Nursing Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Middle Tennessee State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Mission

The mission of Middle Tennessee State University School of Nursing is to provide excellencein nursing education by preparing individuals to meet the dynamic and complex healthcareneeds of society. Through robust academic programs, the School of Nursing demonstratesits commitment to the art and science of nursing.

Philosophy

The Middle Tennessee State University School of Nursing has established an operatingframework with five core competencies at the foundation. These are communication, critical thinking, personal and professional relationships, leadership and the nursing process. From this base, additional concepts emerge to provide interaction with persons, the environment, health, professional nursing and nurse education.

1. Communication includes all interaction, verbal and nonverbal, that occurs with an individual orthe environment. Because communication is a complex process, education and experiencecontribute to expanding an individual's ability in this competence. Good communicationinvolves receiving as well as sending messages. It is essential in order for any ofthe other competencies to be useful.
2. Critical thinking encompasses all forms of analysis, creativity and reasoning. It is essential forgood decision-making. Although it involves some basic intuitive ability, criticalthinking skills can be taught.  Since critical thinking can be taught, opportunitiesfor practice and improvement are available in a variety of settings.  This skill isa cornerstone without which the other core competencies would remain at a dangerouslysuperficial level.
3. Personal and professional relationships are important factors in the operating framework because they are the context in whichthe other competencies interact. Through the process of socialization, students learnthe professional role in formal and informal ways. Experiences can increase abilitiesto interact with a large variety of individuals, thus enhancing relationship skills.Competency in interpersonal relationships is crucial for successful goal attainment.
4. Leadership is a dynamic process that includes technical skills in combination with the art ofnursing. Effective leaders demonstrate all other core competencies as they guide othersin the professional role. Adaptation to future trends in the healthcare system ispossible through skills in management that allow for control of both material andhuman resources. The baccalaureate graduate is prepared to assume positions that requirethis important core competency.
5. The Nursing process is the vehicle that connects and applies all other competencies. It is the profession'smethod of problem solving and allows for consistent, creative and skillful care. Throughthe nursing process, a team of concerned professionals meets individuals' needs forhealth and well-being.

All five of the core competencies must be present in order for an individual to demonstrate competency in the art and science of nursing. Anyone missing a portion of this core could not be a successful nursing professional. Together, the five core competencies prepare individuals with the resources to operate in the healthcare arena knowing that they possess appropriate skill to handle challenging situations. The combination of communication, critical thinking, personal and professional relationships, leadership, and the nursing process provide a broad base that stimulates ongoing knowledge and skill acquisition.

The additional concepts encircle the core competencies and add further definition and depth to the practice of nursing.  Person, environment, health, professional nursing and nursing education contribute dimensions to the core competencies that clarify expectations of the practicing nurse.  All terms represent factors that the nurse encounters while delivering care.

1. Every person is a unique and multifaceted individual. Persons live, work and play as individuals, families, groups and communities. They are bio-psycho-social and spiritual beings who represent the entire spectrum of cultural diversity. Nurses can administer care for persons singly or in any configuration. Communication occurs with any of these combinations, highlighting interpersonal relationships. Critical thinking is required in order to plan care using the nursing process.
2. The person interacts with the environment in an ongoing, continually changing cycle. In order to fully understand persons, their environment must be examined. Again, use of the core competencies facilitates nurses' ability to incorporate all environmental influence.
3.  Health is a continuum of wellness to illness. It is not merely the presence or absence of disease, but includes all forms of life influencing factors. Persons, in connection with their environment, strive for a place on the continuum of health that is realistic and comfortable for them. Nurses act to assist each individual in this effort. Use of all five core competencies is crucial in gaining the skill to allow optimal service to all individuals, families and communities.
4. Professional nursing is an art and a science. Courses are taken in a wide variety of disciplines to supplement the knowledge gained from nursing courses. Not only do students acquire a broad knowledge base, but also they learn to interact with a diverse group of team members.
5. Nursing education takes place in environments of higher learning. It includes a variety of experiences to assist students in gaining beginning competence in providing holistic care. Nursing education includes courses from many disciplines. Courses in humanities, arts, sciences and mathematics are eventually combined with nursing content to produce a well-rounded individual capable of using communication and critical thinking in developing the nursing process and accomplishing productive personal and professional relationships.

Major Concepts/Core Competencies

The core competencies were derived from concept identification and clarification exercise with faculty in April 2001. It yielded five core competencies with sub-categories identifying behaviors or characteristics for each sub-category. These are competencies the graduate should demonstrate to fulfill the program outcomes.

