7+ Best Incarnate Word Nursing Programs (2024 Guide)


7+ Best Incarnate Word Nursing Programs (2024 Guide)

The College of the Incarnate Phrase (UIW) affords a spread of nursing training pathways, from pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) levels to superior follow registered nurse (APRN) applications on the grasp’s and doctoral ranges. These applications mix classroom instruction with hands-on scientific expertise, getting ready graduates for numerous roles inside the healthcare system. For instance, the BSN program emphasizes a powerful basis within the liberal arts, alongside specialised nursing programs, enabling graduates to offer holistic affected person care.

A sturdy nursing training is important for assembly the evolving calls for of healthcare. UIW’s dedication to this subject is mirrored in its state-of-the-art amenities, skilled school, and deal with neighborhood engagement. The establishment’s historic dedication to service, rooted in its Catholic heritage, underscores the moral and compassionate strategy instilled in its nursing graduates. This custom prepares graduates to not solely ship expert care but additionally to advocate for sufferers and enhance healthcare entry inside their communities.

This text will additional discover key features of nursing training at UIW, together with curriculum particulars, admission necessities, profession pathways for graduates, and the establishment’s contributions to advancing nursing data and follow.

1. Educational Rigor

Educational rigor inside the College of the Incarnate Phrase nursing program signifies a dedication to difficult coursework and excessive tutorial requirements. This rigorous strategy is important for getting ready graduates to satisfy the complicated calls for {of professional} nursing follow and contribute meaningfully to the healthcare subject. It cultivates essential considering, problem-solving abilities, and a deep understanding of the scientific rules underpinning nursing care.

  • Science-Based mostly Curriculum

    The curriculum integrates a powerful basis in organic and bodily sciences, offering college students with the data obligatory to know human physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology. This contains coursework in anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and microbiology, forming the premise for evidence-based follow. A radical understanding of those scientific rules is essential for secure and efficient affected person care.

  • Vital Pondering and Evaluation

    Coursework and scientific experiences domesticate essential considering abilities, enabling graduates to investigate affected person knowledge, establish potential issues, and develop acceptable interventions. Case research, simulations, and reflective follow workouts are employed to reinforce these abilities. The power to assume critically is important for navigating complicated scientific conditions and making sound judgments.

  • Analysis and Proof-Based mostly Observe

    College students are uncovered to analysis methodologies and the significance of evidence-based follow. This contains studying learn how to critically consider analysis findings and apply them to scientific settings. Emphasis on analysis prepares graduates to contribute to the development of nursing data and enhance affected person outcomes by means of knowledgeable follow.

  • Lifelong Studying and Skilled Growth

    This system instills the significance of lifelong studying and persevering with skilled growth, recognizing that healthcare is a continuously evolving subject. Graduates are ready to adapt to new applied sciences, remedy modalities, and healthcare insurance policies all through their careers. This dedication to ongoing studying ensures graduates stay on the forefront of nursing follow.

These aspects of educational rigor be certain that graduates of the UIW nursing program are well-equipped to offer secure, efficient, and compassionate affected person care. The difficult curriculum and deal with essential considering, analysis, and lifelong studying contribute considerably to this system’s repute for producing competent and adaptable nursing professionals ready to excel in numerous healthcare settings.

2. Medical Expertise

Medical expertise is an integral part of the College of the Incarnate Phrase nursing program, bridging the hole between theoretical data and real-world follow. It supplies college students with alternatives to use classroom studying in dynamic healthcare environments, develop important nursing abilities, and domesticate skilled id beneath the steering of skilled preceptors.

  • Numerous Medical Settings

    College students achieve publicity to a wide range of scientific settings, together with hospitals, clinics, neighborhood well being facilities, and long-term care amenities. This breadth of expertise permits them to work together with numerous affected person populations and perceive the complexities of healthcare supply throughout varied contexts. Publicity to numerous settings prepares graduates for the wide selection of profession choices obtainable within the nursing career.

