Nursing & Health Sciences Learning Outcomes
These outcomes describe what Winona State students will know and be able to do as future healthcare providers, recreation professionals, advocates, and community partners.
Graduate Nursing Learning Outcomes
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Programs
These learning outcomes apply to the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, Nursing Leadership, and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP programs.
Students in these programs will:
- synthesize theory and evidence-based practice to critically assess, plan, implement, and evaluate healthcare strategies for the unique needs of clients.
- utilize clinical judgment to design and deliver person-centered, compassionate care for clients.
- collaborate effectively, using leadership skills, within interprofessional teams to design, implement, and evaluate client outcomes, respective of their unique needs.
- exemplify professionalism by applying principles of scholarship, quality improvement, evidence-based practice, safety, health policy, and informatics, while leveraging effective communication to advance health care for clients.
- lead with ethical and legal accountability to advocate for innovative health policies that improve client outcomes affected by social, physical, and economic conditions.
Graduate Certificate Programs
These learning outcomes apply to the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner post-graduate nursing certificates.
These learning outcomes also apply to the Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nursing Education graduate certificate.
Students in these programs will:
- integrate scientific underpinnings into clinical judgment and decision making while actively engaging in health policy within an advanced nursing role and/or specialty focus.
- demonstrate competencies aligned with professional standards and state nurse practice acts, effectively integrating communication, clinical judgment, evidence-based practice, compassionate care, and cultural awareness to enhance client outcomes.
- collaborate effectively within interprofessional teams using effective communication to analyze complex practice and organizational issues to positively impact client health outcomes.
- participate in evidence-based practice by aligning innovative approaches with high ethical standards within interprofessional teams to enhance the safety and quality of person-centered care to clients.
Nurse Educator and Nursing Leadership Master’s Degrees
Students in these programs will:
- integrate evolving evidence-based nursing knowledge when assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating care for the unique needs of clients.
- demonstrate professionalism within an advanced nursing role through leadership, accountability, innovation, policy changes, and advocacy for clients.
- collaborate effectively within interprofessional teams using effective communication to analyze complex practice and organizational issues to positively impact client health outcomes.
- apply clinical judgment and evidence-based practice to enhance the quality and safety of clients’ health care across diverse settings and populations.
Graduate Social Work Learning Outcomes
These learning outcomes apply to the Master of Social Work (MSW) program.
Students in this program will:
- produce trauma-informed clinical social workers who are effective, self-reflective, and ethical.
- be an agent of social justice and social change, particularly with diverse and vulnerable populations.
- offer an integrated curriculum that incorporates our practice communities’ expertise, with a curriculum that models the interrelationship between knowledge, research, and practice wisdom.
- provide a center of social work innovation and excellence that promotes evidence-informed practice, practice-informed research, and life-long learning.
- maintain a faculty of distinction who are diverse in demographics, teaching and practice experiences, research interests, and theoretical perspectives.
- promote a nurturing academic environment where strengths are honored to support the learning and professional growth of students.
Health, Exercise & Rehabilitative Sciences Learning Outcomes
Athletic Training (3+2) Bachelor’s & Master’s Degrees
This program combines learning outcomes from the Exercise Science bachelor’s degree and Athletic Training master’s degree.
Athletic Training Master’s Degree (MSAT)
Students in this program will:
- be prepared academically, clinically, and professionally to successfully sit for the Board of Certification (BOC) exam.
- be prepared in a variety of clinical settings, including traditional and emerging areas of practice, that allow them to function as quality healthcare providers upon graduation.
- understand the importance of improving patient outcomes by integrating interprofessional health care into their clinical practice.
- gain the knowledge and ability to critically analyze and interpret evidence-based research in health care and use this data to guide their clinical practice.
- achieve the knowledge and skills to practice in a legal, ethical, and professional manner that appropriately represents the field of Athletic Training. Furthermore, students will understand the need to actively contribute to the Athletic Training profession through lifelong learning and service.
- be provided with an outstanding education from faculty within the MSAT program and their clinical preceptors.
Clinical Exercise Science Bachelor’s Degree
Students in this program will:
- be competent entry-level clinical exercise science professionals.
- achieve the knowledge and skills to practice in a legal, ethical, and professional manner that appropriately represents the Clinical Exercise Science profession.
- be provided an outstanding education from faculty within the Health, Exercise & Rehabilitative Sciences department and their field experience sites.