1. Communication
   1. Oral Skills
      1. Teaching
      2. Professional Interaction
      3. Therapeutic Communication
      4. Assertiveness
      5. Public Speaking
      6. Negotiation
   2. Written Skills
      1. Manuscript
      2. Technical Reports
      3. Composition
      4. Professional Correspondence
      5. Documentation
      6. Plans of Care
   3. Information Technology Skills
      1. Word Processing
      2. Web Searching
      3. Terminology
      4. Electronic Communication
      5. Navigation of the Web
      6. Database Management
2. Critical Thinking
   1. Scientific Inquiry
      1. Research Dissemination
      2. Research Utilization
      3. Quality Improvement
      4. Critical Elements Identification
      5. Reflective Thinking
   2. Creativity
      1. Autonomy
      2. Self-expression
      3. Risk Taking
      4. Flexibility
3. Leadership
   1. Personal
      1. Role Modeling
      2. Professional Accountability/Responsibility
      3. Lifelong Learning
   2. Coordinator of Care
      1. Team Member
      2. Clients/Patients
      3. Delegation
   3. Materials Management
      1. Accountability
      2. Appropriation
      3. Information Manager
   4. Human Resources
      1. Groups/Aggregates
      2. Workforce Manager
   5. Time Management
      1. Organization
4. Nursing Process
   1. Assessment
   2. Analysis
   3. Planning
   4. Implementation
   5. Evaluation
5. Personal and Professional Relationships
   1. Morality
      1. 1. Socialization
         2. Spirituality
         3. Altruism
         4. Social Justice
         5. Values
         6. Quality of Life
   2. Ethics
      1. 1. Integrity
         2. Human Dignity
         3. Code of Nurses
   3. Legality
      1. 1. Nurse Practice Act
         2. Patient Rights
         3. Civil and /or Criminal Law
         4. Standards of Practice
   4. Cultural Care Competency
      1. Sensitivity
      2. Diversity
   5. Caring
      1. Empathy
      2. Empowerment
      3. Collegiality
      4. Compassion
      5. Respect

Definitions

1. Accountability- Maintains inventory control systems
2. Analysis- Examine and interpret data to make nursing judgements
3. Appropriation- Judicious use of supplies
4. Assessment- A deliberate and systematic collection of data
5. Caring- Behavior that shows understanding and respect for another's perceptions, feelings, needsand desires
6. Clients/Patients- Responsible for direct and indirect care of clients with multiple healthcare deficits
7. Communication Skills-  Exchange of ideas via a variety of formats
8. Creativity- The procurement, reordering or identification of data to facilitate change
9. Critical Thinking Skills- Utilizing skills of reasoning, analysis, research, or decision making relevant to the discipline of nursing
10. Cultural Competency- Awareness of a response to differences among people
11. Delegation- Directly and indirectly supervises others
    
12. Ethics- The study of suitable actions based on values and morals of society
13. Evaluation- Continuous process essential to ensuring the quality and appropriateness of nursing interventions
14. Groups/Aggregates- Staffing, budgeting and FTE management
15. Implementation- Putting a nursing plan into action
16. Information Manager- Input/output data systems
17. Leadership- Use of knowledge and skills to design coordinate and manage care of individuals within a system
18. Legality- Standards of behavior defined by law
19. Lifelong Learning- Recognizes the need to expand knowledge base throughout one's career
20. Morality- Establishment and maintenance of standards of thinking and behaving
21. Nursing Process- An orderly, logical, problem-solving approach to administer nursing care so that client's needs are met
22. Oral Skills-  Verbal and nonverbal communication
23. Organization- Use problem solving to achieve multiple tasks
24. Personal and Professional Relationships- Standards of behavior in the practice of nursing
25. Planning- Develop a strategy that prescribes interventions to attain expected outcomes
26. Professional Accountability/Responsibility- Ultimately answers for health care outcomes
27. Role Modeling- Students will model professionalism
28. Scientific Inquiry- Attainment, synthesis, and utilization of data
29. Team Member- Practices with other healthcare professionals, including lesser skilled personnel, i.e. unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)
30. Technology Skills-  Utilization of technology to promote validation and exchange of information
31. Writing Skills-  Ability to communicate information in written format
32. Workforce Manager- Line supervisor, i.e. charge nurse
    

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the baccalaureate program receive preparation designed to enable themto:

• Develop professional knowledge and skills necessary to design coordinate, and leadwithin the healthcare system
• Utilize the nursing process as a foundation for nursing practice
• Communicate in a variety of media to facilitate the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and information
• Employ critical thinking abilities for personal and professional development and nursing practice refinement
• Exhibit personal and professional development responsive to changes in nursing, healthcare, and society