The Associate of Applied Science Nursing Program is an integral part of East Arkansas Community College and derives its philosophy from the mission and goals of the college. The philosophy guides the nursing faculty in providing quality educational opportunities.

Each individual is unique, innately worthy of respect and dignity, and has the ability to contribute creatively to the environment. The individual is viewed as multifaceted with physiological, psychological, sociocultural, and spiritual components. The individual’s behavior is motivated by a set of basic human needs and has the ability to adapt to environmental changes as they progress through the life span.

The environment is an aggregate of all internal and external dimensions affecting the health and self care abilities of all individuals.

Health is a dynamic state of harmony and balance between individuals and their environments. Health is defined by the individual and reflects the individual’s physical, psychosocial, and spiritual well-being along the health-illness continuum.

Nursing is a profession incorporating knowledge and principles of the humanities and sciences. Nursing functions independently, dependently, an interdependently with other health care providers to assist individuals and their families in meeting health care needs and achieving an optimal level of functioning in a racially, culturally, and ethnically diverse community. Nursing practice is based on standards and ethics formulated by the profession and implemented through the nursing process. Nursing encourages a holistic, interactive approach requiring a commitment to the value of caring, communication, collaboration, theoretical knowledge, critical thinking and clinical competence for implementation of the nursing process.

Teaching/learning is an active reciprocal process, which involves the teacher and learner. This process is directed toward achievement of desired competencies. Teaching/learning facilitates the application of knowledge and provides an environment that enhances mutual trust, motivation, creativity, critical thinking and clinical decision making. Learning is a continuous life-long process. The student’s personal and professional growth is enhanced by assuming responsibility and accountability for the acquisition of knowledge and skills. The assessment of outcomes is used to determine student progress and to assist in program improvement.

As a provider of care, the graduate is able to make appropriate decisions based on data from a variety of perspectives, the needs of the individual, and the constraints of professional and institutional practice. The graduate is able to determine appropriate therapeutic nursing interventions through the application of nursing knowledge and implementation of the nursing process.

As a manager of care, the graduate is able to understand and effectively use written, oral, and non-verbal communication in interactions with individual, families, and other health care team members, and the public. By incorporating knowledge of economic, legal and ethical considerations, the graduate addresses the needs of a diverse community of health care consumers.

As a member within the discipline of nursing, the graduate acquires knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to make reasoned judgments through the development of critical thinking skills. These skills are necessary in an environment of rapidly expanding knowledge, reduced resources, and increased professional accountability. The graduate is prepared to pursue higher educational opportunities within the discipline of nursing.

Upon completion of the program of study, the graduate is prepared to:

1. Incorporate knowledge and principles from the sciences and humanities into nursing practice.
2. Function as part of the interdisciplinary health care team in selected health care settings with culturally diverse clients, families and communities across the life span.
3. Communicate therapeutically and effectively with clients, families, significant others, and other health care providers.
4. Provide evidenced based, clinically competent nursing care utilizing critical thinking and clinical decision making within the framework of the nursing process.
5. Function as a beginning practitioner, client educator, leader and manager of nursing care to clients along the health-illness continuum in a variety of health care settings.
6. Practice within the legal and ethical framework of the standards of professional nursing.
7. Assume responsibility and accountability for seeking life-long learning opportunities for professional growth.