The School of Nursing at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), views nursing as a professional service discipline grounded in the arts, sciences, humanities, and the application of knowledge obtained through scientifically based inquiry. The Nursing Faculty promote and adhere to a paradigm of caring that addresses holistic human responses throughout the age continuum. This paradigm includes education, practice and research that encompasses provision of care, coordination of care, and professionalism. While the faculty subscribe to a variety of theoretical frameworks reflecting adaptation, self-care, transcultural, and humanistic aspects, we believe that the essence of nursing is caring.

The Nursing Faculty view “Caring” as the basis for nursing. Caring involves recognizing client diversity, potential, autonomy, and universal needs. Further, caring involves understanding and acceptance; it promotes egalitarian relationships and has as its ultimate goal the empowerment of all individuals. The concept of caring permeates nursing education, practice, research, and all three of these entities are intertwined in the delivery of health care. Nursing Faculty draw upon their collective cognitive, clinical, and creative abilities to prepare nurses for the delivery of safe and effective nursing care that is in compliance with established Standards of Practice. We believe that both faculty and students have a responsibility to each other to create a learning environment that is conducive to: learning, freedom of thought, scholarly inquiry, affirmation of beliefs and skills, critical thinking, critical decision-making, ethical practice, facilitative communication, and leadership. Graduates assume roles as care providers, care coordinators, and professional leaders. They promote the health of individuals, families, and populations, the enhancement of society, and the nursing profession in the 21st century. Health care provides a dynamic environment in which there exists potential for physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being for all individuals. Health Care Professionals practicing in this environment need to work in partnership with each other and the communities they serve. Both independent and collaborative nursing strategies are necessary components of practice. To this end, the faculty is committed to role-modeling a multi disciplinary and interdisciplinary approach to education, practice, and research, and to developing in students a sense of awareness of fiscal and outcome aspects of the current health care market place.

The UTEP Nursing Faculty believe that the practice of Professional Nursing requires a commitment to lifelong learning. We believe that the professional nurse has the responsibility to be visionary in the promotion and improvement of caring in current as well as future health care delivery models.