Program Description | Academic Progression
Advanced Placement Criteria | Nursing Curriculum & Courses

The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This nursing program provides an opportunity for Registered Nurses who have completed a basic nursing education and attained a Diploma or Associate Degree to continue their education toward a baccalaureate degree with a major in  holistic nursing.  Courses are offered via web-based instruction.  The BSN degree completion curriculum is designed to utilize and build upon previous education, nursing and life experiences, abilities and special interest of the registered nurse student.  The purpose of this program is to provide a foundation in Holistic Nursing as an art and science with an emphasis on self care and holistic care of clients families and communities.  The program will also prepare graduates for entry into graduate nursing education.

Program Description

The Holistic Nursing curriculum is centered in the belief that the RN student will change from a technically trained nurse into a professionally educated nurse and thus be better able to assist clients of culturally diverse communities.  The program will also develop its students’ full potential to prevent illness, promote self-care to nurture others towards the wholeness inherent within them and /or cope with dying and death.  In order to have a philosophy consistent with the UTB/TSC mission, the curriculum will provide high quality holistic nursing education by offering a progressive and accessible distance education curriculum.  This Holistic approach is the center of the faculty’s belief statements dealing with professional nursing, culture/cultural diversity, environment, professional nursing education, client and health.  The Community based framework focuses on concepts related to Holisim in order to study diverse cultural groups and their needs for professional nursing care.  Clinical activities are individualized.   Both a full-time or flexible option are available.

Program Outcomes

Within a framework of holistic nursing practice, at the end of the program, the RN student will have been given the opportunity to:

1. Synthesize knowledge from the physical and behavioral sciences, as well as the humanities and fine arts, to be utilized as a source for making professional nursing practice decisions.

2. Utilize the research process as a basis for improving the quality of care.

3. Promote and maintain optimum health of clients, their families, aggregates, communities and society.

4. Utilize the holistic caring process in a collaborative manner to perform therapeutic nursing interventions with clients, their families, aggregates, communities, and society in any multicultural setting within and outside the health care delivery system.

5. Utilize leadership and management principles in assessing, planning, providing, directing, controlling, and evaluating health care implemented by self and others.

6. Communicate effectively with emphasis on health promotion and teaching in the following areas: written, oral and nonverbal communication, group process and information technology.

7. Function effectively through self-motivation, self-direction, and self-evaluation as lifelong learners who reflect critical thinking skills.

8. Practice professional nursing within a framework of safe, ethical, legal, and professional holistic nursing standards.

9. Accept a personal holistic philosophy of professional nursing that incorporates professional responsibility and accountability to, and advocacy for, the consumer of nursing care.

10. Provide culturally competent holistic care to individuals, families, aggregates, the community and society.

11. Incorporate the core values of holistic nursing into nursing practice.