Undergraduate Program

Mission

The mission of the Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing is to educate baccalaureate and advanced practice nurses for lives of Christian service and leadership to meet the ever changing health care needs of a global society.

Undergraduate Program Purpose

Baccalaureate nursing education prepares the graduate for the practice of professional nursing. It prepares a nurse who can effectively participate as a change agent in the delivery of a broad spectrum of health services required by society today and in the future. The Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing exists for the purpose of preparing entry-level professional nurses whose personal, social and professional potentials have been developed to provide a foundation for continued growth and learning. The courses and clinical experiences are designed to help students understand and integrate the role of the professional nurse in today's complex world of health care.

Through the educational process, the faculty seeks to promote awareness of social, cultural and ethnic diversity as well as legal/ethical issues in nursing and to provide opportunities for students to experience success and satisfaction in their professional pursuits. The faculty of PHSSN exists for the purpose of contributing to excellence in nursing, the body of knowledge of nursing, teaching, research, and public service. Further, the nursing faculty provides the professional nursing student an environment in which classroom theory may be applied and evaluated under close supervision in a clinical setting. The undergraduate program provides a foundation for graduate education.

Philosophy

The Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing functions within the structure of an educational consortium consisting of Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene Christian University, and McMurry University. Thus, we accept the underlying philosophies and objectives of the consortium universities: individuals will be educationally prepared in a manner that promotes the development of intellectual, cultural, moral and religious values.

Nursing is a profession that is responsive to the changing health care needs of individuals and is supported by an ever-changing foundation of knowledge from the arts, sciences, and technology. This knowledge establishes a foundation for development of a core competency in professional nursing. Nurses, through study and interdisciplinary collaborations, expand their understanding of health, environment and person. This expansion of knowledge provides a holistic foundation for nursing care.

Critical thinking, communication, clinical skills, creativity and self-direction are essential elements in nursing education. Through the educational process, the faculty seeks to promote awareness of social, cultural, racial and ethnic diversity, and provide opportunities for students to experience success in their professional pursuits. We value diversity in both students and faculty, believing it enriches professional growth and development. The educational process is a shared responsibility between faculty and students that promotes progressive mastery and increased learner maturity.

A baccalaureate education in nursing prepares a generalist capable of providing and coordinating care to clients. Graduates of baccalaureate nursing programs should be able to synthesize information from various disciplines, reason logically, analyze critically, apply principles of teaching and learning and communicate effectively with clients and other health care professionals. Graduates should be able to apply knowledge exemplifying legal, ethical and professional standards in formulation of judgment and performance of skills in a broad range of clinical situations and settings. Graduates of PHSSN are able to demonstrate entry level competencies and function in the role of Provider of Care, Coordinator of Care and as a Member of a Profession.

Implicit in the practice of professional nursing is the acceptance of accountability for lifelong learning as foundation for professional growth, competent practice and effective leadership. Lifelong commitment to intellectual inquiries supports optimal development of both the individual and the profession. 

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program of nursing the graduate will be prepared to:

• Use the nursing process as a guide to deliver ethical and competent comprehensive nursing care to clients in a variety of settings.
• Demonstrate responsibility and accountability to clients, other health care workers and the profession of nursing.
• Communicate efficiently with clients and other members of the health care team.
• Demonstrate leadership and management skills in the delivery of health care services and the practice of professional nursing.
• Use research findings and community resources in interacting with clients to promote wellness and facilitate restoration of health or a dignified death.
• Accept accountability for practice behaviors, action and responsibility for life-long personal and professional development.
• Be prepared to use technology to expand learning resources and enhance collaboration and communication.