The School of Nursing

Joanne Masella, Ed.D., Dean

The School of Nursing offers a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and is licensed by the Florida Board of Nursing. The baccalaureate degree in nursing at Palm Beach Atlantic University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.aacn.nche.edu/ccne-accreditation). Consistent with the mission of Palm Beach Atlantic University, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is based on a strong liberal arts and science foundation within an integrated Christian faith and worldview. The School of Nursing prepares professional, competent nurses who are reflective, inquiring, able to apply nursing theory, processes and technical nursing skills within the context of the Christian worldview, while recognizing the global, pluralistic nature of society.

Mission

The mission of Palm Beach Atlantic University School of Nursing is to prepare graduates for a life of service in the profession of nursing within a Christ-centered environment incorporating intellectual, professional, and spiritual integrity.

Core Values

Christ-centered

Christ is at the center of everything the School of Nursing does. “He [Christ] is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” – Colossians 1:17 – 20 (NIV)

Servant Leader

PBA prepares students for lifelong learning and leadership. We strongly believe that leadership begins with being a servant. “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:26 – 28 (NIV)

Ministry of Caring

Caring for the sick is not simply an act of goodness, but an act of worship and obedience, taking part in Christ’s ministry of reconciliation. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” – 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV)

Empathy for: Empathy leads to action: “Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he asked. ‘Lord,’ they answered, ‘we want our sight.’ Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.” – Matthew 20:32-34 (NIV)

Connection to: Our common humanity binds us together. “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” – John 11:33 (NIV)

Being with: Sometimes simply being with another is more important than doing for them: “But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’” – Luke 10:40-42 (NIV)

Holistic approach

Health involves much more than mere physical wellness or even psychological well-being. Health includes socio-cultural and spiritual aspects as well, and nurses must take them into account. “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” – Mark 8:36 (NIV)

Professionalism

PBA is dedicated to excellence. PBA Nursing expresses that excellence through dedication to professionalism. It is not enough to simply feel empathy or compassion, or even act on them. Caring must be competent, tempered by learning, experience, and judgment. “I was sick and you looked after me…I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” – Matthew 25:36,40 (NIV)

BSN Program Mission

The BSN Program Mission is to prepare graduates for generalist nursing and graduate nursing education with a Christ-centered focus.

The BSN Program Goals are:

Provide baccalaureate degree level nursing education that builds on a broad-liberal and Christian foundation.
Prepare graduates for practice as generalist nurses.
Prepare graduates for graduate studies in nursing.

Based on the BSN Program Goals the BSN Program Expected Student Outcomes are:

Synthesize theoretical and empirical knowledge from the liberal arts, sciences, humanities, Christian faith, and nursing as a source in critical thinking and decision making to provide holistic care in a variety of nursing contexts and settings.
Combine the nursing process and evidenced based research in the practice of nursing across the lifespan for holistic health promotion, risk reduction, and disease prevention in the care patients, families, and communities.
Provide patient-centered, age-appropriate, culturally sensitive care that assists persons with health promotion and wellness.
Demonstrate effective communication, collaboration, creativity, sensitivity, and flexibility for the delivery of safe, quality, cost-effective nursing care.
Integrate professional nursing values based on legal, ethical, and Christian standards into nursing practice.
Implement professional development through graduate studies and other leadership opportunities with an emphasis on integrity as a professional baccalaureate generalist nurse.
Incorporate current technologies and informatics to support continued learning and support patient outcomes and quality improvement.
Evaluate healthcare policy, finance, and regulatory standards to support quality care outcomes in the complex continuum healthcare environment.

Programs

Nursing, B.S.N (RN-BSN)