Practical Nursing
Mission
The United Tribes Technical College’s Associate of Applied Science in Practical Nursing Program is dedicated to educating nurses in a culturally diverse environment that will provide self-determination and economic development for all tribal nations.
Program Objectives
The AASPN graduate will be prepared to:
- Utilize the nursing process, with guidance, to provide basic nursing and teaching to meet the health care needs of individuals over the life span.
- Apply basic principles of bio-psycho-social-spiritual and cultural aspects of nursing science to the practice of nursing.
- Apply basic principles of therapeutic communication to interactions with individuals and families, and collaborate with members of the health care team.
- Practice within legal and ethical guidelines.
- Demonstrate preparation to take the NCLEX-PN licensure exam.
- Perform the expected entry-level roles of the practical nurse.
Philosophy
We believe that each individual is a unique person, a bio-psycho-social-spiritual being with an individual background, intellectual ability and concept of self.
Individuals become members within a society, an enduring and social group within which they develop organized patterns of relationships through interaction with one another. At the same time, rights and self-worth are maintained by individuals within this society.
When some individuals within a society become unified, a community develops. There are many, often diverse communities within society. Traditions and patterns of behavior that characterize a particular community are seen as its culture, which provides cohesiveness for the community. Changes may occur. These may be guided or may occur spontaneously.
Nursing, like other professions, becomes an outgrowth of the society it serves. The purpose of nursing is that of caring as it promotes health and healing. It is a dynamic and scientific discipline dominated by a spirit of service along with a respect for human beings, their dignity and cultural differences.
The UTTC nursing faculty believes the graduate to be a health care provider and a manager of care committed to caring and to professional growth, one who utilizes the nursing process in collaboration with a registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, or licensed practitioner. Together they gather input from the consumer and other members within the community. Health and social issues are seen to be interactive. The approach is multidisciplinary with a board-integrated knowledge base. Graduates are increasingly providing nursing care to the elderly, in community and outpatient settings, and with vulnerable populations.
The teaching-learning process in this program presumes a faculty committed to empowering others and to educating students to their personal satisfaction and to their professional success.
Nursing education is further characterized by attaining designated outcomes within a holistic mode at the same time recognizing that its graduates will often function not only in an inpatient setting but also in community based, community-focused health care systems, e.g. schools, community clinics and populations. Graduates will participate in managed care situations where the individual and the family have primary responsibility for health care decisions, and critical thinking skills are essential. There will be education projects where faculty and students together provide services. Prevention will be stressed and beginning leadership/managerial skills will have been learned.
Education will be seen as a life-long process. As education and practice become more closely integrated, research projects will be developed so as to involve all levels of nursing. Research will also clarify the meaning of a consumer-driven health system, and the science of nursing must ever be expanding.
The need for quality nursing service is critical. It is the belief of UTTC and nursing faculty that this situation can be improved collaboratively with other health care professionals through integration of the UTTC Associate of Applied Science in Practical Nursing graduate into the healthcare marketplace.
