Missions of Healthcare Institutions

Educational Mission and Nursing Practice Statements

Educational Mission Statement

The University of Iowa is known for its world-class academic programs, including the professional preparation and training that is provided through the College of Nursing. The formal mission statement for the College of Nursing University of Iowa is as follows:

"The mission of the College of Nursing is to prepare nurse leaders and to be forerunners in the discovery, dissemination and application of nursing knowledge. As a state supported higher degree program in nursing, the college is committed to preparing nurse clinicians, scholars, and educators to meet the health needs of the people of Iowa. As part of a research intensive university, the College of Nursing supports its research mission through national and international leadership in innovative educational and practice programs and the generation of new knowledge" ("UOI, Nursing," 2014).

State supported colleges and universities are somewhat unique in their missions and goals, differing from private colleges in their dedication to service within their state and inclusiveness in student body diversity. State supported universities may serve fewer place bound students, as they draw from across their respective states and typically also attract out-of-state students who attend on full-ride scholarships because of the steep out-of-state tuitions imposed on non-resident students. The grounding of the College of Nursing at the University of Iowa can be seen in its three-pronged mission statement, which is lengthier and more complex than the mission statements of many comparable colleges and universities. The first statement of the mission statement is focused generally, emphasizing leadership, discovery, and dissemination of nursing knowledge. From this, it is apparent that nursing programs at the University of Iowa have a research arm and a scholarly bent that differs from institutions that are primarily focused on clinic-based nursing practice. Students who attend universities with this type of multiple focus can be confident that they will emerge from their program prepared to be nurse educators in other institutions of higher education, nursing scholars who pursue research in healthcare and medicine, or nurse practitioners, including those nurses who continue their education to acquire more advanced skills and knowledge.

In contrast to the comprehensive mission of the College of Nursing at the University of Iowa, the mission statement of Kaiser Permanente is brief and concise, and completely focused on service and health care. The Kaiser Permanente mission statement is as follows:

"KP exists to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve" ("Kaiser," 2014).

The Kaiser Permanente mission statement is more in keeping with that of a non-profit agency -- which it is -- or a corporation, which is certainly is not: both types of organizations tend to generate short, to-the-point mission statements. Kaiser Permanente has taken this aspect of their visioning a step further by creating an extensive list of values, which the organization refers to as the Kaiser Permanente Promise, and a formal vision.

The Kaiser Permanent Promise is an extension of the organization's mission statement; the KP Promise is described as "a program-wide re-dedication to our mission" ("Kaiser," 2014). But the KP Promise also serves to refocus on the organization on its membership. Indeed, the KP Promise expressed intention to refocus on "the individual needs and wishes of each member, " which is a statement solidly grounded in nursing practice in a healthcare member institution, or HMO. Further, the KP Promise claims that it will bring "the unique values" of the Kaiser Permanente organization "to life" in a manner that supports the achievement of Kaiser Permanente's mission. The KP Promise further articulates four cornerstones of the organizational vision that Kaiser Permanente believes will enable them to be the best for their members -- and this belief has emerged from the satisfaction research that Kaiser Permanente has conducted with its membership. The Kaiser Permanente vision is articulated in terms of 15 pre-requisite operating requirements, which were selected specifically because they serve as "enablers" that can support the organization to attain its KP Promise and, through that path, attain and sustain the Kaiser Permanente mission.