  • Progressive Ability Growth

    Medical rotations are structured to offer a progressive growth of abilities, beginning with elementary nursing interventions and advancing to extra complicated procedures as college students progress by means of this system. Early experiences may deal with primary affected person care, whereas later rotations contain managing drugs, helping with diagnostic exams, and offering specialised care. This structured strategy ensures graduates possess a complete ability set.

  • Preceptor Mentorship

    College students are paired with skilled registered nurses who function preceptors, offering steering, assist, and suggestions within the scientific setting. This mentorship fosters skilled progress, reinforces greatest practices, and helps college students combine classroom data with sensible software. Preceptors play an important function in shaping the skilled growth of future nurses.

  • Interprofessional Collaboration

    Medical experiences supply alternatives for interprofessional collaboration, permitting nursing college students to work together with physicians, pharmacists, therapists, and different healthcare professionals. This collaborative atmosphere fosters teamwork, communication abilities, and an understanding of the roles and obligations of varied members of the healthcare staff. Efficient interprofessional collaboration is important for offering optimum affected person care.

These scientific experiences are elementary to the UIW nursing program’s mission of getting ready competent and compassionate healthcare professionals. By integrating concept and follow, fostering skilled progress by means of mentorship, and emphasizing interprofessional collaboration, this system ensures graduates are well-prepared to satisfy the challenges and alternatives of up to date nursing follow and contribute meaningfully to bettering affected person outcomes.

3. Values-Based mostly Schooling

The College of the Incarnate Phrase (UIW) nursing program is deeply rooted in a values-based instructional framework. This basis emphasizes the moral, ethical, and religious dimensions of nursing follow, shaping graduates into compassionate and service-oriented healthcare professionals. This system’s values-based strategy is integral to its mission of creating nurses who not solely possess scientific experience but additionally show a dedication to human dignity and social justice.

  • Moral Determination-Making

    Moral decision-making is central to the UIW nursing curriculum. College students discover moral theories and rules, have interaction in case research involving moral dilemmas, and develop abilities in moral evaluation and reflection. This preparation equips them to navigate complicated moral challenges encountered in scientific follow, corresponding to end-of-life care, affected person autonomy, and useful resource allocation. Growing sturdy moral decision-making abilities is important for upholding the integrity of the nursing career.

  • Social Justice Advocacy

    This system cultivates a dedication to social justice by exploring well being disparities and advocating for weak populations. College students look at the social determinants of well being and interact in community-based initiatives addressing healthcare entry and fairness. This deal with social justice encourages graduates to turn out to be brokers of change, working to enhance well being outcomes for all members of society, no matter background or circumstance.

  • Service and Compassionate Care

    Impressed by the college’s Catholic heritage, this system instills the values of service and compassionate care. College students are inspired to view nursing as a vocation and to prioritize the well-being of their sufferers, treating every particular person with dignity and respect. This emphasis on compassionate care fosters a patient-centered strategy and acknowledges the inherent price of each human being.

  • Religious and Private Development

    Whereas grounded in Catholic custom, this system embraces a holistic strategy to training that respects numerous religious and private beliefs. College students are inspired to mirror on their very own values and beliefs, discover the religious dimensions of therapeutic, and develop a deeper understanding of the human expertise. This deal with private and religious progress contributes to the event of well-rounded nurses who’re able to offering holistic care and supporting sufferers’ emotional and religious wants.

These interconnected values inform each side of the UIW nursing program, from curriculum design to scientific experiences. Graduates emerge not solely as expert clinicians but additionally as moral practitioners dedicated to social justice, compassionate care, and the holistic well-being of their sufferers. This values-driven strategy distinguishes UIW nursing graduates and prepares them to be leaders within the healthcare subject, advocating for constructive change and embodying the best beliefs of the nursing career.

4. School Experience

The energy of a nursing program is straight linked to the experience of its school. Throughout the College of the Incarnate Phrase (UIW) nursing program, school experience performs an important function in shaping the curriculum, delivering high-quality instruction, mentoring college students, and contributing to the development of nursing data and follow. The college’s numerous backgrounds and accomplishments enrich the training atmosphere and guarantee college students obtain a recent and complete training.