Exercise Science Bachelor’s Degree
Students in this program will:
- develop appropriate exercise prescriptions based on clients’ health status and goals.
- master entry-level knowledge, skills, and abilities of the profession.
- apply the scientific method to critique and specify a course of action.
- communicate effectively.
Mental Health in Schools & Organizations Graduate Certificate
Students in this program will:
- analyze how physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and environmental factors influence health behaviors in a culturally competent manner.
- appraise the dimensions of health and lifestyle choices to formulate a broader approach of how personal and public or community health decisions impact the state of mental health within society.
- explore the role of Mental Health First Aid in combatting the stigma associated with mental health illness.
- apply the ordered skills from Mental Health First Aid in analyzing and synthesizing an appropriate, individualized approach to a person experiencing a mental health crisis.
- devise health-enhancing applications of trauma-informed interventions and supports by blending behavior change theories with motivational interviewing techniques and mental health resources.
- formulate and communicate messaging that improves understanding and application of self-care techniques while reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues.
- appraise and apply paradigms of leadership and reconstruct unique leadership solutions in developing data-driven community mental health supports.
- apply valid and reliable information within the creation of health promotion messaging and actions, as well as modeling lifestyle behaviors that support the reduction of the stigma associated with mental health illness and promotes resiliency within the students’ sphere of influence.
Movement Science Bachelor’s Degree
Students in this program will:
- be assessed and guided in their ability to communicate with patients and clients at the end of their time at Winona State. Assessed annually.
- provide service to their communities, Winona State, or the local Winona community, through a variety of opportunities including Winona Survivors Unite in Exercise (WSUE) program, WSU club memberships, and/or volunteer work. Assessed annually.
- be accepted into a professional program of choice by the end of their last semester at Winona State. Our goal is to have 75% of our students achieve this. Assessed annually.
Nutrition Minor
Learning outcomes are in development for this program.
Performance & Applied Sport Science Master’s Degree
Students in this program will:
- be prepared academically and professionally to successfully sit for the National Strength & Conditioning Association’s (NSCA) Certified Performance & Sport Scientist (CPSS) exam.
- gain the knowledge and ability to critically analyze and interpret evidence-based research in athletic performance, program design, and injury screening and to use this data to guide their professional recommendations.
- achieve the knowledge and skills to practice in a legal, ethical, and professional manner. Furthermore, students will understand the need to actively contribute to the field of sport science through lifelong learning and service.
- be provided an outstanding education from faculty within this program and their immersion preceptors.
Public Health Bachelor’s Degrees and Minor
Students in these programs will:
- utilize quantitative and qualitative data to address public health problems.
- articulate public health policy and programs focused on increasing access for all.
- apply principles of cultural humility, ethical reasoning, and human rights when interacting in organizational and community settings.
- advocate for ethical and professional strategies in the management of public health programs and organizations.
- demonstrate communication and collaboration in interprofessional community partnerships.
- demonstrate effective grant writing techniques for private and non-profit organizations.
School Health (Teaching) Bachelor’s Degree
To meet the Health Education license standards in Minnesota, students in this program will:
- demonstrate competency in core health education topics:
- alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use.
- healthy eating and nutrition.
- mental and emotional health, including suicide prevention and managing stress, conflict, and anxiety.
- personal health and wellness, including prevention of communicable diseases.
- physical activity.
- safety and injury prevention, including recognizing and avoiding risky behaviors.
- sexual health, including prevention of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
- violence prevention, including harassment, abuse, bullying, hazing, fighting, and hate crimes.
- describe and apply relevant state and federal laws and policies related to these topics, including the ability to:
- apply essential health skills across multiple health topics.
- analyze the influence of family, peers, culture, media, and technology on health behaviors.
- access valid health information, products, and services.
- use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health and reduce risk.
- apply decision-making and goal-setting skills to support short- and long-term health.
- practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce risks.
- advocate for personal, family, and community health.
- plan and implement developmentally appropriate health education instruction aligned with state standards, using effective teaching strategies, technology, accommodations, and modifications to meet the diverse needs of all learners.
- design, implement, and interpret assessments and demonstrate professional practice, including evaluating student learning, engaging in reflective practice to improve instruction, and demonstrating ethical behavior, collaboration, and on-going professional development through field placements and student teaching.
Strength & Conditioning Bachelor’s Degree
Students in this program will:
- be academically prepared for their profession and successful with the Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam.
