ADN Mission, Program Outcomes, and End-of-Program Student Learning Outcomes and Related Competencies

ADN Mission

As an integral part of the larger college system, the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) faculty endorses the mission of Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas (PCCUA) which is committed to helping every student succeed. The College provides high-quality, accessible educational opportunities and skills development to promote lifelong learning and engage in the lives of its students and communities (College Catalog). The ADN faculty adheres to that mission when offering the Associate Degree Nursing program. The mission of the Associate Degree Nursing program is to provide a high quality, educational program that prepares the student to function as a professional nurse providing safe, quality, evidence-based nursing care in the current healthcare environment and to plan for lifelong learning as a professional nurse.

Program Outcomes

The Associate Degree Nursing faculty uses the following program outcomes to measure program effectiveness.

Licensure Exam (NCLEX)

  • The most recent annual licensure examination pass rate for the program will be at least 80% for all first-time test-takers for the same 12-month time period.
  • The most recent annual licensure examination pass rate for the program will be at least 80% for all first-time test-takers on each campus for the same 12-month time period.

Program Completion

  • The 3-year mean completion rate for all students enrolled in the first nursing course who complete the program within 150% time will be greater than the College 3-year mean completion rate in 150% time for students earning an associate degree for the same time period.
  • The 3-year mean completion rate for students enrolled in the first nursing course on each campus who complete the program within 150% time will be greater than the College 3-year mean completion rate in 150% time for students earning an associate degree for the same time period.

Job Placement 

  • 80% of all graduates will be employed in a position requiring RN licensure within 6 months of graduation.
  • 80% of graduates on each campus will be employed in a position requiring RN licensure within 6 months of graduation.

End-of-Program Student Learning Outcomes and Related Competencies

The Associate Degree Nursing faculty uses the following student learning outcomes and competencies to measure student achievement of end-of-program student learning outcomes and related competencies. 

Patient-Centered Care

Provide safe, quality, evidence-based, patient-centered nursing care in a variety of healthcare settings to diverse patient populations throughout the lifespan.

  • Conduct comprehensive and/or focused physical, behavioral, psychological, and spiritual assessment of health and illness parameters in patients, using developmentally and culturally appropriate approaches.

  • Prioritize identified patient needs based on assessment findings.

  • Develop a plan of care based on evidence-based practice considering individual patient needs.

  • Implement patient-centered care that reflects an understanding of human growth and development, pathophysiology, pharmacology, nutrition, medical and nursing management throughout the lifespan and in a variety of healthcare settings.

  • Promote factors that create a culture of safety.

  • Provide comprehensive patient teaching that reflects developmental stage, age, culture, spirituality, patient preferences, and health literacy considerations.

  • Implement nursing interventions to prevent illness, and restore, promote and maintain physical and mental health of patients across the lifespan in a variety of healthcare settings.

  • Monitor patient outcomes to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of nursing care.

  • Deliver care within expected timeframe.

  • Provide patient-centered transitions of care and hand-off communications, including discharge planning, to ensure the receiving caregiver has the knowledge needed to provide safe care.

  • Demonstrate cultural awareness/sensitivity when providing care to diverse patients in a variety of healthcare settings.

  • Revise the plan of care based on an ongoing evaluation of patient outcomes including recognition of alterations to previous patient conditions.

  • Demonstrate safe performance of psychomotor skills for efficient, safe, and compassionate patient care including accurate calculation of dosages.

  • Document accurately all aspects of patient care.

 

Clinical Judgment

Engage in clinical judgment to make patient-centered care decisions.

  • Use clinical judgment to make management decisions to ensure accurate and safe nursing care, including addressing anticipated changes in the patient's condition.

  • Display skill in using clinical judgment when implementing all steps of the nursing process while integrating best available evidence.

  • Anticipate risks, and predict and manage potential complications.

  • Prioritize patient care.

  • Evaluate the impact of economic, political, social, and demographic forces on the delivery of healthcare.

  • Analyze the clinical microsystem and its impact on the nurse’s ability to provide safe, quality care.

 

Quality Improvement

Participate in quality improvement processes to improve patient care.

  • Apply quality improvement processes to effectively implement patient safety initiatives and monitor performance measures, including nursing-sensitive indicators in the microsystem of care.

  • Analyze information about quality improvement projects in a variety of healthcare settings.

  • Identify gaps between local and best practice and provide interventions for closing the gaps.

  • Participate in analyzing errors and identifying system improvements.

  • Implement National Patient Safety Goals in all applicable patient care settings.

 

Collaboration and Teamwork

Participate in collaboration and teamwork with members of the interprofessional team, the patient, and the patient’s support persons.

  • Communicate effectively with all members of the healthcare team, including the patient and the patient’s support network when making decisions and planning care.

  • Collaborate with the appropriate interprofessional healthcare provider to communicate data collected during patient care.

  • Implement patient safety and quality improvement within the context of the interprofessional team in a variety of healthcare settings.

  • Employ conflict resolution principles as needed.

 

Information Management

Use information management principles, techniques and systems, and patient care technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making.

  • Use patient care technologies, information systems/technologies, and communication devices to support safe nursing practice.

  • Evaluate the role of information technology and information systems in improving patient care outcomes and creating a safe care environment.

  • Apply patient care technologies as appropriate to address the needs of a diverse patient population.

 

Leadership, Management, Legal, and Ethical

Assimilate leadership, management, legal, and ethical guidelines in practice as a professional nurse.

  • Practice within the legal and ethical frameworks of nursing practice.

  • Analyze planned patient care within the context of the ANA Standards of Practice.

  • Model accountability and responsibility for nursing care given by self and/or delegated to others as applied to the care of all patients.

  • Apply management skills and knowledge of the rules and principles of delegation when working with other healthcare team members.

  • Serve as a patient advocate.

  • Respond to natural and manmade disasters.

  • Initiate a plan for ongoing professional development and lifelong learning.

 

*These PCCUA End-of-Program Student Learning Outcomes and Related Competencies should not be duplicated in any manner without written permission from PCCUA.