RN to BSN Program

Mission and Learning Outcomes

RN to BSN Program Mission

The Alvin College RN to BSN Program serves its students and community by providing innovative and inclusive nursing education and preparing quality graduates who demonstrate clinical reasoning, ethical discernment, and professional accountability to diverse populations.

Philosophy

The Alvin College RN to BSN Program aligns with the philosophical principles established by Alvin College, while upholding the core values of the institution. We provide quality education and a vital resource to our growing community. Nursing graduates will function within the roles of: member of the profession; provider of patient-centered care; patient safety advocate; and member of the healthcare team, in compliance with the essential competencies. 

Nursing is committed to promoting wellness, facilitating the restoration of health, and assisting individuals and families with their healthcare needs from birth to death. Patients and their families are defined as those seeking healthcare services or health information across the lifespan.    

We believe nursing integrates science and humanities to build caring relationships with patients. Nurses work both independently and collaboratively, focusing on patient safety and quality care. We train nurses and leaders to be responsible, competent, and professional. 

We believe teaching involves a system of organized activities aimed at promoting learning. Quality facilities that support the learning process are essential. Teachers facilitate learning in collaboration with students, while nurse educators guide and mentor students. Learning is demonstrated by changes in behavior or knowledge. Competent faculty are crucial to achieving the mission and philosophy. Faculty members are expected to stay current with emerging trends in healthcare and professional standards. The faculty contributes to the nursing profession by offering evidence-based educational programs based on a structured framework and philosophy.

Organizing Framework

The foundation for nursing knowledge originates from content based on the four concepts of society, patient/family, health, and nursing roles. These concepts provide the foundation for the selection and sequence of courses and learning experiences as well as an understanding of the organization of the program. Content in the nursing courses integrates current knowledge of health concepts and commonly occurring acute and chronic health problems.

General education courses provide a foundation for nursing content in the program and enable graduates to apply theoretical content and evidence-based findings in the provision of nursing care. The nursing courses follow a logical progression to encourage assimilation of knowledge and provide a progressive program of learning. Evaluation of the program is ongoing to ensure that the curriculum is consistent with current nursing practice and knowledge.

Learning is an individualized, active, and lifelong process. Faculty serve as facilitators, providing opportunities for students to acquire the knowledge, clinical judgments, and behaviors necessary for nursing practice. Directed by the end-of-program student learning outcomes, faculty plan, implement, and evaluate the students’ learning experiences.

The nursing curriculum provides opportunities to demonstrate competence in the application of nursing knowledge, clinical judgments, and behaviors in healthcare settings. With an integrated nursing curriculum, classroom, laboratory, and clinical content are organized around a series of concepts that progress from simple to complex. The curriculum provides the framework for establishing partnerships with patients and their families for the promotion, prevention, rehabilitation, maintenance, and restoration of health of individuals across the lifespan.  

The curriculum emphasizes nursing care within the following roles: member of the profession, provider of patient-centered care, patient safety advocate, and member of the healthcare team. Within these roles, the nurse integrates knowledge from general education and sciences for the delivery of safe, compassionate care for patients and their families. Nursing care, nursing management, safety, quality, diversity, and legal/ethical content are evident throughout the curriculum.

Graduates are expected to practice within the limits of their nursing knowledge, scope of practice, and individual experience. They serve as positive role models for other members of the healthcare team. It is their responsibility to participate in educational and professional endeavors to continually advance knowledge and skills and promote the development of nursing and nursing practice.

Learning Outcomes

The following are the End of Program Student Learning Outcomes: 

The student will:

1. Integrate clinical reasoning and judgment in the application of the nursing process to deliver and manage safe, high-quality care.
2. Apply legal and ethical standards to maximize the self-care potential of culturally and socially diverse patients, families, and communities.
3. Engage in effective communication and collaboration with the interdisciplinary healthcare team to enhance the health status of patients, families, and communities.
4. Utilize patient care technologies and information systems proficiently to ensure safe and effective nursing practice.
5. Exhibit proficiency in delegation, management, and leadership to optimize patient care and team performance.