3.3 Mission and Philosophy of the School of Nursing

University of Northwestern - St. Paul has a sustained vision across the years that is rooted in the Scriptures and grounded in the Christian faith, both serving as sources for life’s fulfillment and meaning. We believe that God led to the timely establishment of the School of Nursing to further the work begun in the past, while addressing the challenges and opportunities of the future.

The mission and philosophy of the School of Nursing support University of Northwestern - St. Paul’s vision, “Because of God’s compelling love, we will teach wisdom and understanding to reach all nations for Christ.” Likewise, the School of Nursing’s mission, philosophy, and purposes reflect University of Northwestern - St. Paul’s mission, “To provide Christ-centered higher education equipping students to grow intellectually and spiritually, to serve effectively in their professions, and to give God-honoring leadership in the home, church, community, and world.” (University of Northwestern-St. Paul Traditional Undergraduate & Dual Enrollment Catalog 2024-2025, p. 4)

The mission of the School of Nursing is to provide Christ-centered, biblically based, service-focused nursing education, equipping individuals with the skills and abilities required of professional nurses to effectively serve Christ and to assume servant-leadership roles while providing ministry and service to humankind. The philosophy of the School of Nursing is grounded in a biblically based, Christian worldview and in the liberal arts, preparing students holistically for effective ministry and service.

PHILOSOPHY

The philosophy of the School of Nursing has been framed by the concepts of the nursing paradigm, ministry and service, and by beliefs about a sovereign God within a biblically-based Christian Worldview. (See (University of Northwestern-St. Paul Traditional Undergraduate & Dual Enrollment Catalog 2024-2025, p. 4) for a complete statement of philosophy, foundational beliefs, and doctrine.)

God. The School of Nursing believes that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). God the Father is: Creator of heaven and earth; perfect in holiness; infinite in wisdom; and measureless in love and power. God the Son is: Jesus Christ; conceived by the Holy Spirit; born of the Virgin Mary; sinless; Lamb of God, died a substitutionary death on the cross for the sins of man; resurrected and ascended into Heaven; interceding for His children; personal, visible, imminent, and going to return to earth for His children. God the Holy Spirit is: sent to the world to convict the world of guilt in regard to sin because men do not believe in Jesus Christ; a counselor who regenerates, sanctifies, and comforts those who believe in Jesus Christ. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning (John 1:1-2 NIV).

Biblically Based Christian Worldview. The School of Nursing believes that our pursuit of truth begins with the assumption that the Bible is the foundation from which all other disciplines emerge. We believe that there is a consistency between biblical truth and truth discovered through reason and experience, but, we hold that when apparent conflicts occur, all truth claims defer to the truth revealed in the Bible.

Man/Person. The School of Nursing believes that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned in Adam, and that all men by nature and by choice are sinners having incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. We also believe that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16 KJV). We believe that man is a spiritual, physical, intellectual, social, and emotional being that is greater than the sum of parts. We believe that each person seeks to find significance and meaning in life, which ultimately is found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The quality of relationships with others is directly influenced by the presence and quality of relationship with God who bestows all human life with worth and dignity.

World/Environment. The School of Nursing believes God created all things, and all creation reflects God’s glory. Creation was initially perfect and good, but is cursed because of sin (Gen 3: 17-18). Therefore, there are two components coexisting simultaneously: the physical world and a spiritual world. Man has been given dominion over every living creature in the world (Gen 1:28). The environment is influenced by man and man is influenced by the environment, in a reciprocal interaction (Ephesians 6:12).

