The conceptual framework of Bryan College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing is composed of eight interrelated concepts: collaboration, critical thinking, leadership, information management, person-centered care, safety, health, and global community. Person-centered care is the unifying concept of the framework and therefore is centrally located within the model.
Collaboration, critical thinking, leadership, and information management are processes used by nurses to achieve the desired outcomes of health, safety, and person-centered care. Health and a global community are variables influencing both the processes and the outcomes of nursing care.
Person-Centered Care “recognizes the client or designee as the source of control and full partner in providing compassionate and coordinated care based on respect for client’s preferences, values, and needs” (Cronenwett et. al, 2007, p. 123), which embodies the art of caring.
Collaboration is the process of “functioning effectively within nursing and inter-professional teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making to achieve quality care.” (Cronenwett et. al, 2007, p. 125)
Critical Thinking is a cognitive process that requires skills in obtaining and applying a well-grounded knowledge base, discriminating and synthesizing information, and is demonstrated through sound clinical judgments.
Leadership is a process involving directing, organizing, coordinating, facilitating, influencing, and evaluating the efforts of individuals and systems toward desired outcomes. Leaders use organizational and political channels to advocate for continuous quality improvement of systems, betterment of the nursing profession, and enhancement of local, regional, national, and global health.
Information Management is the systematic use of evidence-based practice methodology, information literacy, and informatics to guide decision-making and quality care, with consideration for client values and preferences.
Safety involves “Minimizing risk of harm to clients and providers through system effectiveness and individual performance” (Cronenwett et. al, 2007, p. 128).
Health is a dynamic state of holistic well-being, influenced by biological, behavioral, and environmental factors and perceived through the context of the lived experience.
Health and nursing practice are influenced by the Global Community, or worldwide human connectedness. Reference: Cronenwett, L., Sherwood, G., Barnsteiner J., Disch, J., Johnson, J., Mitchell, P., Sullivan, D., & Warren, J. (2007). Quality and safety education for nurses. Nursing Outlook, 55(3)122-131.