Our Mission
The Missouri Western State University Nursing Department is committed to the development of students as individuals and leaders striving for excellence in inter-professional practice and the promotion of healthy communities.
Our Philosophy
As an integral part of Missouri Western State University, the Nursing Department supports the mission, goals, and policies of the University and the College of Science and Health. To master the discipline of nursing and the increasingly complex knowledge, skills and attitudes required to deliver safe, quality care, a broad-based baccalaureate education including theoretical and applied learning are essential for generalist nursing education. Graduate education develops nurses for advanced nursing practice roles. Recognizing the complexity of organizations, financing and delivery of health care, the faculty are committed to supporting ongoing program/curricular evaluation and adaptation to meet the demands of the evolving health care system.
The faculty believe that professional nursing practice is based upon the integration of the concepts related to person, health, environment, and nursing. Systems thinking guides the integration of these concepts with the clinical judgment model to promote holistic nursing care.
“Nursing integrates the art and science of caring and focuses on the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and human functioning; prevention of illness and injury; facilitation of healing; and alleviation of suffering through compassionate presence. Nursing is the diagnosis and treatment of human responses and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations in recognition of the connection of all humanity” (American Nurses Association, 2021, p. 1).
Standards-based practice underpins the implementation of the nursing process and is focused on maintaining, restoring or promoting optimal health. Application of the nursing process requires critical thinking, nursing judgments, and competent nursing actions. The nursing process is implemented through a collaborative relationship that involves interpersonal communication, mutually defined goals, and desired outcomes. Professional nursing integrates multiple role expectations including leader, provider, designer, manager, and coordinator of care. The professional nurse promotes, participates in, and uses research as a part of a commitment to high quality care and evidence-based practice.
Nursing is an integral part of the inter-professional health care system which has the responsibility to provide accessible, cost-effective, safe, quality care. As such, professional nurses must possess effective organizational and teamwork skills; strong communication skills; a service orientation; an ethic of professional and social responsibility; cost awareness and accountability for clinical outcomes; commitment to continuous improvement of health care; and competency in population-based care.
In addition, the faculty holds the following beliefs related to baccalaureate education of student nurses:
The faculty are committed to creating and sustaining reciprocal partnerships with a variety of clinical practice settings wherein mutually beneficial relationships support both student clinical learning experiences and benefit the delivery setting.
Learning is a life-long process of developing individual potential through a spirit of inquiry and self-motivation. Learning involves cognitive, affective, and psychomotor components and development of critical and creative thinking. The learner is accountable for their learning and is expected to demonstrate responsibility for independence and self-direction, building upon prior learning.
Faculty have accountability for facilitating student learning by developing, implementing, and evaluating quality learning experiences based on current research and practice. Faculty hold students accountable for prior learning.