NR 524 Week 2 Mission Statement Paper

Name

Chamberlain University

NR-524: Curriculum Development

Prof. Name

Date

Mission Statement for Prelicensure BSN Program in a Public University

NR 524 Week 2 Mission Statement Paper

A mission statement is crucial for the success of any organization, as it helps in identifying, developing, and implementing strategic action plans (Handiwibowo & Suef, 2019). This paper evaluates the importance of a mission statement and explores the process of drafting, optimizing, and finalizing a mission statement for a Prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in a public university. A mission statement serves as more than just a declaration of an organization’s purpose. It must be clear, concise, and specific, incorporating key components such as goals, target audience, services, and boundaries (Alegre et al., 2018). An effective mission statement helps an organization stay aligned with its objectives, and when refined properly, it reflects the purpose and goals of the institution (Fitzgerald & Cunningham, 2015). At three levels, a mission statement serves distinct functions: first, it helps internal stakeholders, such as employees, understand the organization’s purpose (Dermol & Širca, 2018); second, it addresses investors and stakeholders who seek a reliable business partner; and third, it impacts the users, or customers, who benefit from the services offered (Toh & Koon, 2017). Additionally, a well-crafted mission statement defines the direction for the organization’s work, informs decision-making processes, shapes strategies, and sets future goals (Dermol & Širca, 2018).

Parent Organization Mission Statement

Chamberlain University’s mission statement is centered on educating, empowering, and inspiring diverse healthcare professionals who contribute to the health of individuals, families, communities, and nations (Chamberlain, 2020). This mission is rooted in education and reflects the university’s commitment to preparing professionals who can advance healthcare on a global scale.

Prelicensure BSN Program Mission Statement

The mission of the Prelicensure BSN program at a public university focuses on providing evidence-based, innovative, and quality education in nursing. This includes integrating multiple disciplines such as sociology, philosophy, and economics into nursing education to better prepare students for improving the well-being of individuals and communities. Initially, the draft mission statement emphasized education and service. However, following a thorough review of socioeconomic conditions, opportunities, and cultural factors, inclusiveness, equity, and economic considerations were also incorporated. The finalized mission statement reads: “To develop and provide inclusive, advanced, evidence-based, and quality education programs to prepare and empower students and skilled professional nurses to improve the quality of care by integrating core nursing concepts.” This mission statement directly reflects the goals of a public university, focusing on creating skilled nurses who contribute to the improvement of healthcare delivery.

Elements of Prelicensure BSN Program Mission Statement

The mission statement incorporates several key elements that are particularly relevant to a public university setting. Many students choose public universities due to affordability and a sense of belonging. Therefore, inclusiveness, affordability, quality evidence-based education, and the focus on patient outcomes were central themes in shaping the mission statement. The integration of core nursing concepts and the university’s public status further distinguishes this mission, making it unique to the setting.

Congruence with Parent Organization Mission Statement

Chamberlain University’s mission statement emphasizes education and service, which is in line with the mission of the Prelicensure BSN program in a public university (Chamberlain, 2020). Both missions focus on educating and empowering healthcare professionals to provide better care for communities. The BSN program mission broadens this by also targeting students who have not yet entered the healthcare workforce, while Chamberlain’s mission targets professionals already in practice. Both missions prioritize education, empowerment, and service but differ in the stage of professional development they target.

NR 524 Week 2 Mission Statement Paper

Teaching and Service

The final mission statement reflects the interconnectedness of teaching and service, recognizing that effective education in nursing is a pathway to improving healthcare. By bridging the gap between teaching, learning, and service provision, this mission fosters continuous improvement in nursing practice. For example, nurse educators can mentor students and working nurses, while experienced nurses can enhance their skills through ongoing learning and research, such as during public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. This dynamic interaction between teaching and service ultimately aims to produce skilled nurses who deliver high-quality care.

Unique Qualities of the Mission Statement

The mission statement’s unique qualities can be categorized into three levels: individual (students, educators, and healthcare professionals), organizational (the public university), and service users (patients and communities). One standout feature is its focus on inclusiveness, ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, has access to quality education. Additionally, the integration of evidence-based practices in nursing education allows the program to adapt to the rapidly evolving healthcare environment. Another unique quality is its focus on the specific challenges and opportunities within a public university, such as increasing access for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. The mission also emphasizes the integration of nursing metaparadigms, such as person, environment, health, and nursing, ensuring a holistic approach to education and service delivery.

Target Population

The mission statement identifies students, particularly those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, as the primary target population. Initially, the focus was on students, but upon deeper reflection, healthcare professionals were also included due to the nature of the Prelicensure BSN program, which aims to prepare nurses for clinical practice. Additionally, research assistants and mentors play a crucial role in supporting both students and professionals. This inclusive approach recognizes that public universities serve diverse populations and aim to reduce barriers to higher education.

Peer Collaboration

Peer collaboration significantly influenced the development of the mission statement. Feedback from peers helped refine the mission by ensuring it accurately reflected the goals of the Prelicensure BSN program. Initially, the draft mission was more aligned with the parent organization and did not consider the specific context of public universities. Through peer collaboration, the mission statement evolved to include aspects such as inclusiveness, the socioeconomic context, and the integration of nursing metaparadigms. Peer feedback and collaboration are valuable for optimizing mission statements and ensuring that they meet the unique needs of the program.

Conclusion

A well-crafted mission statement is essential for an organization, serving as a guiding tool that communicates its objectives, strategies, and values. The mission statement for the Prelicensure BSN program in a public university reflects the inclusive, evidence-based, and quality-focused nature of the program. It integrates essential nursing concepts while addressing the unique needs of a public university setting. The peer collaboration process was instrumental in refining the mission, ensuring its alignment with the parent organization’s goals while also meeting the needs of the target population. Ultimately, this mission statement provides a clear roadmap for the program, empowering students and healthcare professionals to improve the quality of care they provide.

References

Alegre, I., Berbegal-Mirabent, J., Guerrero, A., & Mas-Machuca, M. (2018). The real mission of the mission statement: A systematic review of the literature. Journal Of Management & Organization, 24(4), 456-473. https://doi.org/10.1017/jmo.2017.82

Chamberlain. (2020). Mission and vision statement. Retrieved 9 September 2020, from https://www.chamberlain.edu/about/mission

Dermol, V., & Širca, N. (2018). Communication, company mission, organizational values, and company performance. Procedia – Social And Behavioral Sciences, 238, 542-551. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2018.04.034

Fitzgerald, C., & Cunningham, J. (2015). Inside the university technology transfer office: mission statement analysis. The Journal Of Technology Transfer, 41(5), 1235-1246. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-015-9419-6

NR 524 Week 2 Mission Statement Paper

Handiwibowo, G., & Suef, M. (2019). The impact of outbound training activity on organization mission statement (case in education mission statement MMT-ITS). IPTEK The Journal For Technology And Science, 29(1), 25. https://doi.org/10.12962/j20882033.v29i1.2990

Kesberg, R., & Keller, J. (2020). Donating to the ‘right’ cause: Compatibility of personal values and mission statements of philanthropic organizations fosters prosocial behavior. Personality And Individual Differences, 168, 110313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110313

Smith, S. (2015). Peer collaboration: improving teaching through comprehensive peer review. To Improve The Academy, 33(1). https://doi.org/10.3998/tia.17063888.0033.106

NR 524 Week 2 Mission Statement Paper

Toh, S., & Koon, V. (2017). Determining mission statement effectiveness from a fit perspective. Studies In Business And Economics, 12(2), 220-240. https://doi.org/10.1515/sbe-2017-0031