Mission and Graduate Outcomes

Our Mission Statement

The Lower Columbia College Nursing Program is committed to providing excellence in nursing education that encompasses critical thinking, competencies in the role of provider of care, manager of care and member in the discipline of nursing, with an emphasis on life-long learning.

Our Philosophy

Each individual is viewed as a unique, complex, holistic and dynamic entity with biological, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual dimensions. Individuals have intrinsic value, unconditional worth and self determination. The dignity of each human being is to be protected and respected. A patient/client can be an individual, family, or group, community, or population.

Health is a dynamic state of adaptation to stressors in the internal and/or external environment in an attempt to achieve balance. Health is influenced by heredity, environment (including social and ecological determinants), lifestyle, and choices.

Nursing is a discipline centered on the caring application of knowledge and skills to advocate for patients, prevent illness or disability, optimize or restore health, alleviate suffering, and facilitate wellness. Nursing integrates the concepts of person, health, environment, and nursing therapeutics. Nursing relies on knowledge that is practical, theoretical, and evidence-based.

Learning is a life-long process, which involves the assimilation of information to expand one's knowledge and influences attitudes, beliefs, and/or behaviors. Learning builds on previous experience.

Teaching facilitates the learning process to promote student success. It is a cooperative endeavor between the instructor and student.

Nursing education builds upon information and concepts from several disciplines (language and literature, biological science, physical science, social science, math), and incorporates the affective, cognitive, and psychomotor learning domains.

The nursing curriculum progresses from simple to complex information, concepts, and skills. It is designed to provide the student with the knowledge and skills necessary for nursing practice, promote competence, and foster the growth of independent thought, purposeful judgment and critical thinking.

The associate degree nurse is a generalist whose nursing practice encompasses the roles of provider of care, manager of care, and member of the nursing profession.

End-of-Program Student Learning Outcomes

The end-of-program student learning outcomes (EPSLOs) are benchmarks developed by the nursing faculty to establish a baseline of competent nursing practice for the entry-level registered nurse graduating from our program. The EPSLOs guide the faculty in delivering a curriculum that prepares graduates of our program for competent and safe practice.

Upon completion of the nursing program at Lower Columbia College, all students will be able to

• Demonstrate critical thinking by applying objective, valid methods of inquiry and problem-solving to draw rational, ethical, and coherent conclusions in nursing practice. Critical thinking is an LCC global skill.

QSEN competencies addressed: Safety, evidence-based practice, quality improvement

• Demonstrate competence in basic nursing knowledge and skills in the performance of the nursing roles as provider of care, manager of care, and member of the profession. This outcome encompasses elements of all four LCC Global Skills.

QSEN competencies addressed: Safety, patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration 

• Communicate effectively in professional nursing practice. Communication is an LCC global skill.

QSEN competencies addressed: Patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, safety, informatics

• Integrate quantitative data competently into professional nursing practice. Quantitative reasoning is an LCC Global Skill.

QSEN competencies addressed: Safety, informatics, evidence-based practice, quality improvement

• Incorporate professional interpersonal skills and caring behaviors in nursing practice. Teamwork is an LCC global skill.

QSEN competencies addressed: Patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration

• Initiate equitable and inclusive nursing practices to promote and maintain health and reduce risk in diverse healthcare settings across the lifespan. This outcome encompasses elements of the critical thinking, communication, and teamwork LCC Global Skills.

QSEN competencies addressed: Safety, patient-centered care

Read more about Global Skills assessment at LCC.

Read more about Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) competencies.

 

Last updated 01-04-2023.