Vision

The Texas State University School of Nursing will provide supportive and creative educational programs, which inspire those who teach and those who learn, based on mutual respect and a commitment to contribute to the health of individuals, families, communities, and the environment.

Mission

The Texas State University School of Nursing educates and prepares graduates, using innovative teaching strategies and state-of-the-art technology, to function in professional nursing roles to promote, maintain, and restore health and wellness and to prevent illness among diverse individuals and communities. Graduates demonstrate competence as critical thinkers who effectively collaborate as members of the inter-professional health care team and utilize scientifically-based interventions. These future nurses will provide ethical, safe, and effective patient-centered care and contribute to present and emerging research and health management practices.

Values

In pursuing excellence in nursing education, we the faculty and staff of the School of Nursing are guided by shared values. We believe in:

• Educational opportunities which provide for intellectual and professional growth and that challenge students to excel in nursing
• A holistic approach to nursing education across the continuum of health and  the lifespan
• Diversity and a spirit of inclusiveness with respect for the dignity and moral wholeness of every person without conditions or limitations
• Cultivation of character and the modeling of honesty, integrity, caring, compassion, fairness, respect, and ethical behavior
• Teaching and learning based on student involvement and free exchange of ideas and diverse perspectives
• Research, scholarship, and creative activity as a source for evidence-based practice and generation of new knowledge as an expression of the human spirit
• Commitment to public service and advocacy as a resource for personal, educational, cultural, and economic development in promotion of a healthy environment
• Caring, thoughtful reflection, collaboration, planning, and evaluation to meet diverse and changing healthcare needs, practices, and resources
• Professional competency, systematic use of the nursing process, leadership, critical reasoning, and lifelong learning leading to safe, quality patient care
• Interprofessional activity allowing for the advancement of science and positive patient outcomes.

Goals

We the faculty are committed to:

• Graduate well-prepared Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students who are able to obtain Registered Nurse licensure and function at the beginning practice level
• Equip graduates to adapt to rapid changes in healthcare delivery and practice
• Build a foundation for BSN graduates to pursue excellence through certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
• Provide educational programs to prepare registered nurses at the MSN and/or the Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) or PhD levels
• Develop an overall plan for faculty scholarship
• Pursue funding to promote diversity in the admission and graduation of students
• Provide faculty access to professional development
• Assess, identify and develop a plan to address community needs
• Develop educational partnerships with community organizations and other community entities in order to obtain input for the development of academic and service delivery programs to enhance community health knowledge
• Become a continuing nursing education (CNE) provider through the Texas Nurses Association (TNA)
• Collaborate with University Advancement and Development to support a sustainable plan for nursing programs.

Nursing Program Student Educational Outcomes

At the completion of the nursing program, a graduate of the School of Nursing at Texas State University will be able to:

• Facilitate safe, holistic and effective patient/family centered care outcomes through use of evidence-based research and other science-based frameworks to promote and maintain health and prevent disease.
• Demonstrate professional accountability and responsibility for nursing judgments and actions within an ethical and legal framework, utilizing the most current knowledge.
• Demonstrate leadership in the provision and coordination of safe, cost effective and high quality nursing care
• Advocate for patients, families, communities, and the nursing profession, applying values and utilizing an ethical framework, critical reasoning, and cultural competence.
• Utilize information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, educate, mitigate error and support decision making.
• Provide entry-level professional nursing care to clients across the lifespan in a variety of health care settings.