The Philosophy of the College of Nursing is in accord with the Philosophy of Villanova University as stated in its Mission Statement. While the Philosophy is rooted in the Catholic and Augustinian heritage of the university, the College of Nursing is welcoming and respectful of those from other faith traditions. We recognize human beings as unique and created by God. The faculty believes that human beings are physiological, psychological, social and spiritual beings, endowed with intellect, free will and inherent dignity. Human beings have the potential to direct, integrate, and/or adapt to their total environment in order to meet their needs.

"The College of Nursing truly is an environment where students are enriched with knowledge and are encouraged to utilize this knowledge for the well-being of society, as well as for the future of the profession."

Dimitra Georgelos Christoforatos, MSN, CRNP
BSN '99, MSN '03

The faculty believes that health is a state of physiological, psychological, social and spiritual well-being and not merely the absence of disease. Human beings do not assume a fixed position of health, but have the potential for moving between wellness and illness in multiple dimensions. The faculty believes that health care is a right and they respect individuals’ decisions related to their health care.

Nursing is a dynamic profession. Its focus is to assist individuals, families, and communities locally and globally at all points in the life cycle to maintain, restore and/or promote health. The nurse, as an accountable agent of health care, uses the nursing process to fulfill various functions of nursing: health promotion, health teaching, health counseling, and managing and providing nursing care. The nursing process involves assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating both the need for nursing care and the outcomes of nursing interventions. The faculty believes that the nursing profession is ever changing. Nurses are actively involved in planning and implementing changes enhanced by technology in nursing practice. Nurses act as catalysts in stimulating deliberate and conscious planning for the improvement of society's health care through the use of evidence-based practice. Nurses serve as change agents and emerge as full partners, with other health disciplines, in leading and shaping health policy for a diverse, multicultural society and in functioning as advocates for the health care consumer.

The faculty believes that education provides students with opportunities to develop habits of critical, constructive thought so that they can make discriminating judgments in their search for truth. This type of intellectual development can best be attained in a highly technologic teaching-learning environment that fosters sharing of knowledge, skills and attitudes as well as scholarship toward the development of new knowledge. The faculty and students comprise a community of learners with the teacher as the facilitator and the students responsible for their own learning.

The faculty believes that the professional nurse is educated in an institution of higher learning which grants a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing. Furthermore, the faculty believes that this educational program is an initial step in the ongoing process of continuing professional education and development. Through its Undergraduate Program, the Villanova University College of Nursing educates generalists who are prepared to practice nursing and demonstrate leadership in a variety of settings. The Graduate Program has as its priority the preparation of nurse educators, administrators, and advanced practice nurses. Master's degree graduates are educated to provide leadership and are qualified to enter doctoral programs. The Doctoral Program has as its focus the preparation of teacher-scholars.