Philosophy

The philosophy of the College of Nursing and Health Professions is congruent with the Mission values of Lewis University: knowledge, fidelity, wisdom, justice, and association. The College of Nursing and Health Professions faculty supports the development of health care professionals in their pursuit of life-long learning by providing undergraduate and graduate opportunities for liberal and professional education to a diverse student population. The faculty promotes Lasallian and Catholic values within an environment that fosters critical thinking, enlightenment, compassion, and community in all teaching, learning and service. The faculty assists in the development of health care professionals who use their knowledge and skills to protect the rights of those in their care, advocate for the vulnerable and disenfranchised, and promote health and well-being.

Education is a life-long process. The educator and student, each with a rich background of diverse life experiences and learning styles, enter into a journey of learning. A climate of mutual inquiry, support, and interdependence contributes to the exchange of knowledge and experience. The educator assumes the role of resource person, facilitator, and co-learner with the student in a relationship based on acceptance, generosity, patience, humor, and humility. The student actively participates in learning by creating, interpreting, and reorganizing knowledge in search for truth. The Lewis University College of Nursing and Health Professions educational outcomes are based on curricula and experiences that integrate the concepts of person, health, environment, and health care professional.

The faculty believes a person is a unique, holistic child of God who must be treated with dignity and respect for the individual's unique attributes. Persons can be defined as individuals, families, aggregates, and communities. Diversity is recognized, valued, and nurtured.

Health involves and is affected by all aspects of life - mind, body, spirit, and environment. A major focus of health care is to support and promote a person's capacity for health promotion, recovery, and self-healing. Each person has the right to freely choose among approaches that are appropriately responsive to the unique attributes or perceived health needs.

The environment encompasses a complex intersection of time, space, and thought. Each person, through one's own uniqueness, defines and interacts with one's own environment. The relationship of person with environment is non-linear, reciprocal, and mutable.

The health care professional works independently and collaboratively within a defined scope of practice and in a variety of settings. This professional is committed to maximizing health and quality of life from the person's perspective. Professional ethics and values guide the professional who assumes accountability for actions within a professional relationship. Fundamental to the nature of the professional relationship is respect for individuality and preservation of dignity.