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Associate of Applied Science
NURSING
The associate of applied science in nursing program is designed to prepare individuals with the skills and knowledge to provide nursing care to clients, families and groups of clients throughout the lifespan in a variety of settings. It is a non-integrated nursing program.
Graduates of this program are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), which is required to practice as a Registered Nurse. The Associate of Applied Science degree program in Nursing will prepare students to assume entry-level positions as Registered Nurses. There is a tremendous market for RN’s both locally and statewide. The North Carolina Center for Nursing states that the state is “at the beginning of a nursing shortage that will rapidly grow more severe over the next 14 years. By 2020 the state is expected to need approximately 108,000 RN FTEs, while the supply of RN FTEs is expected to be only about 76,000 – approximately 70% of the expected demand.” The Center bases its prognosis on the current aging of the nursing workforce, the general aging of the population, and the steady increase in the size of North Carolina’s population.
South College’s nursing program will provide students with professional and technical knowledge and skills that are in demand in the current and emerging employment market and that create an awareness of the significant impact of their profession and individual contributions on the community, nation, and the country’s global standing and provide skills essential for personal and professional growth. South college’s nursing program is committed to ensuring that nursing students acquire an in-depth understanding of the principles underlying effective and responsible nursing practice and effective professional judgments.
Program Purpose
The purpose of the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Degree Program is to prepare graduate nurses, through classroom and clinical education, with the necessary skills to function at the entry level of practice for registered nursing.
Vision Statement
The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Degree Program strives to provide the education, knowledge and experience to prepare students to become professional, competent, and caring registered nurses.
Philosophy/Mission Statement
The associate degree-nursing faculty subscribes to the primary mission of South College, specifically to offer academic programs at the bachelor, associate, and certificate levels, designed to provide students 1) professional and technical knowledge and skills in demand in the current and emerging employment market 2) awareness of the significant impact of their profession and individual contributions on the community, the nation, and the country’s global standing, and 3) the cognitive and perceptual skills essential for personal and professional effectiveness during an era of continuous rapid change, increasing complexity, and growing interdependencies. In keeping with this institutional mission, the Nursing Program is especially committed to ensuring that nursing students acquire an in-depth understanding of the principles underlying effective and responsible nursing practice and effective professional judgments.
The philosophy and educational outcomes of the nursing program reflect the faculty’s beliefs about nursing practice, the practice of the Associate Degree Graduate and Nursing Education:
Nursing Practice
Nursing practice, simply defined, is what nurses do. It represents all the activities involved in the delivery of nursing care through the nursing process, an interpersonal process of assessing, diagnosing, planning, implementing, and evaluating patients needs and care. Nursing practice is a unique and dynamic discipline and it involves the integration of knowledge and caring in the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health for individuals and families across the life span. The program integrates three roles: 1) Provider of Care, 2) Manager of Care, and 3) Member Within the Discipline of Nursing. Skills in the technology of health care, knowledge of healthcare issues, humanistic values, critical thinking, and ongoing competence are included in the program.
The Practice of the Associate Degree Graduate
The practice of the associate degree nurse (ADN) is based on the nursing process and includes professional behaviors, communication, assessment, clinical decision making, caring interventions, teaching learning collaboration, and managing care. The practice of the ADN includes an understanding of health, wellness promotion, illness prevention, acute and chronic health deviations, pharmacology, nutrition, communication, current technology, humanities, biological, social and behavioral sciences. The ADN functions as a competent caring, registered nurse in a variety of healthcare setting with culturally diverse patients across the lifespan.
The ADN practice includes the use of informatics to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making. The ADN employs evidence bases practice to integrate best research with clinical expertise and client values for optimal care, including skills to identify and apply best practices to nursing care. The ADN must have skills to identify and apply best practices of nursing care by providing client-centered culturally competent care, respect client differences, values, preferences and expressed need, involve clients in decision making and care management and promote healthy lifestyles for clients and populations.
The ADN practice includes principles of leadership and management. The nurse must be able to coordinate and manage continuous client care consistent with level of licensure. . The ADN is accountable for delegation to health providers such as less experiences registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nursing assistants. Effective utilization of time and resources and knowing when to seek assistance is imperative. The ADN must be able to work in interdisciplinary teams to cooperate, collaborate, communicate, and integrate client care and health promotions and participate in quality improvement processes to measure client outcomes, identify hazard and errors and develop changes in processes of client care.
The ADN must be prepared for and committed to professional growth, continuous learning, and self-development. Professional development is vital for nurses to able to contribute to the ongoing improvement of their nursing practice and growth in the nursing profession.
Nursing Education
Nursing education is a process from simple to complex and actively involves the student in what is a lifelong process. Nursing education is a systematic approach, which offers opportunities for students to acquire psychomotor, cognitive, and attitudinal behaviors required by the registered nurse in provision of a safe, effective care environment, physiological and psychosocial integrity, and health promotion and maintenance. It draws upon the theories of education, principles of learning, and knowledge from the discipline of nursing and other disciplines. Nursing education promotes intellectual inquiry, self-direction, critical thinking, and accountability. Nursing education is kept current by continuous review and revision of institutional and program philosophy and outcomes. The responsibility of learning belongs to the student. The role of the faculty is that of organizer, resource person, expert, facilitator, role model, and evaluator.
Organizing Concepts: Framework for Learning
Nursing Process
This concept is introduced as a method of organizing and delivering nursing care. The promotion of health may be achieved through the process of assessing and analyzing data, making a nursing diagnosis, planning care, implementing the plan, and evaluating the effectiveness of the plan. The nursing process is used in conjunction with the NLN roles of the ADN graduate to form the operational framework of the curriculum
Role as Provider of Care
This role utilizes the nursing process to assist individuals, families and/or groups to maintain and restore optimal wellness
Role as Manager of Care
This role involves prioritizing, organizing, and directing aspects of nursing care for individuals or groups of individuals for whom the nurse is accountable
Role as Member Within the Discipline of Nursing
This role involves a commitment to professional growth, continuous learning and self-development. This role includes high ethical and practice standards and understanding of the legal parameters of nursing practice.
Role as Member within the Discipline of Nursing
This role involves a commitment to professional growth, continuous learning and self-development. This role includes high ethical and practice standards and understanding of the legal parameters of nursing practice.
Program Goals
Provide an effective comprehensive instructional curriculum that is well rounded in all fundamental concepts and theories as they apply to nursing modalities, procedures, and patient education.
Graduate AAS Degree Nursing Students who will reflect the highest standards or legal, ethical and moral conduct
Provide Registered Nurses whose skills and knowledge are commensurate with the expanding need for nursing services in North Carolina and the nation
Work closely with the nursing community to understand the needs of patients specific to Western North Carolina and to improve the quality of services delivered.
Maintain excellence in both clinical and didactic areas that are pertinent to the faculty’s area of instruction.
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