The philosophy of the College of Nursing emerges from the official statement of philosophy and mission of the University of South Carolina. The fundamental purposes of the University and the College of Nursing are to provide quality teaching, research, and service programs to address health needs and interests of South Carolina, the nation, and the international community. The faculty believe that people are complex beings with values, feelings, beliefs, and needs which influence their decisions and behavior. Each person is unique, yet shares common attributes with other people. People engage in continuous interaction with the total environment as both evolve.
Human responses are manifestations of the interactions between the individual and the environment.
Health and illness are interactive processes, which are coexistent. Health and illness, as human responses, reflect the quality of the person-environment interaction at a given point in space and time. While health and illness are defined and experienced by individuals, families, and societies, these perceptions may at times conflict. People as members of society develop within multicultural units which influence individual values and beliefs. Society consists of interacting systems that influence the quality and direction of life of its members.