Mission and Values

Mission Statement

To produce innovative Associate Degree nurses who provide safe quality care to diverse populations, invest in continued professional learning to maintain excellence, and inspire others in the profession of nursing. The nursing program will accomplish this through evidenced based nursing education in an environment that promotes caring, diversity, ethics, excellence, holism, integrity and patient centered care.

Philosophy and Purpose of Nursing

The nursing program at Tacoma Community College (TCC) supports the vision and principles of the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and the mission and outcomes of Tacoma Community College. The philosophy of the nursing program is derived from the nursing metaparadigms of the patient, the nurse & nursing, the environment, and health care. These are underpinned by the National League for Nursing (NLN) Education competency model for Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program outcomes. These outcomes support the nursing program concepts and the College's Degree Learning Outcomes and provide the curriculum framework for the ADN program with student learning and success at its core.

The purpose of the nursing education program at Tacoma Community College is to prepare the graduating student to be successful in the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) exam, be competent to practice as a generalist registered nurse (RN) in the community, and to continue their nursing education.

PATIENT

The patient is a holistic being, possessing uniqueness, dignity, and human worth, who has the right to self-determination, respect, optimum health and access to health care. In nursing practice, the term "patient" may refer to an individual, a family, or a group of people within a community who constantly interact and react to the environment.

THE NURSING STUDENT & NURSING

Nursing is a caring, interactive experience between the nurse as a provider of care, and the patient participating in health care behaviors. Nursing care is characterized by empathy and action and practiced holistically.

Nursing students at TCC are at the core of the nursing program and are as diverse as the community that the college serves. These students are adult learners, and are self-motivated, committed individuals who gain knowledge in part from experiential learning. They are independent, self-directed, hold themselves accountable for their own learning, and value participation in planning their educational experiences. Our students' commitment to nursing excellence is evident in the transfer of knowledge and the development of critical thinking skills within the profession. This commitment is supported by life-long learning.

The ADN nursing education program is based upon the nursing knowledge, skills and attributes required for a generalist nurse entering the profession. Its foundation is in theory and clinical practice which are grounded in evidence based research, safety, and quality of care standards. By progression through the program, the student develops the core competencies that are central to the practice of nursing.

ENVIRONMENT

The patient is influenced by both the local and global environment, which are constantly changing due to internal and external forces. These forces have the potential to alter health and wellness based on the patient's beliefs, practices and perceptions. The student nurse is able to provide nursing care within the confines of environmental change.

Internal and external forces such as development in educational practice and evolving professional standards, as well as personal forces such as financial, family and employment factors also influence the nursing student's environment. These forces can impact the student's health and wellness, and therefore success in the educational setting. As the environment influences the patient, the nursing program faculty and staff recognize that his or her own environment also influences the student.

HEALTHCARE

Health care is defined as the provision of care for the patient in order to achieve the desired level of health. It is not defined as being the absence of disease or injury, but as the ability to function and contribute to society and the community, and having a quality of life that is desirable and achievable as defined by the patient.

The health care system is a macro system that operates in the community to provide access to health services for the patient based on quality, safety standards and research based evidence. The nursing program supports the student's practice and integration into the local and global health care system by incorporating the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Quality Safety and Education for Nurses (QSEN) Institutes' health care competencies.