Our Mission
Butler Community College Department of Nursing offers an educational program to prepare graduates for licensure as a professional nurse to contribute in meeting the health care needs of the communities it serves.
Department of Nursing: Philosophy
This statement is the collective philosophy of the faculty of the Department of Nursing and strongly supports the Vision, Mission, Learning College Principles, and Learning PACT of Butler Community College as well as the deep commitment to health and welfare of the Butler community. This philosophy encompasses the guiding principles of nursing practice, the framework for nursing education, and the role of the associate degree graduate.
Nursing is a profession that empowers individuals, families, groups and communities to attain optimal wellness as they respond to changing health needs and altered health states. Nursing acknowledges the dignity, worth and right of all individuals to have their health needs met. Nursing uses evidence within a critical thinking framework, the nursing process, to guide clinical decision making in providing safe and effective nursing care. Accountability in nursing practice is guided by the American Nurses Association (ANA) Standards of Practice, ANA Standards of Professional Performance and Kansas State Nurse Practice Act.
Client needs (National Council State Boards of Nursing), ANA Standards of Practice, ANA Standards of Professional Performance and the wellness – illness continuum guide the curriculum. The National League of Nursing (NLN) Associate Degree Nursing Core Components and Competencies serve as the student outcomes and are congruent with Butler’s Learning PACT with students. These core components include: assessment, communication, collaboration, managing care, caring interventions, clinical decision making, professional behaviors and teaching/learning.
The associate degree nursing graduate is prepared as a generalist and is committed to advocating for the optimal health of the individual, family and community and is held accountable within the legal and ethical framework of nursing. Possessing skills, knowledge and competencies, the graduate nurse collaborates with individuals, families, communities and other health care professionals to promote positive outcomes. The practice of an associate degree graduate begins at a novice level and uses the traits of adaptability, accountability, and professionalism to move towards an expert nursing role. The faculty supports the Kansas Articulation Plan, which promotes advanced standing for licensed practical nurses into Butler’s nursing program and Associate Degree graduates into baccalaureate programs.
The faculty views students as lifelong learners, who are active participants within varying learning environments drawing upon individual learning needs, life experience and adaptive skills. The Department of Nursing actively collaborates with both internal and external stakeholders in the on-going development of mutually beneficial learning opportunities. Faculty participates within the learning environment serving as initiators, facilitators, role models and resource persons. The Butler nursing alumni are recognized as valued members of the community and contribute to the health and economy of the region. Through partnerships, Butler nursing program provides educational mobility for students and graduates wishing to continue formal education. As life long learners, many of the alumni pursue advanced education and go on to serve in nursing leadership roles in the community.
