End of Program Objectives

Upon completion of the program, the graduate will be able to function in the following roles: 

1. Member of the Profession:

   1. Function within the nurse’s legal scope of practice and in accordance with regulation and the policies and procedures of the employing health care institution or practice setting.

   2. Assume responsibility and accountability for the quality of nursing care provided to patients and their families.

   3. Participate in activities that promote the development and practice of professional nursing.

   4. Demonstrate responsibility for continued competence in nursing practice, and develop insights through reflection, self-analysis, self-care, and lifelong learning.

2. Provider of Patient-Centered Care:

   1. Use clinical reasoning and knowledge, based on the diploma or associate degree nursing program of study and evidence-based practice outcomes as a basis for decision making in nursing practice.

   2. Determine the physical and mental health status, needs, and preferences influenced by culture, spirituality, ethnicity, identity, and social diversity of patients and their families, and the interpretation of comprehensive health assessment findings compared with evidence-based health data derived from the associate degree nursing program of study.

   3. Analyze comprehensive assessment data to identify problems, formulate goals/outcomes, and develop plans of care for patients and their families using concept maps/plans of care for patients and their families using information from evidence-based practice in collaboration with patients, their families, and the interdisciplinary health care team.

   4. Provide safe, compassionate, comprehensive nursing care to patients and their families through a broad array of healthcare services.

   5. Implement the plan of care for patients and their families within legal, ethical, and regulatory parameters and in consideration of disease prevention, wellness, and promotion of healthy lifestyles.

   6. Evaluate and report patient outcomes and responses to therapeutic interventions in comparison to benchmarks from evidence-based practice, and plan follow-up nursing care.

   7. Develop, implement, and evaluate teaching plans for patients and their families to address health promotion, restoration, and maintenance.

   8. Coordinate human, information, and physical resources in providing care for patients and their families.

3. Patient Safety Advocate:

   1. Demonstrate knowledge of the Texas Nursing Practice Act and the Texas Board of Nursing Rules that emphasize safety, as well as all federal, state, and local government and accreditation organization safety requirements and standards.

   2. Implement measures to promote quality and a safe environment for patients, self, and others.

   3. Formulate goals and outcomes using evidence-based data to reduce patient risks.

   4. Obtain instruction, supervision, or training as needed when implementing nursing procedures or practices.

   5. Comply with mandatory reporting requirements of Texas Nursing Practice Act.

   6. Accept and make assignments and delegate tasks that take into consideration patient safety and organizational policy.

4. Member of the Healthcare Team:

   1. Coordinate, collaborate, and communicate in a timely manner with patients, their families, and the interdisciplinary health care team to plan, deliver, and evaluate patient-centered care.

   2. Serve as a healthcare advocate in monitoring and promoting quality and access to health care for patients and their families.

   3. Refer patients and their families to resources that facilitate continuity of care, health promotion, maintenance, and restoration and ensure confidentiality.

   4. Communicate and manage information using technology to support decision-making to improve patient care.

   5. Assign and/or delegate nursing activities to other members of the health care team based upon an analysis of patient or work place need.

   6. Supervise nursing care by others for whom the nurse is responsible by using evidence based nursing practice.

   7. Participate with health care teams during local or global health emergencies or pandemics to promote health and safety, and prevent disease. 

*Differentiated Essential Competencies of Graduates of Texas Nursing Programs Evidenced by Knowledge, Clinical Judgments, and Behaviors 2021