Message from the Nursing Science Program Director
The Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Science Program has a goal of offering an environment that favors achieving excellence and quality education, as well as preparing professionals with the greatest dedication and endeavor to develop future competent professionals within the world of work of Nursing Science. For many years, this branch of the health field has been an essential part in management and direct care to the patient. It is with great satisfaction that I express that the progress of Atenas College Nursing Program is due to the commitment of a highly qualified faculty, the administration, and its academic-administrative staff. Day after day, our faculty provides their knowledge and puts into practice a variety of educational tools, succeeding in promoting in our student dedication, effort, and commitment for the career they have decided to pursue. We have the first simulated hospital in Puerto Rico, which enables our student to develop competencies of leadership, teamwork, use of technology, application of critical thinking to make decisions in offering patient-centered care, and to foster in them the importance of an evidence-based practice. More than being a complete program, we are a great family with the commitment to educate and prepare competent professionals who can contribute the best of themselves to society. Receive our warmest welcome!
Jetza Rivera Bruno Ed.D, MSN, NM
Nursing Program Director
Nursing Science Program Mission Statement
We are a program that provides a student-centered safe learning environment, considering cultural and spiritual diversity through the offering of arts, science, information and communication technologies, fostering lifelong learning and preparing the student to be responsible in its social and professional surroundings.
Nursing Science Program Vision Statement
To be the best Nursing Science program that prepares highly competent leaders to provide care centered in the patient, family, and the community at a local, national or international level, fostering a culture of quality and safety.
Nursing Science Program Values
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing has seen that throughout its academic curriculum the student can develop the following values:
Program Description
The Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Science Program is designed to prepare generalist nurses with the skills for leadership, interdisciplinary teamwork, use of technology, information skills, principles of quality management, and the development of a culture of quality and safety centered in the patient/client. Includes principles of research, evidence-based practice, as well as communication and the application of clinical judgment for decision-making. Graduates from this program will be able to perform in public or private institutions that require healthcare services. Upon completion of their degree, students will be prepared to take the licensure examination offered by the Puerto Rico Examining Board of Nurses. This program consists of 120 credits distributed in 9 academic terms to be completed in approximately 3 years to a maximum of 4.5 years.
Philosophy of the Nursing Science Program
In harmony with Atenas College's philosophy, the faculty of the Nursing Science Program postulates the development of students toward an inquisitive attitude regarding the nature of human beings, maintaining a balance, and their self-responsibility, to society in general and their communities. This philosophy provides a foundation for the program of study and articulates faculty beliefs about nursing, nursing education, and the ongoing improvement in teaching-learning modalities, nursing care, and academic performance.
In addition, the philosophy of the nursing program arises from the Institution and nursing mission. It speaks to the nature of person, society, health, professional nursing, the teaching-learning process and nursing education. It also guides faculty in developing, implementing and monitoring the curriculum so that end-of-program student learning outcomes (EPSLOs) can be achieved. The philosophy is grounded in the following key concepts: human being, health, illness, nursing and teaching-learning.
Human Being
We believe each human being is in constant self-motivation and dynamic interaction with internal and external environments. Variations in these environments affect their behavior and adaptability during different stages of the growth and development process. As part of this process, the person manifests basic needs, which require to be satisfied to maintain balance and a state of wellbeing. The human being is influenced by past and present experiences, heredity, and the environment; and, as such, constantly changes in response to different stimuli to maintain an optimal level of health in the health-illness continuum. The human being is unitary, transcending any combination of aspects.
Health
We believe that health is a state of physical, social, mental, and spiritual well-being. Human beings seek to reach well-being and thus achieve balance. Nursing is a humane service based on scientific theories that promote health by applying the nursing process. Through this process, the nurse promotes health, helps clients’ who cannot care for themselves; and assists individuals, families, and communities according to their needs.
The faculty recognizes that the nursing process is a systematic scientific method used by nurses at different levels of education to achieve client’s goals by identifying their state of health, current, and potential problems, and needs; developing plans that satisfy these needs; and carrying out nursing interventions.
Illness
Illness is a state of disharmony in the human-environmental relationship or disharmony in the relationship between various aspects of the self. Many aspects affect health experience, including genetics, age, lifestyle, perception of health and illness, health promotion activities, values, beliefs, and culture.
Nursing
Based on the above definitions of health and illness, the nurse’s role is a caring, healing presence promoting wellness for human beings in their internal and external relationships with themselves, others, and their environment.
To be a caring, healing presence, nurses have a responsibility for self-care and be knowledgeable about theories, principles, and applications of biological and social sciences. The nurse integrates multidisciplinary knowledge to promote the health of /families/groups or, when necessary, to dignify death and ease the dying process. Nurses use reflective practice to improve the quality of care. The following caring skills are program themes: multiple ways of knowing, including critical thinking, communication, management, teaching, professionalism, and the caring nurse process. Also, caring has other threads throughout the curriculum: pain management, pharmacology, nutrition, community, human maturation, caring, and cultural diversity. Nurses must collaborate with health professionals to provide adequate health care. Patient-centered care and advocacy are central to the nursing role, with professional caring and ethical decision-making as core values.
Therefore, the faculty is committed to providing excellent human resources in the health field through the teaching-learning process, prepared to carry out quality performance in providing nursing care in various settings.