  • Skilled Clinicians and Educators

    UIW nursing school contains skilled clinicians and educators who carry a wealth of sensible data and pedagogical experience to the classroom and scientific setting. Many school members maintain superior levels and certifications, reflecting their dedication to lifelong studying and specialization inside the nursing subject. This mix of scientific expertise and academic experience ensures that college students obtain a sturdy training grounded in each concept and follow. For instance, school with backgrounds in essential care, oncology, or pediatrics can supply specialised insights and mentorship to college students all in favour of these areas.

  • Analysis and Scholarship

    School members are actively engaged in analysis and scholarship, contributing to the physique of nursing data and informing evidence-based follow. Their analysis pursuits span a variety of matters, together with well being disparities, continual illness administration, and progressive educating methodologies. This deal with analysis ensures that the curriculum stays present and related, reflecting the newest developments within the subject. Pupil involvement in school analysis initiatives supplies worthwhile alternatives to develop analysis abilities and contribute to significant scholarly work.

  • Mentorship and Pupil Assist

    UIW nursing school are devoted to offering individualized mentorship and assist to college students all through their tutorial journey. They function advisors, mentors, and function fashions, guiding college students’ skilled growth and serving to them obtain their profession targets. School members are accessible to college students, offering steering on target choice, profession planning, and navigating the challenges of nursing training. This supportive atmosphere fosters a way of neighborhood and encourages college students to thrive academically and professionally.

  • Management and Service

    Many UIW nursing school members maintain management positions inside skilled organizations and contribute to neighborhood well being initiatives. This engagement demonstrates their dedication to the nursing career and their dedication to bettering healthcare entry and high quality. School management serves for example to college students, inspiring them to turn out to be energetic individuals within the career and advocates for constructive change inside the healthcare system. Their involvement in skilled organizations and neighborhood service supplies college students with alternatives for networking {and professional} growth.

The collective experience of the UIW nursing school considerably enhances the standard and rigor of this system. Their scientific expertise, analysis contributions, dedication to mentorship, and management inside the career create a dynamic studying atmosphere that prepares graduates to excel as competent, compassionate, and moral nursing professionals. This dedication to excellence ensures that UIW nursing graduates are well-equipped to satisfy the evolving calls for of the healthcare panorama and make significant contributions to the sphere.

5. Profession Preparation

Profession preparation is a essential focus of the College of the Incarnate Phrase (UIW) nursing program. This system acknowledges that profitable transition into skilled follow requires extra than simply scientific abilities; it necessitates a complete strategy that encompasses profession exploration, skilled growth, networking alternatives, and preparation for licensure and certification. The curriculum is strategically designed to equip graduates with the data, abilities, and sources essential to launch profitable and fulfilling nursing careers.

  • Profession Exploration and Steering

    UIW supplies intensive sources and steering to assist college students discover numerous profession pathways inside the nursing career. Profession counseling companies, workshops, and networking occasions join college students with professionals in varied specialties, permitting them to realize insights into completely different roles and settings. This exploration course of allows college students to make knowledgeable selections about their profession trajectories and align their instructional experiences with their skilled aspirations. For instance, college students all in favour of specialised areas like essential care or oncology can join with practising nurses in these fields to study concerning the particular necessities and profession paths.

  • Skilled Growth and Ability Enhancement

    This system emphasizes skilled growth by means of workshops and seminars targeted on resume writing, interview abilities, {and professional} communication. College students additionally develop important abilities like management, teamwork, and time administration, that are extremely valued within the healthcare office. These skilled growth alternatives complement scientific coaching, guaranteeing graduates should not solely clinically proficient but additionally possess the skilled abilities essential to thrive in a aggressive job market. Mock interviews and resume critiques present sensible expertise and put together college students for the job software course of.

  • Networking and Mentorship Alternatives

    UIW fosters networking alternatives by means of partnerships with healthcare organizations and alumni networks. College students can join with potential employers, study job openings, and construct skilled relationships that may assist their profession development. Mentorship applications pair college students with skilled nurses who present steering and assist as they transition into skilled follow. These connections can result in internships, job shadowing experiences, and worthwhile insights into the realities of working in numerous healthcare settings. Alumni networks supply a platform for ongoing assist and profession recommendation even after commencement.

