About
History
The Nursing programs at Colorado State University Pueblo were established in 1964 with the mission to prepare graduates for professional positions as safe, competent, and caring nurses who can meet the health care needs of diverse populations. In 2017, the programs became part of the official CSU Pueblo School of Nursing.
Mission
The mission of the School of Nursing is to prepare graduates for professional positions as safe, competent and caring nurses to meet the healthcare needs of diverse populations.
Philosophy
Colorado State University Pueblo School of Nursing shares the mission and philosophy of the University, which focuses on education, scholarly activity, and service.
The SON philosophy is dedicated to the pursuit of higher learning grounded in the arts, sciences, and humanities.
Caring is considered the central concept of the nursing curriculum. The nursing faculty of CSU Pueblo is committed to modeling caring behavior to students on the belief that when students experience caring, they learn to care for others. Caring has been defined as the “essence of nursing” (Leininger, 1988), a process and a behavior that can be taught and learned.
Caring requires the “offering of self” (Scotto, 2003); intellectually, physically, psychologically, and spiritually. The faculty ascribes to the core competencies for nurse practitioners and nursing education identified by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioners (NONPF), National League for Nursing (NLN), The National Academy of Medicine, and the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) project.
Nursing is the synthesis of science and art, which addresses health promotion and maintenance across the lifespan and fosters the development of the nurse’s professional identity, integrity, and leadership. Patient-centered care includes respect for individual dignity and consideration of cultural and ethical beliefs and values.
Nursing care is provided in collaboration with the patient, 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.
Effective communication skills using both technological and human means are essential to nursing care.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials (2021) provide the curricular foundation for graduate nursing student learning outcomes. Student-centered learning results from engagement between teacher, learner, and environment.
Learners are expected to be self-directed and active participants in their education. The curriculum helps learners move toward independence and life-long learning.
Goals
- Provide quality learning experiences for entry-level and advanced nursing practice.
- Provide multiple degree entry pathways that support student success.
- Serve as a regional nursing education center for Southern Colorado.
- Maintain educational excellence aligned with accreditation and professional standards.
- Provide a supportive and caring learning environment for diverse students.
