The mission of the Lakeland University Nursing Program builds on the university’s mission in its dedication to educate registered nurses by building on prior knowledge, skills, and experiences to advance the art and science of nursing. The goal of a baccalaureate graduate is to grow personally, advance with increasing competence professionally, and carry on the lifelong learning process that is important for optimal development as a practitioner in the discipline of nursing.

Lakeland University nursing faculty believe that the art and science of nursing are founded in the liberal arts and sciences. Nursing education transforms the knowledge from the liberal arts and sciences into the     basis of nursing practice. This foundation, when integrated with evidence-based research and practice, provides the root of professional practice. Professional nursing practice includes an awareness of ethical standards, ability to critically think, participate in lifelong experiential learning, and development of interprofessional relationships. The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (2021) are the foundation to the curriculum for the Nursing Program, and thus essential for the practice of professional nursing. This education provides the foundation for the development of professional nursing practice, critical thinking, ethical decision-making, leadership skills, and the independent and interprofessional pursuit of high standards of health care.

The graduate of Lakeland University’s Nursing Program will integrate evidence-based research to practice in the provision of patient-centered, culturally competent, and community/population-based care. Through experience as an active member of the healthcare community, the graduate will collaborate with interprofessional teams to achieve positive patient outcomes and develop professional skills that contribute to advanced professional competence and leadership. As an active participant in the learning environment the graduate will develop an understanding of healthcare organizations/systems and the processes of healthcare policy development. As a user of patient care technology and informatics the graduate will use information technology in experiences that apply quality improvement principles in the delivery of safe, quality care.

• Synthesize knowledge from the liberal arts, sciences, and professional nursing practice in the delivery of patient-centered care        
• Utilize leadership skills and knowledge of system-based practice to enhance the quality and safety of nursing practice within health care systems        
• Integrate the use of critical thinking skills by combining nursing knowledge and evidence-based research to advance professional nursing practice        
• Examine how informatics, information management systems, and patient care technology impact patient-care outcomes        
• Analyze the direct and indirect influence that external and internal factors (i.e. health care policies, practices, and regulatory environments) have on population health and professional nursing practice        
• Deliver patient-centered care as a member of an interdisciplinary team, emphasizing communication, evidence-based practice, quality improvement approaches, and informatics        
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals and patient populations to promote conditions and health behaviors that improve population health across the lifespan        
• Demonstrate accountability for the delivery of professional nursing care that is consistent with altruistic, ethical, and humanistic principles        
• Adapt nursing care based on patient preference, healthcare environment, and scientific advancement