Nursing is a humanistic and scientific discipline that focuses on providing culturally based care that is beneficial and contributes to the well-being of clients, families and communities as they function within the context of their environments. The environment in which individuals and cultural groups live provides a context to analyze values, beliefs and life ways that will lead to a reduction in cultural stressors and enhance positive client responses.

The goals of the department of nursing mirror, complement and enhance those of the college. The organizing framework for the nursing curriculum is founded on transcultural nursing care from holistic perspectives. It recognizes that clients are individuals whose culture may differ in significant ways from the cultural premises of the caregivers. Within the context of planning and implementing nursing care interventions, the various roles of the nurse include the mediation of conflicting goals and expectations developing from these cultural disparities. This mediation may involve the accommodation of western cultures' approaches to the health care assumptions of the patient and patient's family as well as recognition of culture-bound phenomena without compromising its beneficial consequences. Conversely, it may also include the acculturation of the patient and patient's family in regard to the practices of western health care systems.

Health encompasses a broad-spectrum state that is culturally defined, valued, and practiced, and which reflects client system stability and harmony. The profession of nursing has a responsibility to provide culturally based nursing care that contributes to the well being of the client. Holistic well-being encompasses both scientific and indigenous health care delivery systems. All participants in a health care delivery system including client or client system and health care provider are characterized by wholeness. Human beings are a composite of physiological, psychological, cognitive, sociocultural, developmental and spiritual variables

Culture is an important factor that significantly impacts upon the relationship between the client, family, community and health care professional. Emphasis is placed on the holistic nature and cultural aspects of the client system in relationship to families and community groups. The goal of nursing is to recognize and reduce cultural stressors and enhance positive client responses.

In their endeavors to contribute to the well-being of the persons and communities with whom they interact professionally, faculty and staff will be guided by respect for the health care beliefs and practices of all, and above all, compassion in their interactions with clients and with each other. Nursing practice and nursing education must be responsive to the uniqueness of persons and communities, fostering full partnership in the healing process. We recognize that there may be a tension between the needs of the individual client and those of specific groups in any community. Our compassion will be guided by our efforts to address health and illness needs regardless of individual differences and without prejudice or preconception. Just as all clients of the health care system are unique and worthy of compassion, so are all students, faculty and other persons with whom they interact in their professional roles. Accepting responsibility for one's actions is critical in the professional role, and all students and faculty will be active in self-evaluation and will participate in peer evaluation with constructive intent. The teaching of therapeutic intervention will be grounded in equal concern for prevention as well as healing.