The School of Nursing (SON) Program Values are linked directly to the University Mission and Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILO). Furthermore, the University’s Strategic Priorities and Core Values are imbedded into SON curricular and co-curricular activities. The faculty and staff in the SON were intentional about identifying those professional nursing values that reflect how and why graduates of PLNU are distinct from other nursing program graduates. The terminology selected to fulfill this purpose was “Program Values.” Graduates of the nursing programs at PLNU must be able to fully embrace the significance of these key values of the professional Christian nurse.
- Inquiring Faithfully: The student will demonstrate knowledge, skill and behavior of the evidence-based practice of nursing which integrates growth in reasoning, analysis, decision-making and the application of theory with the goal of advocating for others and/or self. This includes holistic nursing skills and the nursing process. (ILO 1)
- Caring Faithfully: The student will embrace a calling to the ministry of compassionate care for all people in response to God’s grace, which aims to foster optimal health and bring comfort in suffering and death. (ILO 3)
- Communicating Faithfully: The student will actively engage in the dynamic interactive process that is intrapersonal and interpersonal with the goal of advocating for others and/or self. This includes effective, culturally appropriate communication that conveys information, thoughts, actions and feelings through the use of verbal and nonverbal skills. (ILO 1, 2)
- Following Faithfully: Defined as claiming the challenge from Florence Nightingale that nursing is a “divine imposed duty of ordinary work.” The nursing student will integrate the ordinary work by complying with and adhering to regulatory and professional standards (e.g. American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), Scope of Nursing Practice, SON Handbook). This includes taking responsibility, being accountable for all actions and treating others with respect and dignity. (ILO 2, 3)
- Leading Faithfully: The student will incorporate a foundational relationship with Christ and others and embrace a willingness to serve others in the midst of life circumstances (e.g. illness, injustice, poverty). The student will role-model the need for “Sabbath Rest” as a means of personal renewal, and true care of the self, so that service to others is optimally achieved. The student will incorporate the characteristics of a servant leader including humility, courage, forgiveness, and discernment. (ILO 2)