Division of Nursing
- Patricia Wrightsman, MS, RN (Chair)
- Melissa Colvin-North, BSN, RN
- Barbara K. Fane, MSN, ANP
- Eileen Rice, MS, RN
- Susan O. Sykas, MSN, APRN, PNP
- Mary Grace Cahill, RN, MS, CHCNS, GC (part time)
- Lorraine M. Forfa, MSN, RN (part time)
- Gail Hanlon, MSN, RN (part time)
- Anne Myrka, RPh, MAT, CGP, BCPS (part time)
The Mission
The mission of the Nursing Division of Southern Vermont College is to provide entry into the profession of nursing by offering career mobility through associate and baccalaureate education. The associate degree program prepares individuals to enter the field of nursing as novice technical nurses, while baccalaureate education provides an opportunity for registered nurses to practice as professional nurses. The Division strives to educate students in the art and human science of nursing in an environment which emphasizes caring, praxis and holism. The programs promote knowledge development, skill acquisition, legal and ethical values and experience through practice.
Philosophy
The Nursing Division believes that nursing is an art and a human science that is based on the moral ideal and value of caring (Watson, 1979). Nursing is involved in human interactions which assist in the fostering of health and wholeness (ANA, 2004: Chinn & Kramer, 2004). Caring provides a foundation for nursing practice as it sets priorities and fosters a connection between nurse and patient and provides for giving and receiving assistance (Benner & Wrubel, 1989). The definition that the Nursing faculty has developed for caring includes thoughts and actions characteristic of concern for the well-being of patients including sensitivity, comforting and attentive listening (Mosby, 1998). Caring also includes being present for patients and clinical competencies which develop over time through observation, reflection, using interpretive skills and practice (Sadler, 2003; Benner and Wrubel, 1989).
Nurses provide care for patients in the context of their environment. The individual and the family are the focus of associate degree nursing care, while the baccalaureate student expands his/her perspective to include the group and community. The individual is seen as greater than a sum of their parts, which include biological, sociological, psychological and spiritual components. Each patient is unique deserving of respect and nursing care. The Nursing Division recognizes that the environment does not just relate to the physical space but includes the type of setting in which care occurs.
The Nursing Division recognizes that the restoration and preservation of health is the primary focus for nursing. Health exists independently from disease and is a dynamic process which is defined by each individual.
The Nursing Division believes that nursing education is also based on caring. In addition, nurses must possess the knowledge, skills, values and experience to successfully practice nursing (Webber, 2002). Praxis is used by the Nursing Division to provide an overarching theme which elevates the knowledge, skills, values and experience that the student obtains during the course of the program. Praxis is defined as a "value-grounded, thoughtful reflection and action that occurs in synchrony (Chinn & Kramer, 2004)." The Nursing faculty consider praxis to be the integration of critical thinking and therapeutic nursing interventions based on a foundation of caring.
To achieve the aim of educating technical nurses who possess the knowledge, skills, values and experience necessary, the Nursing faculty provide personalized learning environments and small classes. A strong liberal arts and science background provides the foundation for knowledge development. Knowledge of nursing and appropriate application of therapeutic nursing interventions provide the foundation for their practice. The educational preparation of these students includes a focus on the development of psychomotor skills and sound critical-thinking skills with classroom and clinical activities designed to promote acquisition of those skills. Students are afforded opportunities for personal expression with the expectation that graduates will be able to communicate effectively, orally and in writing. Through service-learning experiences, students are given opportunities to develop a sense of community and a commitment of service to others. Values inherent in nursing and society provide a foundation for practice.
Knowledge development in the baccalaureate program is enhanced through an exploration of the theoretical basis of nursing practice and research. Inquiry in this area enables students to further develop their critical-thinking skills. Communication skills, both orally and in writing, are refined throughout the program. The concept of service learning is enhanced at this level with students having opportunities to assume leadership roles, responsibility and accountability while making contributions to the community. Value exploration and clarification provides a basis for professional practice. Experience is gained in a variety of settings which serve to broaden students’ scope of practice. The baccalaureate degree provides opportunities for students to enter professional practice and prepares them to assume leadership roles in the health care field as clinicians and managers or as graduate students.
The Nursing Division believes that teaching and learning are collaborative, communicative processes which foster inquiry, dialogue, self-knowledge and evolution of thought. It endeavors to create a caring environment in which to provide the knowledge, skills, values and experience needed for successful nursing practice. The expectation is that graduates are capable of fulfilling their inherent potential both personally and professionally, through the educative process and become lifelong learners.
Career Opportunities and Graduate Study
Licensure: In order to be employed as a registered nurse, a person must be licensed by the state in which he/she will practice. The Associate Degree in Nursing enables students to apply for licensure by examination through any State Board of Nursing. Successful completion of the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX) and compliance with all requirements for licensure as established by the state board of nursing is required for licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN).
Questions asked of applicants seeking licensure include the following:
- Has any state, territory or other jurisdiction denied your application for a license, certificate or registration in any profession or occupation?
- Has any state or federal licensing authority restricted, suspended, revoked or taken any other disciplinary action against your license, certificate or registration that you hold or held in any profession or occupation?
- Have you been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation?
- Do you have a physical or mental condition or disorder which in any way impairs or limits your ability to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety?
- Has your use of alcohol, drugs or medications in any way impaired or limited your ability to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety?
- Are you currently participating in a supervised program or professional assistance program which monitors you in order to assure you are not engaging in the illegal use of controlled dangerous substances?
Answering yes to any of these questions may affect a person’s ability to obtain a Nursing license.
Registered Nurses have a wide variety of job opportunities including positions in Acute Care Practice, Long-term Care Facilities, Primary Care Practice, Hospice Care, School Nursing, Traveling Practice, etc.
Registered nurses may choose to seek additional education to become Nursing Specialists or Advanced Practice Nurses (APN). Nurse Specialists can become certified in a wide variety of areas including Oncology, Pediatrics and Infusion Therapy. Advance Practice Nurses include Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists and Certified Nurse Midwives.
Graduate Study
Nurses seeking careers as Nurse Educators, Nurse Administrators, Researchers or in some nursing speciality areas will need to complete a master's or doctorate degree in Nursing.
Accreditation
All Nursing programs at Southern Vermont College are accredited by the Vermont State Board of Nursing at 802-828-2396 and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. (NLNAC). The NLNAC may be contacted at 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York City, New York 10006; by telephone at 212-363-5555 or 800-669-9656; or via the Internet at www.accrediting-comm-nlnac.org.
The Nursing degree programs are rigorous and require dedication of many hours each week to class, study and clinicals. Students are encouraged not to take on other responsibilities that require a significant time commitment when enrolled in Nursing courses.
