About DSN
ACCREDITATIONS AND APPROVALS
Program and institutional assessments are conducted periodically by qualified examiners and members of the School's accrediting body and/or by accrediting teams. The purpose of these assessments is to evaluate the quality of the programs, staff and faculty, and to examine voluntary compliance with accrediting standards and state and federal regulations.
Colorado State Board of Nursing (CBON).
The CBON has granted full approval to both the ADN and BSN programs. Approval allows graduates to apply to take the licensing exam required for professional practice.
Colorado State Board of Nursing
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, Colorado 80202
(303) 894-2430
(303) 894-2821 (fax)
http://www.dora.state.co.us/NURSING/
Colorado Commission on Higher Education.
This approval grants the School the authority to award Associate's and Bachelor's degrees in nursing.
State of Colorado, Department of Education
Colorado Commission on Higher Education
1560 Broadway, Suite 1600
Denver, Colorado 80202
(303) 866-2723
(303) 866-4266 (fax)
http://highered.colorado.gov
Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
This institutional accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. ACCSC recognized Denver School of Nursing as a 2008-2009 ACCSC School of Excellence.
The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)
2101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 302
Arlington, Virginia 22201
(703) 247-4212
(703) 247-4533 (fax)
www.accsc.org
The college is a candidate with The Higher Learning Commission and an affiliate of the North Central Association.
The Higher Learning Commission
230 LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois 60604
(312) 263-0456
(312) 263-7432 (fax)
www.ncahlc.org
A student may receive a copy of the School's accreditation, licensure, or other approvals by submitting a written request to the President of DSN.
Accreditation, approvals, and membership certificates are displayed in the lobby. Any questions regarding accreditation, licensure, or approvals should be directed to the President of the Denver School of Nursing.
MISSION AND PURPOSES
The Denver School of Nursing Board of Trustees has adopted statements of vision, mission, values, goals, and philosophy to guide the operation of the institution.
VISION
The vision of Denver School of Nursing is to prepare excellent health care providers and leaders to transform the lives of persons and communities through innovative education and health care.
MISSION
Denver School of Nursing is a private institution of higher education dedicated exclusively to educating students for the diverse opportunities offered by careers in nursing and other medical fields.
PURPOSE
Denver School of Nursing serves students, the nursing profession, health care organizations, clients receiving care, and the increasing needs of society for qualified nurses by offering programs for students who seek careers in nursing and other medical fields.
Denver School of Nursing devotes its resources to maintaining quality nursing programs in an environment that focuses on clinical competence across all scopes of practice, and that help develop the technical and thinking skills needed to foster successful careers and a lifetime of continued professional learning.
The programs build on foundations of general education common to nursing education, and all programs meet or exceed common standards for nursing education programs in Colorado.
The nursing programs explore a differentiated practice model that teaches students to maximize their own role development, to seek the opportunity to learn and collaborate effectively with other nurses of differing educational preparations.
The programs integrate holistic health care values with traditional health care values so students can explore the understanding of "whole body wellness" in client care. Programs are offered to adult students from the economically and ethnically diverse regional community served.
PHILOSOPHY
The philosophy of Denver School of Nursing flows from its mission and supports the concepts of clinical competence, excellence in education, holistic care, professionalism, evidence-based practice, and lifelong learning.
The philosophy incorporates the conceptual framework that was developed by faculty to provide direction for the selection and organization of learning experiences to achieve program outcomes. The conceptual framework serves to unite these four constructs:
NURSING
Nursing is an art and science that identifies, mobilizes, and develops strengths of the client through acquired skill, professionalism, knowledge, and competence supported by evidence-based practice.
PERSON
A person is a unique, physical, psychosocial, spiritual, cultural, and holistic being or community with value, dignity, and worth possessing the capacity for growth, change, and choices for which they bear responsibility.
ENVIRONMENT
Environment is the dynamic subtotal of internal and external elements that impact an individual's perception of an adaptation to the community in which they exist.
WELLNESS
Wellness is defined as the individual's perception of his/her quality of life throughout the lifespan and his/her ability to adapt to restrictions of environment, disease, or disability.
The following goals are integral to the mission of Denver School of Nursing:
THE CAMPUS
The Denver School of Nursing campus is located in a main building (19th Street and Market) and annex (19th Street and Lawrence) which are just two blocks apart in the "Lodo" area of downtown Denver, Colorado. Parking is available on the street and in surrounding lots.
Classroom and lab activities are located in the main building, clinical simulation is in the annex, and other clinical activities occur at facilities primarily in the Denver metro area.
Public transportation, major shopping, an assortment of restaurants, and other services are conveniently located within a few blocks of the campus.
ANNEX
Denver School of Nursing's annex is located on the 4th floor of the building at 1875 Lawrence Street in downtown Denver, two blocks from the main campus. The 6211 square foot annex space includes a Simulation Lab with high fidelity simulation models, medication administration equipment, modern supplies, and electronic medical record software. The annex also includes a new computer lab, debriefing rooms, and additional staff offices. The Simulation Lab accommodates 6-8 nursing students in each of the four (4) patient rooms. There are two (2) Medical/Surgical rooms and two (2) Obstetric/Pediatric rooms.
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
Denver School of Nursing occupies a 24,000 square foot facility located at 1401 19th Street Denver, CO 80202. A Learning Resource Center is available with high-speed Internet access, computer workstations with laptops, printers, web-based resources, reference books, and periodicals. The simulation lab provides actual patient scenarios with high fidelity mannequins, camera system, fully replicated patient rooms, and instructional debrief rooms. Nursing labs are equipped with microscopes, stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, EKG machines, surgical instruments, patient hospital beds, and injection arms/skins. Wireless Internet access is provided throughout the college via laptop computers for student use and for testing. The lecture rooms have Internet connectivity, instructional podiums, projectors, and in-wall speakers to enhance the lectures with access to specialized medical/educational web sites and use of web-based materials. There is a student lounge with vending machines and microwaves. Administrative offices include student services, career services, financial aid, registrar, admissions, and bookkeeping. There are faculty work areas and interview rooms for faculty/student conferences.
