Benedictine University Mission

Benedictine University is dedicated to the education of undergraduate and graduate students from diverse ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds. As an academic community committed to liberal arts and professional educationdistinguished and guided by our Roman Catholic tradition and Benedictine heritage, we prepare our students for a lifetime as active, informed and responsible citizens and leaders in the world community.

Department of Nursing and Health Mission

The Department of Nursing and Health of Benedictine University is committed to the education of practitioners for professional nursing practice. (Learning and Scholarship)This education occurs in an environment of intellectual inquiry, personal accountability, and cultural, racial and religious diversity. (Diversity) These practitioners are prepared to assume a pro-active role in their profession and in complex, evolving, health care systems. (Service)

RN to BSN Completion Program Goals

The goals of the nursing program are to:

1. Prepare nurses through a liberal arts education to be culturally competent, professional baccalaureate nurses (Diversity);
2. Enhance the spirit of inquiry of the nurse to develop a firm foundation for graduate study and to promote life-long learning (Learning and Scholarship);
3. Facilitate the role formation of the nurse as a professional who contributes to the profession of nursing and to evolving health care systems (Service).
   
   

   Alignment of RN to BSN Program Learning Outcomes with American Association of Colleges of Nursing(AACN) Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice (2008)

   RN to BSN Program Learning Outcomes and Corresponding Mission Themes By completion of the program, the student will be able to:	AACN 2008 Essentials
   Apply critical thinking, decision making and clinical reasoning skills in providing quality nursing care to individuals, families, groups and communities. Translate research findings to provide evidence based practice of nursing. (Learning and Scholarship)	Essential II: Basic Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Care and Patient Safety Knowledge and skills in leadership, quality improvement, and patient safety are necessary to provide high quality health care. Essential III: Scholarship for Evidence Based Practice Professional nursing practice is grounded in the translation of current evidence into one's practice.
   Communicate effectively and collaborate with other health care professionals to provide quality, patient- centered care. (Learning and Scholarship)	Essential VI: Interprofessional Communication and Collaboration for Improving Patient Health Outcomes Communication and collaboration among healthcare professionals are critical to delivering high quality and safe patient care.
   Manage information and technology to deliver quality patient care in a variety of settings. (Learning and Scholarship)	Essential IV: Information Management and Application of Patient Care Technology Knowledge and skills in information management and patient care technology are critical in the delivery of quality patient care.
   Demonstrate evolving competence inprofessional role within a dynamic, multicultural, global society (Diversity)	Essential IX. Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice The baccalaureate graduate nurse is prepared to practice with patients, including individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations across the lifespan and across the continuum of healthcare environments. The baccalaureate graduate understands and respects the variations of care, the increased complexity, and the increased use of healthcare resources inherent in caring for patients.
   Integrate professional and Benedictine values and ethical, moral and legal aspects of nursing into own professional practice. (Service)	Essential VIII: Professionalism and Professional Values Professionalism and the inherent values of altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, and social justice are fundamental to the discipline of nursing.
   Applya process of lifelong learning in the development of one's self, nursing practice, and the profession Use leadership skills and knowledge of the healthcare, financial and regulatory systems to advance high quality, safe professional practice. (Learning and Scholarship)	Essential I: Liberal Education for Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice A solid base in liberal education provides the cornerstone for the practice and education of nurses. Essential V: Health Care Policy, Finance, and Regulatory Environments Healthcare policies, including financial and regulatory, directly and indirectly influence the nature and functioning of the healthcare system and thereby are important considerations in professional nursing practice.
   Synthesize theories and concepts from the arts and humanities and the natural and social sciences in professional practice Apply principles of prevention and health promotion in providing care to individuals, families, groups and communities. (Learning and Scholarship)	Essential I: Liberal Education for Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice A solid base in liberal education provides the cornerstone for the practice and education of nurses. Essential VII: Clinical Prevention and Population Health Health promotion and disease prevention at the individual and population level are necessary to improve population health and are important components of baccalaureate generalist nursing practice.
   Integrate Benedictine and professional values and ethical, moral and legal aspects of nursing into own professional practice. (Service)	Essential VIII: Professionalism and Professional Values Professionalism and the inherent values of altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, and social justice are fundamental to the discipline of nursing.