The Practical Nursing Program is sponsored by the EASTERN Center for Arts and Technology.  The Program is developed in accordance with the philosophy of the sponsoring agency.

The faculty of the Practical Nursing Program believes:

Individuals are unique and strive for self actualization. Worth and dignity are inherent and there is potential for continued growth throughout a lifetime.

Society is comprised of a community of inter-dependent individuals and families. Many factors influence the community such as culture, religion, roles and economics; social and political factors also impact on society.

Education is a process which results in a positive change in behavior utilizing critical thinking, acquired knowledge, skills and attitudes. Education also encompasses respect for equal opportunity to abilities, capabilities and interests for qualified individuals, without discrimination of age, sex, marital status, race, color, national origin, beliefs or qualified handicaps and encourages the development of individual differences. Education is best achieved in a democratic atmosphere which remains sensitive to the individual's needs. Education remains a life long process for any individual.

Nursing is an art and science based upon principles drawn from the biological and behavioral sciences and nursing theory. Nursing requires critical thinking, clinical skill, judgment and knowledge to provide safe nursing care. Nursing education uses scientific concepts that promote optimum client health, which includes concepts of safety and prevention of further illness through the use of the nursing process.
 
Practical Nursing is an integral part of all nursing. Practical Nurses function under the direction of the licensed professional nurse, physician or dentist. Practical Nursing students should be guided to meet the basic human needs of clients of all ages where nursing takes place, or wherever the community dictates.

Practical Nursing education should develop from the philosophy of the school and have clearly defined behavioral, level, course, and lesson objectives contributing to the total program objectives. Given written instructional objectives, practical nursing students will be expected to meet the stated criteria for graduation, under the guidance of a qualified faculty. Curriculum needs to be continually evaluated as well as current and flexible to meet the ever changing role of the Practical Nurse. Curriculum decisions are dependent upon evidenced based data from within the program and the greater nursing community.

The qualified faculty, sensitive to essential needs of the learner, will guide each student toward personal growth and nursing competence. The curriculum is developed to proceed from the simple to the complex and provides close correlation between theory and practice through concurrent and/or sequential instruction. The faculty will be responsible for planning, evaluating, and guiding learning experiences for professional and personal growth.