HELENE FULD SCHOOL OF NURSING IN CAMDEN COUNTY
MISSION, VISION, VALUES & PHILOSOPHY

Mission
Helene Fuld School of Nursing in Camden County, under the sponsorship of Cooper University Hospital and Virtua, is a hospital-based diploma school committed to educating diverse individuals to become registered nurses. Through a cooperative agreement with Camden County College, the school prepares students to meet the health and wellness needs of the communities they serve.

Vision
The school is committed to create an environment that promotes successful learning by providing excellent didactic and clinical experiences with a focus on the art and science of nursing. Graduates of the program will be prepared to meet the professional standards of nursing practice.

Values
The school strives to guide our students to develop and apply the values of integrity, caring, respect and commitment.

School Philosophy
The faculty of Helene Fuld School of Nursing in Camden County believe that nursing is an evolving academic discipline which integrates concepts from the bio-psycho-social sciences and the humanities. It is a profession which applies research and theory from nursing and other disciplines to its practice. Nursing provides a service directed toward the promotion of self-care and health, the management of human responses, and the maintenance and restoration of optimal health to a diverse society.

Nursing is accountable to society and is characterized by a commitment to practice within ethical, legal, and professional standards. Those who are engaged in the practice of nursing are responsible for the profession's direction and the role it plays in the evolving healthcare system. Nurses collaborate with consumers and other healthcare providers to achieve healthcare outcomes. The nurse possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to function in the roles of caregiver, teacher, counselor, advocate, and care manager.

People are unique, complex, multi-dimensional beings who possess thoughts, feelings and values. As consumers of healthcare, individuals are capable of self-care and have the right to make informed choices. People are members of the community and have the capacity to interact with and be influenced by other members of the community. Nursing recognizes that each individual has value and worth.

Health is a state that exists on a continuum and encompasses physical, psychological, interpersonal, spiritual, and social aspects. Health is perceived according to the individual's cultural and developmental perspectives. The state of health for individuals, families, and communities is influenced by internal and external environmental factors which affect the individual's ability to achieve self-care.

Environment is the aggregate of influential conditions within and around the person. These conditions can be physical, chemical, biological, social, psychological and/or spiritual. Persons exist and interact within their ever-changing environment.

Learning is a life-long process which is enhanced when educational activities and opportunities are meaningful to the learner. Learning is facilitated in a supportive environment which fosters critical thinking. Individuals from diverse backgrounds utilize personal experience and are involved in this process. The teaching-learning process includes opportunities for teacher-student interaction. The relationship between faculty and students is reflective of a cooperative learning experience. Together, they set goals, select and evaluate educational experiences, and appraise learning outcomes. The faculty functions as models and facilitators of learning in the academic and clinical environment. Students assume responsibility for their own health, professional development, and personal growth.

The purpose of professional nursing education is to prepare a nurse who uses critical thinking to make nursing judgments in providing healthcare as an individual or in collaboration with others. The educational process encompasses the acquisition of knowledge, management of information, and the development of cognitive, affective, and psycho-motor skills essential for professional practice with diverse populations.