  • Licensure and Certification Preparation

    This system supplies complete preparation for the Nationwide Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), an important step for changing into a registered nurse. Devoted overview programs, follow exams, and individualized assist assist college students construct confidence and obtain success on the examination. Moreover, UIW helps college students pursuing superior certifications in specialised areas, enhancing their profession prospects and demonstrating their dedication to superior follow. Success on the NCLEX-RN is important for coming into the nursing career, and this system’s devoted preparation sources contribute considerably to pupil success charges.

By means of these multifaceted approaches to profession preparation, the UIW nursing program empowers graduates to confidently enter the workforce and contribute meaningfully to the healthcare subject. The emphasis on profession exploration, skilled growth, networking, and licensure preparation displays this system’s dedication to not solely educating expert nurses but additionally fostering profitable and fulfilling careers for its graduates. This complete strategy positions UIW nursing graduates as extremely aggressive candidates within the healthcare job market and prepares them for management roles and superior follow alternatives.

6. Neighborhood Engagement

Neighborhood engagement kinds a cornerstone of the College of the Incarnate Phrase (UIW) nursing program. It represents a reciprocal relationship the place college students contribute to neighborhood well being whereas concurrently gaining invaluable real-world expertise that enhances classroom studying and scientific rotations. This bidirectional change underscores this system’s dedication to social accountability and its recognition of the essential function nurses play in addressing neighborhood well being wants. Direct involvement in neighborhood well being initiatives fosters a deeper understanding of the social determinants of well being, well being disparities, and the challenges confronted by weak populations. As an illustration, college students could take part in well being screenings at area people facilities, offering training on illness prevention and administration. This direct interplay permits college students to use their creating nursing abilities whereas contributing to improved well being outcomes inside the neighborhood. Such experiences additionally domesticate empathy and a dedication to serving underserved populations, key attributes of a compassionate and efficient nurse.

Sensible examples of neighborhood engagement inside the UIW nursing program embody partnerships with native organizations addressing points corresponding to meals insecurity, entry to healthcare, and well being promotion. College students may volunteer at free clinics, take part in neighborhood well being festivals, or collaborate with neighborhood leaders to develop well being education schemes tailor-made to particular neighborhood wants. These experiences not solely present sensible software of nursing abilities but additionally foster management growth, interprofessional collaboration, and a deeper understanding of the complexities of neighborhood well being. Collaborating in such initiatives permits college students to witness firsthand the affect of social, financial, and environmental elements on well being and well-being. Moreover, neighborhood engagement initiatives regularly require collaboration with professionals from different disciplines, corresponding to social work, public well being, and training, offering worthwhile interprofessional studying alternatives. These collaborative efforts improve college students’ capacity to work successfully inside interdisciplinary groups, a essential ability for up to date nursing follow.

In abstract, neighborhood engagement inside the UIW nursing program is greater than only a curricular requirement; it is a core worth that permeates this system’s philosophy and shapes the event of future nursing professionals. By actively partaking with the neighborhood, college students achieve sensible expertise, develop important skilled abilities, and domesticate a deeper understanding of the social determinants of well being. This community-focused strategy produces graduates well-prepared to handle complicated well being challenges, advocate for weak populations, and contribute meaningfully to bettering neighborhood well being outcomes. Challenges corresponding to logistical coordination and useful resource allocation are actively addressed to make sure these experiences are impactful and sustainable. In the end, this system’s emphasis on neighborhood engagement strengthens its mission of getting ready compassionate, competent, and community-focused nurses devoted to serving the wants of numerous populations.

7. Superior Observe Pathways

The College of the Incarnate Phrase (UIW) nursing program acknowledges the rising demand for superior follow registered nurses (APRNs) and affords pathways for registered nurses to additional their training and specialise in areas like household nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, psychiatric psychological well being nurse practitioner, and nurse anesthesia. These superior follow pathways symbolize a dedication to creating nursing leaders outfitted to handle complicated healthcare challenges and enhance entry to high quality care. They construct upon the foundational rules of the UIW nursing program, emphasizing moral follow, compassionate care, and a dedication to serving the neighborhood. These pathways put together graduates for roles with larger autonomy and accountability inside the healthcare system.

