RN Student Resources

ADN Student Learning Outcomes and Competencies

Mission of the VCCS Nursing Programs is to provide affordable, community access to quality nursing education. The VCCS nursing programs prepare qualified students to provide safe, competent, entry-level nursing care in 21st century healthcare environments. Students are prepared to meet the ever-increasing complexity of the healthcare needs of the citizens of Virginia.

Philosophy: VCCS nursing faculty ascribe to the core competencies for nursing and nursing education. While firmly based in science and the arts, the essence of nursing is caring and compassionate patient centered care. Ethical standards, respect for individual dignity, and consideration of cultural context are implicit in the practice of patient centered care. The nurse advocates for patients and families in ways that promote self-determination, integrity, and ongoing growth as human beings. Nursing care is provided in collaboration with the patient, the family and members of the health care team. The nurse displays a spirit of inquiry by examining evidence to improve quality of care, promote safety and improve patient outcomes. Nursing judgment is integral to making competent decisions related to the provision of safe and effective nursing care. Information management essential to nursing care is communicated via a variety of technological and human means.

Student Learning Outcomes: Students who complete the Associate Degree of Applied Science with a major in Nursing will be expected to:

• Provide client centered care promoting therapeutic relationships, caring behaviors, and self-determination across the lifespan for diverse populations.
• Practice safe nursing care that minimizes risk of harm across systems and client populations.
• Integrate clinical judgment when collaborating with the healthcare team in the management of care for complex clients.
• Practice professional behaviors that encompass the legal/ethical framework while incorporating self-reflection, leadership and a commitment to recognize the value of life-long learning.
• Manage client care through quality improvement processes, information technology, and fiscal responsibility to meet client needs and support organizational outcomes.
• Demonstrate principles of collaborative practice within the nursing and interdisciplinary teams fostering mutual respect and shared decision-making to achieve stated outcomes of care.
• Manage the appropriateness, accuracy, and client response to pharmacology principles for clients with complex conditions.

Student Learning Outcomes with Competencies

1. Provide client centered care promoting therapeutic relationships, caring behaviors, and self-determination across the lifespan for diverse populations.
   1. Coordinate client centered care delivery with sensitivity and respect.
   2. Evaluate the effectiveness of teaching plans and outcomes and revise for achievement of desired outcomes.
   3. Promote client self-determination in making healthcare decisions as a level 4 student.
   4. Integrate therapeutic communication skills when interacting with clients and the client’s support network.
   5. Advocate independently for diverse individuals, families, and communities across the lifespan.
2. Practice safe nursing care that minimizes risk of harm across systems and client populations.
   1. Evaluate human factors and safety principles.
   2. Participate in the analysis of errors and designing system improvements.
   3. Incorporate client safety initiatives into the plan of care.
   4. Practice safe client care as a level 4 student.
3. Integrate clinical judgment when collaborating with the healthcare team in the management of care for complex clients.
   1. Evaluate an individualized plan of care based on client values, clinical expertise and reliable evidence.
   2. Independently prioritize changes in client status and intervene appropriately.
   3. Apply the nursing process to guide care.
   4. Prioritize client care using evidence based practice independently.
   5. Evaluate existing practices and seek creative approaches to problem solving.
4. Practice professional behaviors that encompass the legal/ethical framework while incorporating self-reflection, leadership and a commitment to recognize the value of life-long learning.
   1. Incorporate ethical behaviors and confidentiality in the practice of nursing.
   2. Assume responsibility and accountability for delivering safe client care.
   3. Deliver nursing care within the scope of nursing practice.
   4. Evaluate professional behaviors in interactions with clients, families and healthcare providers.
   5. Engage in reflective thinking for the purpose of improving nursing practice.
   6. Develop a plan for lifelong learning in the nursing profession.
5. Manage client care through quality improvement processes, information technology, and fiscal responsibility to meet client needs and support organizational outcomes.
   1. Evaluate the common quality measures encountered in clinical practice.
   2. Evaluate use of technology and information management to pro mote quality.
   3. Evaluate fiscally responsible client care.
6. Demonstrate principles of collaborative practice within the nursing and healthcare teams fostering mutual respect and shared decision-making to achieve stated outcomes of care.
   1. Compare and contrast the effectiveness of the members of the interdisciplinary team to promote optimal client outcomes.
   2. Participate in the interdisciplinary plan o f care to promote optimal client outcomes.
   3. Evaluate communication strategies that are inclusive of various communication and cultural differences.
   4. Evaluate management skills and principles of delegation when working with other members of the health care team.
   5. Reflects at a professional level on individual and team performance.
7. Manage the appropriateness, accuracy, and client response to pharmacology principles for clients with complex conditions.
   1. Manage the principles of pharmacology to the identified concepts for clients with complex conditions.
   2. Manage the appropriateness, accuracy, and client response to pharmacology principles for clients with complex conditions.
   3. Apply the principles of leadership and management regarding the legal and ethical responsibilities related to safe medication administration.

Pursuant to United States Department of Education (US DOE) regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v), the Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC) Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program provides the following information for all prospective and current students:

The SWCC ADN program meets all Virginia Board of Nursing requirements for pre-licensure nursing education programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In addition, the SWCC ADN program meets all requirements for nationally recognized accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing.

The Commonwealth of Virginia participates with 43 other states in the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) National Licensing Compact (NLC) to allow nurses licensed in one state to provide nursing care across state lines in other compact states. The Uniform Licensing Requirements (ULRs) are found at: https://www.ncsbn.org.

States currently in the NLC are found at: https://www.ncsbn.org. Prospective and current students are strongly encouraged to evaluate all state requirements in jurisdictions where they intend to practice nursing. A list of all state requirements is found at: https://www.ncsbn.org.

SWCC has not determined if the ADN program meets the requirements of any other states.

This statement serves to meet the USDOE regulation until further notice.