursing knowledge through inquiry, research utilization, and generation of educational, administrative, or clinical strategies to facilitate changes in professional nursing practice.
  6. Appraise theories and conceptual frameworks from nursing and related disciplines as a foundation for implementing change in nursing.
  7. Evaluate the influences of cultural diversity, in relation to decision-making, in the areas of clinical practice, education and administration.
  8. Design strategies to allocate and manage resources for evaluation of nursing care outcomes.
  9. Compose a plan for professional career development and lifelong learning.

In addition to the above, the nurse practitioner graduate, upon completion of the program, will:

  • Promote health and manage direct care of individuals experiencing acute and chronic health issues across the lifespan.