Associate Degree Nursing Program Mission and Goals

The mission of the Navarro College ADN Program is to (1) promote life-long learning, (2) prepare graduates for employment in health care settings as safe, effective, competent registered nurses within the role of the Associate Degree Nurse and (3) inspire graduates to set goals and implementation dates for achieving higher levels of nursing education.

ADN Program Vision

Navarro College ADN Program will be recognized for student-centered learning, civility, high ethical standards, a rigorous curriculum, high retention rates and high NCLEX-RN pass rates and for graduates to qualify for and complete programs of higher education in nursing.

ADN Program Philosophy of Nursing

The following statements delineate faculty’s philosophy regarding nursing practice for the Associate Degree Graduate Nurse and the teaching-learning environment:

(1) Nursing is a health profession, a service, a discipline, and a process which assists individuals to attain, to maintain, or to regain their optimum states of health or to support them toward a peaceful, dignified death.

(2) Faculty share the philosophy that the practice of an Associate Degree nurse is demonstrated in four basic roles: member of the profession, provider of patient-centered care, patient safety advocate, and member of the health care team. Faculty believe that there are eight tools or skills that are essential to carrying out the four basic practice roles. These skills we describe as threads that are woven through the curriculum. They are critical thinking/nursing process, patient safety, life span issues, cultural awareness, therapeutic communication, concepts of teaching and learning, technology skills, and pharmacotherapeutics. Faculty believe the curriculum should flow from fundamental concepts of care to integrated care and the focus of instruction should be on nurse-patient interactions.

(3) Nursing education is a process whereby individuals simulate knowledge, develop potential, and establish a value system. The responsibility of faculty is to develop desired outcomes, build a curriculum to promote learning/development of competencies, develop admission criteria, and manage the learning environment.

(4) The student is responsible for his own learning.

(5) Learning is enhanced by guidance and opportunity for self-direction, promotion of student engagement, and student involvement in curriculum decisions.