Mission & Philosophy

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program (BSN) provides an innovative educational initiative for students and graduates to share the global mission of Providence College with the world community and its diverse populations.

Mission

The mission of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program, consistent with the Mission and Vision of Providence College and the philosophy of the BSN Program, is to prepare registered nurses for practice in community population-centered healthcare settings (e.g., hospitals; nursing homes; outpatient clinics; home health care centers; emergency medical units, schools; etc.). The program is founded on beliefs in a moral community of learners committed to protecting and defending the dignity of every person through the exercise of competencies of listening, encounter, cultural humility, dialogue, respect for diversity, ethnicity and inclusion of all persons, developing collaborative partnerships, transformation of health services and systems, technology advancement, and global interactivity required to promote caring, healing, integrity, diversity and excellence in nursing practice.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program contains organizing themes centering on the holistic development and moral formation of students and graduates that lead to practice of the art and science of healing through nursing in the rich tradition of Providence College. Focusing on their personal and professional growth grounded in a liberal arts culture of learning, in addition to completing required courses in the Program, students can choose, according to their personal interests, from electives within various disciplines. Within the nursing courses, lectures, and guided discussions regarding specific content in caring for patients, ethical issues in a variety of situations, and professional and personal issues that interact with nursing care of clients in community population-centered nursing are addressed. Under the direction of highly qualified and experienced faculty, students will be accompanied through a variety of required courses and carefully chosen clinical settings, locally and globally, to prepare them to care for clients in any community or population. A state-of-the art nursing clinical education center provides opportunities for independent study and supervised experiences to master clinical competencies. Outside of formal class settings, students will be afforded opportunities to share their talents within the local community through service-learning initiatives.

Philosophy

The School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Providence College, using an academic progression curriculum model, offers the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) that support and implement the mission and core principles of Providence College founded on Christian principles of truth and charity in the Catholic- Dominican moral tradition.

The Faculty of the Department of Nursing commits itself to:
1. provide a culture of learning in an educational community where Christian caring, critical thinking, moral decision-making, quality education, holistic nursing practice, and standards of professional nursing are modeled by faculty and acquired by students; and to
2. prepare students to practice nursing in a competent, professional, ethical, and effective manner within a culturally diverse society in a variety of settings.

To meet current and projected needs, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program curriculum contains organizing themes centering on the holistic growth and moral formation of students that lead to practice of the science and art of nursing in the rich tradition of Providence College. Focusing on their personal growth within a liberal arts culture of learning, students can choose, according to their personal needs, from multiple electives within various disciplines in addition to choosing electives from within the BSN Program. Within the art of nursing courses, class time is devoted to guided discussions regarding challenges to the nurse, ethical issues in a variety of situations, and professional and personal issues that interact with nursing care of clients in community population-centered nursing. Outside of formal class settings, students will give of themselves within the community through service-learning initiatives. Within the science of nursing courses, students will be shepherded through a variety of required courses and carefully chosen clinical settings, locally and globally, to prepare them to care for clients in any community or population.

Goals

The program goals of the Providence College Department of Nursing are derived from the mission, which emphasizes the education of empathetic, committed healers who promote equitable health, human dignity, and holistic development. The following goals reflect the mission’s core values of compassion, academic and practice excellence, moral formation, and service. 

1. Promote Equitable and Compassionate Care: The program prepares graduates to deliver empathetic, culturally responsive, and equitable nursing care that promotes human dignity and addresses health disparities among diverse populations. 

2. Foster Academic and Clinical Excellence: The program ensures high standards of academic and clinical performance through a rigorous, evidence-based nursing curriculum rooted in the liberal arts and informed by professional standards. 

3. Develop Moral and Holistic Practitioners: The program supports students’ moral formation and holistic development, preparing them to serve as ethical, reflective, and compassionate nurse leaders who embody the values of Providence College. 

4. Advance Human Flourishing and Dignity: The program educates students to recognize, protect, and advocate for the dignity, freedom, and flourishing of every individual across the lifespan and care continuum. 

5. Strengthen Competency in Communication and Collaboration:  The program promotes the development of key nursing competencies, including listening, encounter, cultural humility, dialogue, and interprofessional collaboration to foster inclusive and respectful healthcare partnerships. 

6. Instill a Lifelong Commitment to Growth and Service:  The program inspires graduates to pursue lifelong learning, personal and professional development, and virtuous service to others—especially those in underserved communities—in alignment with the Catholic Dominican tradition of Providence College.