Health. The School of Nursing believes that optimal, wholistic health requires an interactive relationship with God. Health is a result of fearing the Lord and avoiding evil (Prov 3:7-8), being humble and trusting the Lord, and through having one’s needs met: food, water, shelter, physical, spiritual, emotional, companionship, cultural, intellectual and financial. Through experiencing God’s love, mercy, forgiveness, healing, personal communion, and transformational power combined with the orchestrating of meeting the needs of man through His servants, ultimate health can be obtained. However, perfect health, is not possible due to a fallen, sinful world. Illness, pain, disease, life challenges and problems, including relationship challenges came into existence due to the curse of sin (Gen 3). Perfect health will only be present in the new Heaven and Earth where there will no longer be a sinful curse. (Rev. 21:4). As Christians, we believe our bodies are not our own and are the temple of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 6:19), therefore we should strive to live a lifestyle to promote ultimate wellness.

Nursing. The School of Nursing believes that nursing is an academic discipline and a practicing profession, requiring clinical reasoning and professional judgment. Nursing uses professional standards of practice as a basis for assuming nursing roles and is accountable to Christ, the general public, the nursing profession, and healthcare employers. Nursing integrates art and science to promote health, reduce risk, prevent disease, and care for man’s unmet needs. Nursing collaborates with the interprofessional healthcare team, uses the nursing process and evidence-based practice, to provide care for individuals, families, groups, communities, populations, the under-served, the poor, the disadvantaged, across the lifespan, and to diverse populations. Nurses provide safe and quality care in multiple settings including the home, church, community, and the world. The School of Nursing believes for Christians, nursing is considered a calling from God, that is purposeful, God-directed, and defined by using our God-given abilities and talents for God-honoring leadership, service and ministry (Romans 12:6-8).

Ministry and Service. The School of Nursing believes that all Christians are called to ministry and service, carrying forth Christ’s mission. We are called to use our God-given abilities and talents to serve and minister to others as Christian professional nurses following Christ’s example within the home, church, community, and world.

Philosophy of Education. The School of Nursing believes in providing an education that is grounded first and foremost in the truth of the Bible and in God as the ultimate Reality of the universe. When the apparent truths of nursing, as an academic discipline conflict with the truth of God’s Word, we put our trust in God’s revealed truth in the Bible. Having an educational philosophy with its central core steeped in the revealed Word of God, we assist in providing a well-rounded education that equips students to have a broad understanding of the world that God has created. We are committed to the values of community, life-long learning, ministry, integrity and the pursuit of excellence. (See University of Northwestern - St Paul Website), for complete Philosophy of Education.)

Nursing Education. The School of Nursing believes that baccalaureate nursing education exists to prepare professional nurse generalists within the discipline of nursing. The organized functions of nursing education are made up of continuous processes of guided and purposeful activities to promote and develop professional nurse generalists with the following skills and abilities: Critical thinking, problem solving skills, and scholarly abilities; evidence-based practice and research abilities; prioritization and delegation skills; written, oral, non-oral, and interdisciplinary team communication skills; technology-based skills; information and systems management skills; performance, hands-on skills; servant-leadership and management skills; budgetary and finance skills; time awareness and management skills; ethical, legal, and political awareness skills and engagement skills; and ministry and service skills.

The Role of Faculty. The role of faculty is to engage students in various instructional strategies to promote effective learning. Instructional strategies faculty use include blended-learning, simulation and debriefing, didactic and group learning, clinical and experiential hands-on learning and other engaging, scholarly activities. Faculty integrate Christian faith principles and truths into the classroom and clinical settings. Faculty role model the art and science of nursing within a biblically based Christian worldview. In addition, faculty engage in life-long learning, God honoring leadership, service, and ministry.

The Role of Students. The role of students is to actively and fully participate in all learning opportunities designed to help students meet program outcomes and BSN graduate competencies. Students need to 1) intentionally and continually pursue active learning strategies, 2) seek out help, assistance, and clarification from faculty when struggling academically, 3) identify and use all available resources including library resources, tutors, study partners or groups, and 4) seek creative methods and strategies to learn, keeping in mind their own preferred learning style(s). Students are accountable for their own learning and critical thinking. Students are encouraged to use their God given abilities and talents, develop effective study habits, and demonstrate perseverance.