Nursing Educational Constructs and Framework

Educational Constructs

In accordance with Benner and Leininger, the faculty believes that education is predicated on the following constructs:

Experiential: student-centered & life-long learning
-believe nursing education includes experiences & activities promoting learning (Benner, Leininger).
Caring: essential to nursing and nursing education
-embrace tenet that caring practice is invisible work of nursing and the heart of nursing (Benner, Leininger).
Clinical Judgment: qualitative distinction, evolves over time, integrative/dynamic
-based on recognition of dynamic interactions; evolves over time as nurse gains experience and furthers education in profession (Benner).
Holistic Health/Illness/Death
-believe nursing education should embrace care of all clients with all stages of health from wellness to death (Leininger).

Eclectic Framework

Benner's (1984) work provides the framework for the SON. Nursing programs are built upon various students levels of education: ASN, BSN, MSN. These programs are designed to enhance career mobility. "From Novice to Expert"
Concepts of care and culture (Leininger, 1991)) are threaded throughout the curriculums to meet individual and global needs. "..to provide culturally congruent care"
Constructs of Experiential Learning, Caring, Clinical Judgment, and Holistic Health/Illness/Death provide horizontal threads that serve as broad content categories which are not mutually exclusive within the curriculums.

The NAU School of Nursing and faculty believe nursing is a practice profession with a defined body of knowledge and outcomes.

Nursing practice is embraced through education as holistic, caring in nature and incorporating life long learning.

Nursing demands the ability to adapt to a changing environment in assessing, analyzing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care.

Continued learning and application of facts and principles are necessary for effective clinical judgment. Nurses should be self-directive, creative, critical thinkers who strive for life-long learning, regardless of their level of practice.