Mission Statement and Education Philosophy

The nursing faculty at Lone Star College-North Harris is committed to the stated mission, purpose and philosophy of the institution and to the concept of quality education to meet community needs through the preparation of individuals to function at a variety of levels of nursing practice

The mission of the nursing program at Lone Star College-North Harris is to provide a quality education to prepare competent, caring, ethical members of the health care team in dynamic health care environment. We believe the community college provides an ideal, accessible setting for nursing education where students of all educational and cultural backgrounds may achieve their goals.

The philosophy for the nursing program is founded upon fundamental concepts of the individual, health, health care, the health care client, the community, the educational process, nursing education and the practice of nursing.

The nursing faculty supports the following beliefs:

Each individual, client or student, is a holistic and social being who is in constant interaction with the environment. Each person has inherent worth and dignity and is unique in her/his capabilities, beliefs and interests. As a social being, the individual is part of a culture, family and community. The behavior of each individual is directed toward meeting needs, beginning with those essential to life, and progressing toward creative self-realization.

Health is a continuum of wellness across the life span. It is reflected by continuous mutual interaction and adaptation within the internal and external environments. Each individual determines their self-definition of health as she/he progresses toward their optimum potential throughout the life cycle (growth, development and maturation) from conception, through aging and death. Personal decisions made by the individual and groups influence the state of health.

Health care is a basic right of all individuals which should not be effected by the lack of fiscal resources. Health care is directed toward providing the client information and support for health promotion, providing care and /or support to prevent or cure illness and restoring and maintaining physiological and psychosocial integrity. The delivery of health care may be preventative, restorative or palliative. Health care is deliverable in a variety of settings including acute care, rehabilitative, clinics, schools, ambulatory settings, nursing homes and long-term acute care settings.

Health care clients may be the individual, her/his family and those of significance to them. Health care clients are diverse individuals of all ages and ethnicities. Each individual has the following rights: access to basic health care in the community, treatment with respect for the dignity and worth of the individual, and the right and responsibility to make decisions concerning health

Lone Star College System serves the community of northern Harris and Montgomery counties at multiple college sites including Lone Star College-North Harris by providing access to quality education for a diverse population. By developing partnerships with health care agencies in the community, the nursing program participates in the provision of health care services for the clients and families in various locations in the area

The educational process is individualized, flexible, collaborative, and relevant. Progressively complex learning tasks build upon previous knowledge and experience and further serve as a motivational force for continued learning. Learning is a life-long process which results in an evolution in thinking, values and behavior.

The process of learning should take place in an atmosphere which encourages intellectual curiosity, creativity and the capacity for self-direction. Learning becomes more effective when the learner is an active participant in setting of goals, evaluation of learning experiences and evaluation of competency. Students are responsible for their own learning, demonstrating preparation and actively seeking knowledge as partners in learning.

The student in the Associate Degree Nursing program is a reflection of the diverse student body at Lone Star College-North Harris. The student is diverse in age, gender, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, capabilities and human condition. The nursing faculty seeks to meet the ongoing challenge of student diversity by continually improving programs and student access; by providing contemporary learning resources and tools; by using creative teaching strategies and innovative technologies as part of the educational journey.

The nursing faculty acts as facilitators and role models in each learning situation. The nursing faculty encourages students to be accountable for their learning recognizing that learning empowers students and in turn affects all aspects of their lives

The nursing faculty is committed to a quality multiple entry-exit program that provides distinctive levels of preparation with clearly differentiated outcomes and competencies within an interconnected system of nursing education. The products of all levels of nursing education are valued, with each level being an integral component of the health care team. The nursing program strives to build on each student’s prior experience by providing programs of study for:

1. entry into the profession,

2. articulation through the nursing levels for licensed vocational nurses and paramedics and

3. continuing education for nurses.

Nursing education prepares students for a practice discipline. It synthesizes knowledge from the biological, physical, behavioral and social sciences; incorporates critical thinking, psychomotor and psychosocial skills; and empowers students to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to become competent, caring, ethical members of the multidisciplinary health care team who practice within a legal framework of professional standards.

Nursing education must be proactive in the changing health care environment and provide opportunities for students to anticipate and prepare for new roles and practice settings. Educational experiences are planned in diverse health care settings in order for graduates to function in health care agencies in local communities. The faculty serves as professional role models of the nursing profession. Nursing faculty adapts teaching strategies and design learning for students with diverse learning needs and learning styles, integrate ideas, inspire excellence in students and facilitate and structure varied learning experiences.

Nursing is a unique profession requiring critical thinking in arriving at client-centered solutions. Nursing utilizes a problem-solving process, a caring relationship, and commitment to continuing education and professionalism in practice. Nursing synthesizes knowledge from the arts and sciences into a theoretical base for the provision of individualized, holistic health care for clients and families in a variety of settings within the community. Nurses collaborate with the client, significant others, support persons and members of the multidisciplinary health care team to empower the client and/or family to make informed decisions, prevent illness and restore and maintain their optimal level of function. Each graduate of the associate degree nursing program assumes increasing levels of accountability and responsibility in practice, demonstrating competencies in the roles of provider of care, coordinator of care and member of the profession.