Philosophy of Nursing Vanderbilt University Medical Center

We believe that the provision of highly skilled and specialized nursing care is essential to the fulfillment of Vanderbilt University Medical Center's mission of quality in patient care, education, and research. Nursing accepts the responsibility to provide patient centered, high quality, and cost effective nursing care for all patients and their families.

We believe nursing is an applied art and science with the focus of professional practice being to assist individuals, families, and communities in achieving optimum health and well-being. This assistance includes preventive health care, education, facilitating recovery and continued support through illness, disability, or death. Professional nurses collaborate with physicians and other disciplines to insure patient care that is coordinated and comprehensive. This collaborative care takes place in a variety of settings.

We are guided by a philosophy that recognizes the inherent worth, dignity, and uniqueness of every individual. We promote participation of patients and significant others in decisions regarding the patients' health care and work toward their optimal level of wellness.

We are committed to providing an environment that continually seeks to improve delivery of patient care, facilitates rapid changes in practice, and encourages flexibility throughout all levels of care providers. We believe in the concept of Shared Governance whereby staff participates in decisions affecting nursing practice and the clinical work environment. We believe in the enhancement of an environment that fosters effective communication at all levels, provides recognition of nursing staff for excellence in clinical practice and promotes the recruitment and retention of clinically competent staff. We support the roles of nurses in advanced practice as clinical experts and resources for the enhancement of patient care throughout the care continuum.

We believe that research is a vital component for the advancement of clinical practice. Systematic evaluation of the effectiveness of nursing practice contributes to the improvement of patient care and the expansion of nursing knowledge. Excellence in nursing practice is enhanced by creating an environment that provides opportunities for advanced nursing education as well as stimulating personal and professional growth. We seek to foster innovation by working collaboratively with other disciplines to develop new models of clinical practice to improve quality patient outcomes.

We believe that the future of the profession rests upon developing collaborative models between nursing service and nursing education. Nursing accepts the responsibility for facilitating education of patients, families, nursing peers, colleagues from other disciplines and students of the various health professions. Each nurse serves as a role model of quality professional practice.

We are accountable for our practice in accordance with recognized professional standards and ethical codes. We accept the challenge of providing high quality nursing care as a member of the total health care team in a complex and dynamic health care environment.