Philosophy of the Division of Nursing
This philosophy describes the beliefs of the nursing faculty of Barry University about person, society, health, illness, and professional nursing. The philosophy evolves from the University mission which is congruent with the College of Health Sciences (CHS) philosophy and supports the purpose of the Division of Nursing (DON).
The faculty believes that all humans are unique beings who have intrinsic value endowed in them by their Creator. Humans manifest a mind-body-spirit unity which encourages creativity, harmony, and health. The essence of human unity is the individual’s culture, spiritual experience, environment, and changing life circumstances. We respect diversity, multiple realities, and individual choices of all persons. We place value on the life of all human beings within the context of family, community, and society.
Society is the dynamic and constructed setting within which all persons exist and interact. Nursing occurs in the framework of a global society valuing cultural, social, and intellectual diversity. Professional nursing carries with it the social responsibility to shape and transform the environment, to improve health and eliminate healthcare disparities for all people. Within society, each defined community provides a unique, multidimensional context for learning.
The faculty believe that health is the balance of mind-body-spirit which is interpreted and expressed in individuals and groups. The experience of illness is an alteration in the harmony of the mind-body-spirit. Health and illness are not considered dichotomous experiences; both are human experiences occurring simultaneously. Understanding simultaneity is fundamental to the diagnosis and treatment of human experiences and responses.
Focusing in a holistic manner across the life span, professional nursing roles involve evidence based practices that are preventative, restorative, and promotive. Evolving professional roles are acknowledged and fostered.
The knowledge base for professional nursing practice is derived from the liberal arts, nursing science, and related professional studies. Professional nursing education facilitates the socialization process, the development of values and professional behavior, and the social construction of policies which affect health at local, national, and international levels. The faculty believes that the baccalaureate degree in nursing is the entry level for professional nursing practice. Nursing education at the master’s level is the minimal preparation for advanced nursing practice. Doctoral nursing education prepares nurses as clinicians, educators, leaders, researchers, scholars, and visionaries.
Nursing scholarship advances the knowledge base of the discipline by promoting inquiry, generating and utilizing research, and selecting theoretical knowledge that is compatible with our professional values and practices. Inquiry is paramount to competence in professional practice and life long learning. The unique focal area of our inquiry is multicultural health.
The curricula of the nursing programs are transformational and based on the belief that society and nursing are ever-changing. This attention to nursing’s influence on communities and society supports our focal area of multicultural health by providing opportunities for scholarship, research, teaching, and community service. The curricula promote and facilitate analytical reasoning, critical thinking, evidence based practice, and the ability to construct knowledge. Quality of life and the health care needs of individuals, families, and communities inform and reform the curricula as faculty and students engage in the scholarly search for meaning and understanding in professional nursing.
The philosophy of the Division of Nursing articulates with the philosophy of the CHS and the University mission through the major characteristics of knowledge and truth, religious dimension, collaborative service, social justice and an inclusive community which celebrates the diversity of students, staff, faculty, and community. The nursing faculty embrace Barry University’s international dimension, respect for human dignity, Dominican spirit of scholarship and service and commitment to a nurturing environment, social responsibility and leadership.
