NURSING DEPARTMENT MISSION

Igniting Excellence: Our Nursing Department Mission

The Department of Nursing is an integral component of Rockford University and upholds a mission that aligns with the university’s overarching goals. Rockford University’s baccalaureate nursing program is dedicated to preparing registered professional nurses who can deliver safe, high-quality care to individuals, families, groups, and communities within an increasingly global society. The program ensures that graduates possess the necessary knowledge, skills, and values for professional nursing practice. This is achieved by integrating liberal arts education with professional nursing training.

Nursing Department Goals: Forging Excellence

Driven by our mission, the Rockford University nursing department sets ambitious goals:

  • Integration of Knowledge: We empower our students to meld the wisdom from nursing and a liberal arts education, encompassing both science and the arts, into their professional nursing practice.
  • Baccalaureate Generalists: Our graduates emerge as versatile nursing professionals, poised to provide care and make impactful contributions to the nursing profession, addressing the diverse healthcare needs of a global society.
  • Value-Centric Education: We foster the internalization of nursing values, including altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, and social justice, so our graduates embody these principles.
  • Lifelong Learning: We mold our graduates into lifelong learners who serve as architects, leaders, and orchestrators of care while remaining dedicated members of the nursing profession.

Guiding Principles: The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice

Our curriculum adheres to the latest standards outlined in “The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice,” established in 2021 by the AACN. 

  • Liberal Education: We embrace a holistic approach that combines science and the arts, ensuring our graduates are well-rounded and adaptable.
  • Leadership and Safety: We instill the fundamentals of organizational and systems leadership to uphold quality care and patient safety.
  • Evidence-Based Practice: Our students master the art of scholarship, using evidence-based techniques to drive their nursing practice.
  • Technology Proficiency: Information management and application of cutting-edge patient care technology are at the forefront of our program.
  • Healthcare Expertise: We equip our graduates with a deep understanding of healthcare policy, finance, and regulatory environments, preparing them to navigate the intricacies of modern healthcare systems.
  • Collaboration: Our students are adept at inter-professional communication and collaboration, working seamlessly to enhance patient health outcomes.
  • Population Health: We emphasize clinical prevention and population health to help our graduates address health challenges at both individual and community levels.
  • Professionalism and Values: Upholding professionalism and the highest ethical values is non-negotiable in our program.
  • Baccalaureate Excellence: We guide our students to become baccalaureate generalists, ready to excel in the dynamic world of nursing practice.

At Rockford University’s Department of Nursing, we’re not just shaping nurses; we’re sculpting leaders, caregivers, and advocates who embody excellence in the ever-evolving field of healthcare.

Nursing Department
Starr Science Building
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4059
Fax: 815-394-5166

Sarah Urban, Ph.D., RN, CNE
Department Chair of Nursing
Associate Professor of Nursing

surban@rockford.edu
815 226-4126