Teaching and Learning
We believe that teachers and students are engaged in a continuous teaching-learning process. Human beings have a natural potential for learning. Building upon the student's previous experience, actively involving the learner, and progressing from the familiar to the unfamiliar expands their knowledge and experience. Significant learning occurs when the adult learner perceives the subject matter as having meaning. Learning is how individuals evolve by applying knowledge, attitudes, and skills through experience and reflection. The ultimate responsibility for learning rests with the learner. A variety of opportunities for the application of knowledge encourages the learner to develop and apply multiple ways of knowing and critical thinking skills.
Teaching facilitates learning and requires valuing the student as a person and understanding the student's learning needs. In addition, learning occurs through timely feedback that is understandable to the learner.
The faculty strongly believe in the importance of developing specific competencies in any level of nursing preparation. The curriculum has a focus on Quality and Safety competencies based on Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN), Institute of Medicine, Professional Standards of the Nursing Practice from the Puerto Rico College of Nursing Professionals, the Essentials: core competencies for professional nursing education and the National Patient Safety Goals throughout the curriculum: Patient-Centered Care, Teamwork and Collaboration, Evidence-Based Practice, Quality Improvement, Safety, and Informatics; using strategies, techniques, and methods to develop and evaluate these competencies in the levels of knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
Curricular Conceptual Model
The curricular conceptual model of the Nursing Science Program is founded on the following educational theories: P. Jeffries/National League for Nursing Simulation theory (2015); D. Kolb’s Experiential Learning theory (1970); and D. Schön’s Reflective Practitioner theory (1987). These theories hold the four pillars that sustain the needs of the client: 1) safe and efficient care environment; 2) health promotion and maintenance; 3) psychosocial integrity; and 4) physiological integrity. The conceptual model is based learning through competencies, which are developed through the curriculum. These competencies include general education competencies and professional competencies.
Organigram
The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice:
The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice:
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing” (AACN) has defined the nine Essentials that describe the curricular elements and competencies that must be present in all accredited programs that award a Bachelor Degree in Nursing Science. These Essentials provide the student learning outcomes and are detailed in The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice (AACN, 2008). The faculty of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program has implemented the tools, learning strategies, program improvement opportunities, and resources recommended in this document, which are aligned with the Student Learning Outcomes and are used as a guide in the teaching learning process.
Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN)
The Institute of Medicine (2003) competencies for nursing, QSEN faculty have defined pre-licensure and graduate quality and safety competencies for nursing and proposed targets for the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to be developed in nursing pre-licensure programs for each competency
Link:
Quality and Safety Education for Nurses
Other Resources
Colegio de Profesionales de la Enfermería de Puerto Rico
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Nursing (INACSL)
Asociación de Simuloeducadores de Puerto Rico (ASEPUR)
Federación Latinoamericana de Simulación Clínica y Seguridad del Paciente (FLASIC)
Expected outcomes:
Expected outcomes:
Expected outcomes:
End-of-Program Student Learning Outcomes (EPSLO)
Atenas College Admission Requirements
Requirements for enrollment
Requirements for Admission to the Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Science Program
Enrollment for the Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Science Program is carried out three times a year during the months of January, May, and August. Candidates for admission must meet each of the admission requirements established by the institution.
Jetza Rivera Bruno Ed.D, MSN, NM
Nursing Programs Director
prof.j.rivera@atenascollege.edu
Doctorate in Education with a specialty in Leadership and Virtual Instruction – InterAmerican University of P.R., Ponce Campus
Master in Nursing Sciences with a specialty in Maternal and Childhood with Role in Administration – UPR, Medical Sciences Campus
Certification in Nurse Midwife – UPR Medical Sciences Campus
Merary Roman Morales, MSN
Faculty Nursing Sciences Program
Master of Science in Nursing with a specialty in Maternal and Child Care with a role in Education – Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, Arecibo Campus
Myrna A. Román del Río, MSN
Faculty of Nursing Sciences Program
Master in Nursing Sciences with Specialty in Adult Critical Care with Role in Education – EDP University, San Sebastian Campus
Pedro Rivera Franco, MSN, MBA
Faculty of Nursing Sciences Program
Master in Nursing Sciences with Specialty in Adult Critical Care – Universidad Metropolitana, Bayamón, P.R.
Claribelle Bonilla Acevedo, MSN
Faculty Nursing Sciences Program
Master of Science in Nursing with a Specialty in Medical-Surgical with a Role in Administration –Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, Arecibo Campus, PR
Cynthia Cortes Alvarez, MSN
Faculty Nursing Sciences Program
prof.c.cortes@atenascollege.edu
Master of Science in Nursing with Specialty in Emergencies and Trauma with Role in Education – EDP University San Sebastián, PR
Lisandra Reyes Sanchez, MSN
Faculty Nursing Sciences Program
Master of Science in Nursing with a Specialty in Adult Critical Care –Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, Arecibo Campus, PR
Steps for processing provisional license and the nursing board examination
Step I: Complete the Application for Provisional License, Examination, and Associate or Generalist Nurse License.
Page 1:
Page 2:
Page 3:
Page 4: Instructions:
Step II: Gatherthe documents required in the application.
Step III:Submit the application and required documentation to the Puerto Rico Examining Board of Nurses (See instructions in the back of the form)
NCLEX
HETS, Testing & Education Reference Center (TERC) is a database designed by Cengage Learning where you can find NCLEX practice exams. Atenas College students have this resource available to prepare for the NCLEX exam. For additional information and instructions visit the Learning Resource Center (Library).
The Baccalaureate Degree in Science in Nursing is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326; (404) 975-5000. See the public information released by ACEN regarding these programs at: https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs/?GovOrg=&Program=&State=Puerto+Rico&Status=