Philosophy of Nursing

Mount Carmel College of Nursing provides educational programs in the spirit of the Catholic tradition with inclusion of a diverse population of all faiths, that enhances the unique intellectual, moral, spiritual, and psychosocial development of the person. The faculty accepts responsibility to prepare professional nurses for theory and evidence-based practice, at the basic and advanced levels, who reflect the values and standards of the profession.]

Nursing is the practice of caring behaviors founded upon the integration of general education and professional studies. Our approach to caring is rooted in the values of service, reverence, autonomy, diversity, stewardship, safety, and integrity. Nursing involves the compassionate care of individuals, families, communities, and populations. The nurse is a health care professional who enacts multifaceted roles to promote optimal health during all life experiences. Nurses work collaboratively with clients and interdisciplinary teams, using the nursing process to design, deliver, coordinate, and implement health care. They respond to the diverse and changing needs of society in the local community as well as the broader, global community. Nurses are both knowledgeable and active in political, economic, and regulatory processes that influence health care practices. 

Health involves the harmonious integration of all dimensions of the client, whether an individual, family, community, or population. Health is a dynamic, lifelong, multidimensional construct shaped by culture. Changes in health status occur in response to the stressors and strengths of the internal and external environment. The nurse provides holistic, culturally-responsive, caring interventions directed at assisting the client to promote health.

Baccalaureate nursing education provides the foundation for professional nursing practice and lifelong learning. Graduate nursing education provides the foundation for specialized roles in education, administration, and clinical practice. Graduate education prepares nurses to serve as change agents, policymakers, and interdisciplinary partners in the care of patients, families, and populations. Research, theory for advanced practice, and strategies for validating and utilizing research findings are integral to the study of nursing. Through a collaborative and interactive process, the self-directed learner develops the skills of critical thinking, effective communication, holistic assessment, caregiving, and leadership for professional practice. Clinical practice, which is the essence of nursing, is augmented through nursing theory and evidence-based practice.