Philosophies - College Education and Nursing
Philosophy of Donnelly College
Donnelly College is committed to offering a liberal arts education to all of its students. The general education requirements are designed to ensure that liberal arts and sciences graduates develop a breadth of knowledge and skills that will enable them to become educated participants in a diverse global community. The program strives to develop in every student qualities that mark a well-educated person. Upon completion of the program, students will have acquired skills and proficiencies in analytical thinking, academic inquiry, effective communication, and symbolic problem solving. The goals of our general education program reflect the mission of this institution and are common to all student programs, regardless of majors or career goals. Every member of the Donnelly College faculty has a responsibility to help maintain the general education program's commitment to excellence and to participate in the achievement of the program s goals.
Philosophy of General Education
Donnelly College is committed to offering a liberal arts education to all degree seeking students. Upon completion of a degree program, students will have acquired specific skills and proficiencies to include the following General Education goals:
Communication Skills: Students will demonstrate effective communication by employing clear organization, analysis, and the thoughtful and ethical evaluation and integration of outside source material. Technology and Information Literacy Skills: Students will demonstrate proficiency and adaptability in technologies and information literacy skills that support academic work.
Symbolic Problem Solving: Students will demonstrate competency in qualitative and quantitative problem solving and the ability to understand and use scientific methods.
Analytical Thinking: Students will employ reflective thinking to evaluate diverse ideas from the Liberal Arts and Sciences so as to integrate knowledge in the search for truth.
Personal and Interpersonal Skills: Students will recognize their own self-worth and champion the dignity of the other in light of the transcendent destiny of every human person
Academic Inquiry: Students will demonstrate openness to exploration in the search for truth as accessed by faith and/or reason.
Values: In keeping with our Catholic identity, students will value excellence in the pursuit of truth, ethical behavior and the appreciation of the diversity of thought
Note: The Philosophy of General Education can also be viewed in its entirety on the college s website.
Mission and Vision of Donnelly Nursing Program
The mission of the nursing program is consistent with the vision, mission, values and beliefs of the college. The CAN, PIN, and ADN programs seek to accomplish the mission of Donnelly College by educating the students for health care employment, to meet the health care employment needs of the community, and to educate the students to care for patients with caring, compassion, concern, and dignity.
Philosophy of the Donnelly Nursing Program
The faculty believes at the completion of the program the graduates will have the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and abilities needed to practice safely and effectively. As an entry level practical nurse, the graduate will be able to meet the client's basic needs throughout the lifespan requiring promotion, maintenance, and/or restoration of health.
- Clients
o The faculty believe clients (individuals, families, and significant others), are finite beings with varying capacities to function in society. They are unique individuals who have defined systems of daily living that reflect their values, cultures, motives, and lifestyles. Additionally, clients have the right to make decisions regarding their health care needs.
- Health
o The faculty believes health is defined within three areas: promotion, maintenance, and restoration. Health promotion and maintenance are defined as client care that incorporates knowledge of expected stages of growth and development, and prevention and/or early detection of health problems. Restoration is defined as assisting the client to achieve an optimal level of health.
- Nursing
o The faculty believe nursing is both an art and a science. We believe nurses provide care for clients' basic biological, cultural, spiritual, and psychosocial needs throughout the lifespan. Nurses provide comfort in a caring environment. Critical thinking and the nursing process are the primary clinical problems solving tools of the nurse. The nurse is part of the interdisciplinary health care team who collaborates within the healthcare system and the community. Nurses are accountable for providing care within the scope of ethical and legal responsibilities.
- Education and learning
o The faculty and students believe they are partners in the acquisition of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and abilities in a supportive adult learning environment. Promoting student success and instilling a value of life-long learning is integral to success of the nursing discipline.
- Environment
o The faculty believes the environment is both external and internal. External environment is the set of circumstances, objects or external conditions that positively or negatively affect the well-being of the client. Internal environment includes biological, cultural, spiritual, and psychosocial aspects.