Nursing

The Dutchess Community College graduate nurse is educated to become a licensed Registered Professional Nurse who practices within the scope of the New York State Nurse Practice Act and the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics. As an integral member of the health care team, the graduate advocates and cares for patients and their families using nursing judgment guided by evidence-based practice.

Nursing, an essential component of the health care system, is based on the core values of caring, integrity, inclusion, and acceptance with respect to diversity. Using a patient-centered approach, nurses assist individuals, their families and significant support persons to make informed health care choices including prevention, disease management and end-of-life decisions.

The philosophy of the Associate Degree Nursing (AD) program complements the philosophy of Dutchess Community College which has the mutual goal to provide excellence in education to a diverse student body.

The nursing faculty believes the associate degree nursing curriculum provides a quality education necessary to practice as a registered nurse with multiple populations in a variety of settings. In order to meet evolving health care needs and the NYS mandate “BSN in 10”, students are encouraged to complete advanced nursing degrees within a decade after graduation.

The practice of nursing incorporates evidence-based knowledge which requires rigorous intellectual inquiry, critical thinking, and an understanding based on the arts, sciences and humanities. Communication and collaboration with other members of the health care team are essential to deliver safe and quality patient care. The nurse has a responsibility to care for the patient, family and public at large.

The curriculum is based on a conceptual framework incorporating basic needs, adaptation, human development and applied science. While psychomotor skills and technology competence are essential in contemporary health care they must be based on sound nursing judgment. Nursing education incorporates knowledge from other disciplines and integrates it with its own body of knowledge. Collectively, the classroom, college laboratory and clinical settings provide opportunities for students to make clinical judgments reflect on ethical concerns, and prepare them for safe nursing practice. Myriad experiential activities emphasize student-centered learning in an atmosphere that encourages curiosity and active participation.

For continuous improvement of the nursing program, the faculty believes in the ongoing process of assessment and evaluation. Student learning outcomes drive changes to the curriculum and learning activities.

The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Nursing is registered by the New York State Education Department and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326: (404) 975-5000, Fax: (404) 975 5020. http://www.acenursing.org/.

The Department of Nursing is a member of the Council of Associate Degree Nursing in New York (CADN), the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN), and the National League for Nursing (NLN).