Liberal education allows the graduate to form the values and standards needed to address twenty first century changes in technology, demographics, and economics. These trends include an aging population, diverse family and community structures, and increasing global interdependence, as well as economic and political changes in the United States healthcare system. Liberal education provides the baccalaureate graduate with the ability to integrate knowledge, skills, and values from the arts and sciences to provide humanistic, safe quality care; to act as advocates for individuals, families, groups, communities, and/or populations; and to promote social justice. Liberally educated graduates practice from a foundation of professional values and standards. The baccalaureate program prepares the graduate to:
1. Integrate theories and concepts from liberal education into nursing practice.
2. Synthesize theories and concepts from liberal education to build an understanding of the human experience.
3. Use skills of inquiry, analysis, and information literacy to address practice issues.
4. Use written, verbal, nonverbal, and emerging technology methods to communicate effectively.
5. Apply knowledge of social and cultural factors to the care of diverse populations.
6. Engage in ethical reasoning and actions to provide leadership in promoting advocacy, collaboration, and social justice as a socially responsible citizen.
7. Integrate the knowledge and methods of a variety of disciplines to inform decision making.
8. Demonstrate tolerance for the ambiguity and unpredictability of the world and its effect on the healthcare system.
9. Value the ideal of lifelong learning to support excellence in nursing practice.
