Nursing Program Philosophy

We, the Bethel University nursing faculty, believe that each person is a unique product of his or her environment; that learning is a result of the teaching-learning process; that health impacts quality of life; and that nursing is the art and science of caregiving, the prevention of illness, and promotion of health.

We believe that each person is a global citizen who exists and functions within the context of family, community, and world. We believe that each person is responsible and accountable for the decisions he or she makes and for the consequences resulting from those decisions. We believe in the intrinsic value of each person and that he or she is deserving of respect and dignity throughout the lifespan. We see each person as a holistic being whose interaction with his or her environment has the potential to positively influence the purpose and meaning that others derive from their existence.

We believe that an environment shapes a person, just as the person exerts an influence upon his or her environment. Our belief is that a person’s environment is the sum of the physical aspects of one’s internal and external existence as well as moral, cultural, psychosocial, socioeconomic, spiritual, political, educational, ecological, and technological forces. We also believe that individuals make choices about how they interact with their environment resulting in an impact on their lives.

We believe that learning is the principal way in which individuals enhance the efficacy of their interactions within their environment. We believe that learning gives people the skills and knowledge they need to be successful on a personal level while allowing them to contribute to the benefit and welfare of society. We believe that learning is an individual process that every person has potential and can learn. We also believe that every person has the responsibility to be an active participant in the learning process and is personally accountable for his or her learning outcomes.

We believe that learning is the sum of the outcomes from the teaching-learning process. The teaching-learning process is a reciprocal endeavor that involves the active, mutually cooperative participation of faculty and students in the learning environment. We believe that it is our responsibility to provide our students with the leadership, professional guidance, and academic foundation to be successful in the nursing profession. It is our professional obligation to instill a passion for life-long learning in our students to enable them to stay well-informed of the changes in health care science, technology, and evidence-based practice.

We believe that health—on the individual, community, and global level—is nursing’s reason for being. Our belief is that health is a dynamic, constantly adapting state and is influenced by multiple variables, including the physical environment, culture, gender, age, ethnicity, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, education level, and genetics. Our position is that the meaning of health is unique to every individual and exists on a continuum from wellness to death. The science of nursing strives to improve health maintenance and health management to achieve optimal wellness while participating in multidisciplinary care.

We believe that nursing is a profession founded upon caring. Nursing is an art and a science. The art is in our caring and the manner of our care; science involves health promotion, illness prevention, risk-factor identification, acute and chronic care, rehabilitation, and chronic disease management. Nurses are leaders, caregivers, designers of care, change agents, teachers, role models, decision-makers, scientists, managers, and advocates. We believe that the future of nursing lies in taking a leadership role in health promotion, health care, and the health care system.