The associate degree program prepares graduates for registered nursing practice in such settings as hospitals, extended care facilities, and some community settings such as physicians’ offices. Consistent with ADN education, the graduate has greater experience in adult, medical-surgical care, but with appropriate guidance and instruction, may function in other clinical areas, caring for individuals of varying ages and acuity. While the associate degree nurse must be knowledgeable about the health care delivery system and the larger world of nursing practice, the nurse focuses on care of the individual within families and groups. The ADN graduate from Gardner-Webb University is a well-educated person whose curriculum includes not only nursing, but courses in the sciences, humanities, and liberal arts, including religion. The student’s course of study provides education for both entry into RN practice and as a base for professional studies in nursing. The graduate is prepared to pursue additional studies at the baccalaureate and higher levels and is encouraged to do so according to his/her career goals. The graduate is prepared to practice competently in an RN staff position.
Like all licensed nurses, the associate degree graduate is accountable for his/her nursing practice and works within the framework of his/her employing agency and the state’s nursing practice act. The associate degree nurse delegates aspects of care to less experienced RNs, LPN, and nursing assistants and is ultimately accountable for that care. Depending upon continuing education, experience, personal characteristics, and motivation, ADN RNs are capable of fulfilling a variety of positions such as team leader and preceptor within the health care system. However, the associate degree nurse ideally functions with guidance from an RN prepared at the baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral level.
Within the framework of the University and the School of Nursing, the graduate of the ADN program at Gardner-Webb demonstrates the following educational outcomes and performs in the following manner:
Assesses, analyzes/diagnoses, plans, implements, and evaluates nursing care to provide for the patient’s optimum level of wellness consistent with his/her coping abilities, teaching needs, and capacity for self-care.
Utilizes a hierarchy of needs theory as a framework for prioritizing psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual needs and providing individualized nursing care for patients in various stages of the lifespan.
Provides holistic, patient centered nursing care characterized by critical thinking, clinical competence, utilization of therapeutic interpersonal skills, evidenced based practice, attention to sociocultural forces, including technology, which impact health care, and caring which is consistent with the Christian faith.
Communicates with patients, their families, and/or significant others, and other care providers in the planning and delivery of health services.
Manages nursing care for groups of patients with health care needs in varied settings which include hospitals, extended care facilities, and other community health care agencies.
Practices nursing according to ethical and legal standards, is a contributing member within the discipline of nursing, utilizes collaborative care management with interdisciplinary teams, and assumes responsibility for his/her own practice and self-development.
The ADN curriculum includes general education and nursing courses. Nursing courses are categorized as didactic (classroom), experiential (laboratory) and application (hospital clinical) experiences.