- achieve the knowledge and skills to practice in a legal, ethical, and professional manner that appropriately represents the Strength and Conditioning profession.
- practice and integrate the Council on Accreditation of Strength & Conditioning Education (CASCE) core competencies with a range of athletes and sports.
Healthcare Leadership & Administration Learning Outcomes
Healthcare Leadership Bachelor’s Degree
Students in this program will:
- inspire individual and organizational excellence, create a shared vision, and successfully manage change to attain the organization’s strategic ends and successful performance.
- communicate clearly and concisely with internal and external customers, establish and maintain relationships, and facilitate constructive interactions with individuals and groups.
- align personal and organizational conduct with ethical and professional standards that include a responsibility to the patient and community, a service orientation, and a commitment to lifelong learning and improvement.
- demonstrate an understanding of the healthcare system and the environment in which healthcare managers and providers function.
- apply business principles, including systems thinking, to the healthcare environment.
Healthcare Leadership Master’s Degree
Students in this program will gain skills in:
- Leadership and Communication
- construct data driven solutions for healthcare organizations and diverse stakeholders.
- utilize theory-based practice in communication to improve collaboration and problem-solving among healthcare employees and diverse stakeholders.
- propose and present strategic solutions and processes for leading effective and inclusive healthcare change initiatives.
- discern and decide leadership actions and strategies consistent with healthcare missions, values, and goals.
- apply corporate management strategies to manage internal and external human relationships in healthcare organizations.
- Applied Analytics for Leaders
- forecast outcomes and develop strategy driving positive outcomes.
- predict health situations or disease episodes to forewarn future events.
- analyze and apply case scenarios of how AI is changing health and health care.
- find, understand, and present data to evaluate, improve processes, or disrupt the organizational status quo.
- assess varied analytical data methodologies to promote and advance quality in healthcare organizations.
- develop innovative and ethical solutions to address future challenge, novel solutions, and emerging opportunities in the healthcare industry.
- Risk Management
- evaluate the value, source, and appropriate application of the data affecting risk, compliance, quality, policy, populations, finance, and economic factors within an allied health or healthcare organization.
- assess operational, ethical, governance, regulatory, legal, and financial factors in health care that manage, mitigate, exacerbate, and shift risk.
- examine how budgeting principles, capital, operating budgets, and cash flow budgets are used to make informed financial decisions in a sustainable allied health or healthcare organization.
- assess risk, types of risk, the role of diverse stakeholders, and the principles and approaches to minimize organizational risks in health care.
- explain how laws, standards, tools, techniques, and procedures are used to maintain diverse population data quality and security within an administrative healthcare environment.
Recreation, Tourism & Therapeutic Recreation Learning Outcomes
Adventure Tourism Minor
Learning outcomes are in development for this program.
Recreation & Tourism and Therapeutic Recreation Bachelor’s Degrees
Students in these programs will:
- plan, implement, and evaluate recreation programs that facilitate a healthy leisure lifestyle for all members of society.
- demonstrate adaptive expertise by being able to thrive in almost any environment (i.e., work, cultural, social, or physical).
- plan, implement, and evaluate any program, festival, or special event in an organized, ethical, and sustainable manner.
- be stewards of the environment.
- be principled leaders that respond to the on-going needs of the community in an effective and efficient manner.
Undergraduate Nursing Learning Outcomes
These learning outcomes apply to the Pre-Licensure Nursing and RN-to-BS Nursing Completion bachelor’s degrees.
Students in these programs will:
- integrate clinical judgment and reasoning by questioning, analyzing, interpreting, and inferring to provide evidence based, inclusive, safe, and high-quality client care.
- demonstrate effective professional communication with individuals, interprofessional partners, and communities of interest to build relationships and advance health and well-being of our communities.
- integrate ethical principles and advocacy for decision making to provide safe and effective care.
- implement the art of nursing skills to perform holistic assessments which informs client care based on mutual health goals and evidence-based practice.
- proactively and continuously participate in the complex healthcare system to impact the health safety, quality, and equity of diverse clients and communities across the lifespan.
Undergraduate Social Work Learning Outcomes
These learning outcomes apply to the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program.
Students in this program will:
- practice as generalist social workers with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- utilize self-awareness and reflection to continually enhance practice.
- practice in a manner that is culturally responsive to support diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- understand the interrelationships among people and systems to dismantle unjust systems for social change.
- advocate with and for people who are vulnerable, disenfranchised, oppressed, and underrepresented.