Mission & Goals

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Nursing Program of Rend Lake College is to prepare competent nursing graduates in the art and science of healthcare across the lifespan.  This goal is accomplished through instruction and practice of basic and advanced nursing skills; demonstration and use of critical thinking throughout the steps of the Nursing Process; and satisfactory evaluation of each student’s performance in various clinical environments.

PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY

The philosophy of the Rend Lake College Nursing Programs is in accordance with the college and department Mission Statements.  Every student is viewed as a unique individual with inherent worth.  Cultural diversity is embraced.

Nursing:  Nursing is defined as both an art and a science.  Compassion is a cornerstone of nursing care delivery.  The nursing philosophy is based on Dr. Joyce Dungan’s Model of Dynamic Integration.  Dungan depicts each individual as having three integrated dimensions-body, mind, and spirit.  Changing life experiences require frequent modifications in the balance of these dimensions.  Nurses assist individuals with these transactions.

Health:  Health is considered to be the successful integration of life’s challenges, which leads to optimum functioning at that particular moment.

Community:  Nurses must be able to cope with an increasingly changeable, dynamic environment.  The faculty strives to prepare nurses who can accept this challenge.  The community affected by nurses expands to areas beyond the immediate geographical region.  Students at Rend Lake College accept an obligation to contribute to their community.

Client:  Client is viewed in the broad sense as encompassing individuals and groups.  Clients use adaptation to cope with change and maintain health.  Since nurses assist with this process, students will be introduced to processes for acquisition of these skills.  As students move through the curriculum, the focus shifts to clients with more extensive needs.

Learning:  The nursing program is based on adult learning theory.  The goal is the preparation of competent, caring healthcare workers.  The teaching-learning process operates within the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains.  Nursing education involves the integration of knowledge and experience.  Critical thinking is an integral part of nursing process application.  It involves accepting responsibility and accountability for decisions while upholding ethical and legal standards.  Learning is affected by such factors as motivation, prior experiences, and learning style.  The program remains committed to practice oriented education.

Useful Links

Illinois Nurse Aide Testing Program

Illinois Department of Public Health Health Care Worker Registry