This paper examines how the Sojourner Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing program aligns its goals and graduate outcomes with the standards established by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM). It focuses specifically on AACN Essential II, which addresses leadership, quality improvement, and patient safety, and Essential VI, which emphasizes interprofessional communication and collaboration. The paper demonstrates that Sojourner's stated program goals reflect both the AACN's nine essentials for baccalaureate nursing education and the IOM's 2010 recommendations for expanding nurses' roles in healthcare redesign and decision-making.
The Sojourner Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing program has been built upon the recommendations and requirements set forth by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM). This foundation is evidenced by Sojourner's stated goals for the program, as well as the outcomes of their graduates' educational experience.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing identifies what are called the nine essentials. Each of these essentials states the expected outcomes of graduates of baccalaureate nursing programs. These nine essentials, respectively, are: liberal education for baccalaureate generalist nursing practice; basic organizational and systems leadership for quality care and patient safety; scholarship for evidence-based practice; information management and application of patient care technology; health care policy, finance, and regulatory environments; interprofessional communication and collaboration for improving patient health outcomes; clinical prevention and population health; professionalism and professional values; and baccalaureate generalist nursing practice (American Association, 2008).
Essential II — basic organizational and systems leadership for quality care and patient safety — specifically addresses the need for nursing students and graduates to possess both the knowledge and skills in leadership, quality improvement, and patient safety that are essential to providing high-quality health care (American Association, 2008). This is paralleled in one of Sojourner's stated goals, which is "to produce graduates who provide safe, cost-effective quality healthcare through knowledge and skills in leadership, quality improvement, and patient safety" (Sojourner, n.d.).
This goal also reflects the Institute of Medicine's statement in their October 2010 report brief that every nurse's professional formation should encompass emerging new competencies in the areas of decision-making, quality improvement, systems thinking, and team leadership (Institute, 2010).
"Collaboration essential linked to IOM and institution"
Healthcare is a field that is rapidly changing and growing, which creates the need for nursing education to evolve along with it. Based on the AACN's essentials, as well as the Institute of Medicine's recent recommendations and report, Sojourner's baccalaureate nursing program has goals that are consistent with those of both organizations. This paper provides just a few examples of Sojourner's dedication to having program goals and outcomes that strongly reflect the important and highly valued recommendations of the aforementioned organizations. Additional information on Sojourner's BSN program can be found on their website at www.sdc.edu, within the nursing handbook under the nursing information tab.
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