PRACTICAL NURSE PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY
The Practical Nurse Program functions within the philosophical framework of the Southeastern Regional School District parent institution, which includes the post-secondary Southeastern Technical Institute. The programs of the high school and the post-secondary school are designed to prepare students with the technical knowledge, functional skills, and decision-making abilities required to successfully begin positions at the entry or technical level of employment.
The faculty believes, as did nursing theorist Virginia Henderson, that nursing is the unique function of assisting the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health promotion, health maintenance, and recovery from illness, or in the case of a terminal illness, a peaceful death. Utilizing current and progressive knowledge from the physical, biological, and social sciences as a framework, the nurse applies critical thinking within the construct of the nursing process in order to provide goal oriented, humanistic care. Assessment of the patient and the planning of nursing interventions, are approached using a body systems method, while incorporating the developmental theories and human needs theories of Erik Erikson and Abraham Maslow. The holistic nursing theoretical concepts of Jean Watson guide the delivery of nursing care. This approach provides a mechanism for evaluating the quality of the nursing care and communicating outcomes to members of the health care team.
Learning experiences in the classroom, nursing laboratory, and clinical affiliations are designed to provide the student with opportunities to acquire new knowledge and skills and apply these to the practice of nursing. These learning experiences are arranged in sequence from simple to complex, considering various learning styles and the needs of a diverse, multicultural student body, and a multi-ethnic community. The faculty believes that the student is an active participant in the learning process. Student achievement is measured utilizing behavioral outcomes encompassing the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains of learning.
The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is a vital, contributing member of the nursing and health care team who functions in accordance with his/her generic education, continuing education and experience. The LPN is responsible and accountable for his/her nursing actions and for continual learning. The LPN advocates for the patient while providing cost effective, therapeutic, restorative, and preventative nursing care for culturally diverse consumers who have common, well-defined health problems. The graduate, entering into practice, is able to communicate therapeutically and collaboratively with patients, families, and other health care professionals, all in the effort of providing optimum patient care in a dynamic health care environment.
The faculty of the practical nurse program has a responsibility to guide each student in the development of his/her potential. Each student brings a unique focus to the learning experience. The curriculum prepares each student for the NCLEX-PN licensing examination and for entry into nursing practice. The program fosters a commitment to life-long learning and professional development.
PROGRAM GOALS
The entry-level graduate of Southeastern Technical Institute’s School of Practical Nursing is expected to:
Demonstrate critical thinking within the construct of the nursing process as a basis for the practice of nursing.
Communicate effectively with patients, families, and members of the health care team.
Apply knowledge of the physical, behavioral and social sciences while providing holistic therapeutic nursing care.
Administer medications following the six rights of drug administration.
Direct patients and families to appropriate community resources for health information or assistance.
Advocate for the patient, respecting patient’s rights.
Function ethically within the legal scope of LPN practice.
Discuss the importance of life-long learning.