PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
The organizing framework for Helene Fuld College of Nursing has been developed from its philosophy. The framework reflects the faculty’s beliefs about education, nursing, person, health, environment, and nursing education. The curriculum is designed to incorporate the New York State legal definition of nursing, the Roy Adaptation Model[1], the nursing process, and the Educational Competencies for Graduates of Associate Degree Nursing Programs[2].
Definition of REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL NURSE in New York State Law:
The practice of the profession of nursing as a registered professional nurse is defined as diagnosing and treating human responses to actual or potential health problems through such services as case finding, health teaching, health counseling, and provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being, and executing medical regimens prescribed by a licensed physician, dentist or other licensed healthcare provider legally authorized under this title and in accordance with the commissioner’s regulations. A nursing regimen shall be consistent with and shall not vary any existing medical regimen.
According to the Roy Adaptation Model, the individual is viewed as a bio-psychosocial being in constant interaction with an ever-changing environment. The individual is continually receiving input in the form of stressors from the environment. The goal of nursing is to help the person adapt to changes in the physiological and psychosocial modes (self-concept, role function, interdependence) during health and illness. The need for nursing care arises when the client cannot adapt to internal and external environmental stressors. The nurse determines what stressors are causing the client problems and assesses how well the client is adapting to them. Nursing care is then directed at helping the client adapt.
The nursing process is a problem-solving approach for gathering data, identifying capacities and needs of the human adaptive system, selecting and implementing approaches for nursing care, and evaluating the outcome of care provided. The nursing process is used as a framework for clinical decision making for safe, effective delivery of care. An effective clinical decision assures the delivery of accurate, safe care that moves the client and support person(s) towards positive outcomes. Evidence-based practice and the use of critical thinking provide the foundation for appropriate clinical decision making in nursing and the nursing process is critical thinking in action.
The faculty derived the program objectives from the educational competencies[3]. The objectives are as follows:
1. Maintain accountability for the practice of professional nursing within the established ethical and legal standards.
2. Maintain professional nursing practice by participating in lifelong learning.
3. Utilize therapeutic communication skills and appropriate channels of communication when interacting with clients and their support person(s).
4. Assess the impact of comprehensive (environmental, developmental, emotional, cultural, religious, and spiritual) influences on the client’s health status.
5. Use evidence-based information to support clinical decision making in the healthcare delivery system.
6. Use the nursing process to provide safe and effective nursing care.
7. Demonstrate caring behavior towards the client and significant support person(s).
8. Teach the client and significant support person(s) the information and skills needed to achieve desired learning outcomes.
9. Coordinate the decision making process and the development of an individualized plan of care with the client, significant support person(s), and other members of the healthcare team.
10. Adapt the provision of client care to changing healthcare settings and management systems.
In order to meet licensure requirements in New York State, applicants must be at least eighteen years old, have graduated from a program approved by New York State, and pass the National Council of State Boards Examination (NCLEX-RN). Graduates of Helene Fuld College of Nursing are qualified to take the licensing examination. Applicants are required, as stated in the Nursing Application Packet, published by The University of the State of New York, The State Education Department, to answer whether you (the applicant) have:
been convicted of a crime (felony or misdemeanor), in any state or country;
been charged with a crime (felony or misdemeanor), in any state or country, the disposition of which was other than by acquittal or dismissal;
ever surrendered your license or been found guilty of professional misconduct, unprofessional conduct, incompetence or negligence in any state or country;
charges pending against you for professional misconduct, unprofessional conduct, incompetence or negligence in any state or country;
had any hospital or licensed facility restrict or terminate your professional training, employment, or privileges or ever voluntarily or involuntarily resigned or withdrawn from such association to avoid imposition of such measures.
If the answer to any of the above is "yes", you must submit a letter giving a complete explanation, copies of any court records, and a copy of the "Certificate of Relief from Disabilities" or "Certificate of Good Conduct". Following a review of these documents, eligibility to sit for the NCLEX-RN will be determined on an individual, case-by-case basis.
The New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions, Division of Professional Licensing Services requires a fee of $135.00 for the license application and the first registration period. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing requires a fee of $200.00 for the NCLEX-RN exam.
[1] Roy, C. & Andrews, H.A. (1999). The Roy adaptation model (2n Ed.).Stamford, CT: Appleton & Lange.
[2] National League for Nursing (2000). G. Coxwell & H. Gillerman (Eds.). Educational Competencies for graduates of associate degree nursing programs. New York: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
[3] Ibid., p. 6
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