The University of Southern Maine School of Nursing undergraduate nursing program embraces the Maine Nurse Core Competencies (2020), AACN Baccalaureate Essentials (2021) and the University of Southern Maine’s Core Curriculum Learning Outcomes (2011) as foundational to the curriculum.

The baccalaureate graduate will:

  1. Cultivate and apply reflective nursing practice by integrating knowledge from nursing, the
    liberal arts, and natural and social sciences to guide inquiry and clinical judgment. 
  2. Evaluate the implementation of holistic person-centered care at each stage of the nursing
    process that is evidence-based, respects cultural values, and promotes health.
  3. Analyze issues encountered in population health and utilize the nursing process,
    including communities of interest and public policy advocates, to create viable, sustainable
    solutions to improve equitable population health. 
  4. Advance nursing scholarship by synthesizing and translating research literature
    concerning clinical problems and evaluating the best evidence to improve health outcomes. 
  5. Employ safety and quality improvement principles to enhance the quality of care and
    minimize risks to patients and providers, integrating effective communication strategies.
  6. Evaluate communication and strategies to create interprofessional partnerships with
    healthcare team members and various communities of interest to optimize care and
    strengthen outcomes. 
  7. Evaluate complex healthcare systems by effectively coordinating resources and delivering
    safe, high-quality, and equitable care to diverse populations while recognizing the historical
    and present impacts of racism and other forms of oppression on health inequities. 
  8. Evaluate the use of informatics processes and communication technologies across
    various settings to manage and improve the delivery of safe, high-quality, and efficient
    healthcare services in alignment with best practice and regulatory standards 
  9. Demonstrate a sustainable professional nursing identity that reflects nursing’s values and
    characteristics, including accountability, caring, compassion, and ethical practice.
  10. Engage in self-reflection and continuous learning to foster personal well-being, resilience,
    and leadership development in nursing practice.

 Approved by SON Faculty 3/6/25