Philosophy
Associate of Science in Nursing Philosophy
The philosophy of the Associate of Science in Nursing program is guided by the mission and goals of Ozarks Technical Community College and the mission of the School of Nursing. The philosophy of the Associate of Science in Nursing program reflects the beliefs of the faculty regarding the person, environment, health, nursing, and nursing education.
Nursing is the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems. The body of nursing knowledge is drawn from the humanities and the natural and social sciences to assist persons with the changes, normal and stressed, experienced in the natural life span. Nursing as a profession is accountable and responsible to perform ethically within the guidelines of the profession. Caring is the essence of nursing in assisting the client in promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health through a collaborative plan of care. Nursing assists persons in a holistic approach through the decision-making framework of the nursing process. Nursing exists within in society and is responsive to assisting persons in reaching optimal health or achieving a meaningful and peaceful death.
Nursing education is the development of the knowledge base for nursing practice. Education is a continual lifelong process that aims to stimulate intellectual curiosity and to help persons realize their full potential. Optimal learning is achieved when the environment offers mutual respect, acceptance of differences, freedom of inquiry and expression, and satisfaction of learning needs. Learning results in changes in behaviors, perceptions, and insights. Students are responsible, as adults, to become actively involved in learning. The faculty functions as facilitator in the learning process. The faculty and student share in the responsibility to seek opportunities to learn.
The graduate of Ozarks Technical Community College's Associate of Science in Nursing program is prepared to function in the role of provider of care, manager of care, and member within the discipline of nursing.