Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing and Health Professions
NURSING VISION STATEMENT
The Gwynedd Mercy University nurse will be a reflective practitioner of the
art and science of nursing. This nurse will exemplify the core ideals of the
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas prepared to influence health at the local,
national and global levels in diverse and innovative settings with culturally
diverse populations. The nurse will be committed to advancing nursing to
meet the needs of a changing society.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Mission of the Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing and Health Professions of Gwynedd Mercy University is to present educational programs that will prepare health professionals at the Associate, Baccalaureate, Master and Doctoral Degree levels. As a school founded and sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, it carries responsibility for the education of health professionals within a learning community rooted in Gospel values. This education is grounded in the liberal arts, as it seeks to prepare citizens of the world as well as health professionals. Individuals educated through the Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing and Health Professions are prepared to offer direct and/or indirect patient care to diverse groups of people in varying states of health in a variety of settings. These graduates are prepared to effect positive changes in the health status of those for whom they care with respect for the physical, emotional, socioeconomic, cultural and spiritual dimensions of each individual.
Faculty facilitates the development of competent, caring, reflective, moral and ethical providers of healthcare through the selection of curriculum content, learning experiences and individual guidance. The mission of the Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing and Health Professions affirms the mission of the University and the health care ministry of the Sisters of Mercy.
PHILOSOPHY OF THE NURSING PROGRAM
The philosophy of the Nursing Programs of the Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing and Health Professions recognizes that a strong liberal education provides students with the background needed to understand human persons, persons whose lives are invaluable, and worthy of respect as members of the human family.
The nursing faculty recognizes that human beings are created by God; and are physiological, social, cultural, psychological and spiritual beings, endowed with intellect, free will and an inherent dignity. Faculty believes that each person has the potential to direct, integrate and adapt to the environment in order to meet one’s needs. The faculty strives to help students become aware of and meet the needs of all persons regardless of age, race, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, intelligence—all people are worthy of respect and to be treated with dignity.
The faculty believes that nursing is both an art and a science, a dynamic and evolving clinical practice discipline which is administered with concern for human dignity and an appreciation for diversity, guided by professional standards, ethical considerations and legal parameters. In addition the faculty believes effective nursing practice requires professional competence, critical thinking, communication skills, and the values of caring and compassion consistent with the Mercy tradition. Nursing is concerned with improving the human condition. Nursing practice is caring for individuals, families and communities to meet health needs, to assist them to achieve their potential for wellness and to make informed choices for their own well-being. Nursing is an integral, unique and essential component of the health care system. The goals of nursing include health promotion, prevention of illness, health maintenance, health restoration and palliation.
Faculty believe that nursing is an evidence-based practice discipline and that nursing has a distinct body of knowledge that is developed, verified and revised through scholarly inquiry. This knowledge is applied to the advancement of nursing practice. The scope of nursing practice includes multiple roles, which require various levels of education. The faculty believes that the practice of nursing builds on a knowledge base in order for critical thinking and analytical skills to be developed. Baccalaureate Degree nursing preparation is the entry level into the profession and leads to providing direct and indirect nursing care to individuals, families and communities.
The Master’s Degree is the foundation for advanced nursing practice roles. The scope of practice includes expert direct and indirect care to individuals, families and communities. This degree differs from Baccalaureate Degree nursing practice in scope and depth of responsibility, degree of autonomy, independent judgment, and nature of decisions made in practice and emphasis on scholarship and leadership.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice is the terminal nursing practice degree. The DNP is designed as a professional practice doctorate integrating advanced practice nursing, scholarship and evidence-based practice, health care policy and advocacy, information systems and technology, and organizational and systems leadership.
The faculty of the School of Nursing believes that nursing occurs in diverse environments and supports the provision of nursing and health care services through innovative practice arrangements, partnerships and centers of nursing care.
The faculty believes that health is a state of dynamic functioning of the human system, related to the achievement of the person’s fullest potential. Health is multidimensional and reflects physical, psychological, developmental, economic, cultural, spiritual and social well-being. Health is uniquely defined by persons as they progress through their lifetime.
The faculty believes that nursing education, like all education, is an on-going process that leads to personal transformation. Intellectual development is achieved through an environment that fosters inquiry and the sharing of knowledge and skills in the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains. Teaching is an interactive process involving a teacher, a learner and content. The faculty believes that learning occurs best in a caring environment. The student has the responsibility to play an active role in one’s learning. We recognize that each student is unique in one’s socio-cultural background, life experiences and learning styles. The commitment of the faculty is to respect these differences. The curricula and environment are strengthened by the faculty’s commitment to excellent teaching, scholarship, professionalism, and community service.
The faculty of the Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing and Health Professions values diversity of all peoples; this is reflected in the Gwynedd Mercy University Mission Statement and the Philosophy. Faculty also strives to facilitate the intellectual and spiritual development of students, a goal that is consistent with the College’s commitment to transformation of the whole person.