We believe that each human being is to be respected and cared for in a way that would maintain dignity throughout all stages of life. We believe all human beings are unique and made in the image of God, deserving of respect and nurturing regardless of how they express themselves, the community in which they live, socioeconomic status, or the culture to which they belong. We believe human beings are influenced by their environment, their culture, their ethnicity, and their life experiences. In accordance with the core value of Characteristic Excellence (having a character that exemplifies excellence in all that they do), the School of Nursing desires our students to honor Christ by striving to do all things with characteristic excellence, even when the students’ own beliefs may not mirror those for whom they care.

We believe that health can mean many things to many people. The School of Nursing agrees with the definition from the World Health Organization (2021), that health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Optimal health can often coexist with illness. Often people with chronic conditions adapt to consider themselves in optimal health for their condition. We also realize health beliefs and practices are often affected by the affordability and accessibility of health care. The School of Nursing is committed to the core value of providing a biblically centered institution where the Bible is the standard and basis for the worldview that undergirds and permeates its academic programs as well as every function of the college to help in the overall health of the student and those for whom they may one day care. We believe that the nurse’s role is to assess the challenges patients may face economically, environmentally, genetically, mentally, and spiritually, and acknowledge the adaptation to health and illness that may arise from those challenges.

According to the American Nurses Association (n.d.), nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations. In accordance with the core value of Servant Leadership, the School of Nursing is committed to preparing BSN graduates to become servant leaders by following the example of Jesus in self-sacrifice and service to others, regardless of their race, religion, political belief, economic status, or social condition.

We believe the environment is the accumulation of physiological, social, physical, cultural, economic, mental, spiritual, and political conditions that interact with and influence the experiences of life. The interaction is constant, and the environment is often altered to influence health outcomes, both positive and negative. We believe that nursing can create and sustain a culture of safety and quality healthcare that can transform the environment by creating a safe workspace that produces optimal patient outcomes. In accordance with the core value of Spiritual and Academic Transformation, the School of Nursing seeks to develop the whole student by providing an opportunity for an academically and spiritually transformational college life experience that will be honoring to Jesus.