Jump to a specific section:

Mission, Philosophy, and Program Outcomes

The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) Program’s mission, philosophy, and program outcomes are congruent with those of Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) and consistent with the professional nursing standards and guidelines for the preparation of nursing professionals.

Mission

The mission of the ASN Program at LSSC is to provide excellent student-centered, academic, and career-oriented education in nursing that is culturally sensitive, proactive, accessible, and responsive to our community needs. The college provides the self-motivated student with educational opportunities to become a lifelong learner.

Vision

The Lake-Sumter State College Nursing Program shall provide a positive, supportive learning environment that promotes student success through evidence-based and innovative instruction. The program will prepare a safe, competent nurse generalist with affective, cognitive, and psychomotor skills that meet the diverse health care needs of our community.

Philosophy

The ASN curriculum at LSSC draws from the Client Needs Framework which provides a universal structure for defining nursing actions and competencies to clients throughout the life span. Health is a dynamic state which man pursues throughout life in response to physiological and psychosocial/cultural needs attainment.

Man is seen as an open system, growing and developing through the life span, and is influenced by the changing state of the environment.

Nursing is an applied process, utilizing arts and sciences in a multidisciplinary approach to meet client needs and promote health. Members of the nursing profession assist clients in recognizing and meeting their needs as they strive for a healthy lifestyle.

The role of nursing encompasses specific competencies necessary for the delivery of safe and effective care. These competencies are dependent upon critical thinking and analytical decision making, supported by scientific knowledge and evidence-based practice. These competencies further include application of psychomotor skills, demonstration of psychosocial integrity, and management of client care through communication and collaboration. The nurse is accountable to clients and includes them in decision making.

The ASN Program prepares a beginning nurse-generalist to render safe and effective nursing care to individuals, families, and communities. This care is directed toward clients throughout the life span in a variety of health care settings.

Organizing Framework

The organizing framework is a conceptual set of ideas that guides the overall structure of the curriculum. The framework is based on the ASN program philosophy statement incorporating the Client Needs Framework. The four client needs categories, congruent with the NCLEX-RN Test Plan, are defined as follows:

  1. Safe and Effective Care Environment: The nurse promotes achievement of client outcomes by providing and directing nursing care that enhances the care delivery setting in order to protect clients and health care personnel.
    • Management of Care– the nurse provides and directs care that enhances the care delivery setting to protect the client and health care personnel.
    • Safety and Infection Control– the nurse protects clients and health care personnel from health and environmental hazards.
  2. Health Promotion and Maintenance: The nurse provides and directs nursing care of the client that incorporates knowledge of expected growth and development; prevention and early detection of health problems, and strategies to achieve optimal health.
  3. Psychosocial Integrity: The nurse provides and directs nursing care that promotes and supports the emotional, mental, and social well-being of the client experiencing stressful events, as well as clients with acute or chronic mental illness.
  4. Physiological Integrity: The nurse promotes physical health and wellness by providing care and comfort, reducing client risk potential, and managing health alterations.
    • Basic Care and Comfort– the nurse provides comfort and assistance in the performance of activities of daily living.
    • Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies– the nurse provides care related to the administration of medications and parenteral therapies.
    • Reduction of Risk Potential– the nurse reduces the likelihood that clients will develop complications or health problems related to existing conditions, treatments or procedures.
    • Physiological Adaptation– the nurse manages and provides care for client with acute, chronic or life-threatening physical health conditions.

In addition, the framework draws from the American Nurses Association (ANA) Scope and Standards of Practice as well as Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). LSSC nursing program incorporates the core components and competencies identified in these guidelines as essential to the practice of nursing. End of program student learning outcomes reflect these components and competencies.

Program Values

Lake-Sumter State College and the Nursing Program value academic, professional, and personal integrity, and will:

  • Strive to achieve and maintain the highest standards ensuring student achievement and success.
  • Seek to maintain integrity and honesty in all dealings with the diverse population we serve.
  • Strive to promote a respectful and trustworthy relationship between faculty, staff, students, and the community.
  • Support a learning environment built on cooperation and collaboration, working together toward a common goal of improving lives within our community.

End of Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, the graduate will be able to:

  1. Communicate professionally through verbal, nonverbal, and written communication with clients, families, and members of the health care team.
  2. Collaborate with interdisciplinary healthcare team to assess clients and provide and direct nursing care that promotes optimal wellness of clients throughout the lifespan.
  3. Demonstrate competent and safe implementation of clinical nursing skills in meeting client’s psychosocial and physiological needs.
  4. Provide compassionate and culturally inclusive care to a diverse population that personifies the core values and ethics of the nursing profession.
  5. Demonstrate effective clinical judgment and decision making utilizing critical thinking supported by scientific knowledge and evidence based practice.
  6. Implement client/family centered teaching plans that promote self-care and optimal health.