  • Grasp of Science in Nursing (MSN)

    The MSN diploma serves as the inspiration for a number of superior follow specializations. It supplies a complete curriculum protecting superior pathophysiology, pharmacology, well being evaluation, and evidence-based follow. For instance, the household nurse practitioner monitor prepares graduates to offer main care companies to sufferers throughout the lifespan, whereas the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner monitor focuses on managing complicated medical situations in acute care settings. The MSN program at UIW emphasizes each theoretical data and scientific software, guaranteeing graduates are ready to ship high-quality, specialised care.

  • Physician of Nursing Observe (DNP)

    The DNP program prepares nurses for the best stage of scientific follow and management inside the nursing career. It emphasizes translating analysis into follow, bettering healthcare outcomes, and main high quality enchancment initiatives. DNP-prepared nurses play an important function in addressing healthcare disparities, implementing evidence-based follow, and shaping healthcare coverage. As an illustration, a DNP-prepared nurse may lead a venture to enhance affected person security protocols inside a hospital or develop a community-based program to handle continual sicknesses. The DNP program at UIW emphasizes management growth, programs considering, and a dedication to advancing nursing follow.

  • Put up-Grasp’s Certificates

    UIW affords post-master’s certificates for APRNs in search of to develop their scope of follow or specialise in a brand new space. These certificates present targeted coaching in particular areas, corresponding to diabetes administration, oncology nursing, or palliative care. For instance, a nurse practitioner with a household follow background may pursue a post-master’s certificates in psychiatric psychological well being to develop their follow to incorporate psychological well being companies. These certificates enable APRNs to tailor their abilities to satisfy the evolving wants of the healthcare panorama and improve their profession alternatives.

  • Medical Partnerships and Preceptorships

    Robust scientific partnerships with native healthcare amenities are important for offering college students with high-quality scientific experiences of their chosen specialties. UIW collaborates with a community of hospitals, clinics, and neighborhood well being facilities to offer college students with numerous scientific experiences beneath the steering of skilled preceptors. These partnerships be certain that college students achieve publicity to real-world follow and develop the superior scientific abilities essential to excel of their chosen fields. The standard of those scientific experiences is essential for getting ready graduates to confidently transition into superior follow roles.

These superior follow pathways at UIW mirror a dedication to creating nursing leaders who’re ready to satisfy the evolving calls for of the healthcare system. By providing a spread of MSN, DNP, and post-master’s certificates applications, alongside strong scientific partnerships, UIW equips graduates with the data, abilities, and expertise essential to excel in superior follow roles, drive innovation, and enhance healthcare outcomes for numerous populations. Moreover, these pathways contribute to the broader mission of the UIW nursing program: to teach compassionate, competent, and moral nursing professionals who’re dedicated to serving their communities and advancing the nursing career.

Incessantly Requested Questions

This part addresses frequent inquiries relating to nursing training on the College of the Incarnate Phrase (UIW).

Query 1: What are the admission necessities for the undergraduate nursing program?

Admission necessities sometimes embody a aggressive GPA, prerequisite coursework in science and arithmetic, and passable scores on standardized exams just like the ACT or SAT. Particular necessities and prerequisite programs could be discovered on the UIW web site.

Query 2: Does UIW supply on-line nursing applications?

UIW affords choose on-line and hybrid applications, significantly on the graduate stage. Potential college students ought to seek the advice of this system web site for particular supply codecs obtainable for every diploma.

Query 3: What are the profession prospects for UIW nursing graduates?

UIW nursing graduates pursue numerous profession paths in hospitals, clinics, neighborhood well being settings, analysis, and training. This system’s deal with profession preparation and powerful scientific partnerships contribute to excessive employment charges and profitable profession outcomes. Particular profession sources and placement statistics could be discovered by means of the UIW profession companies workplace.

Query 4: How does this system assist college students in search of monetary assist?

UIW affords varied monetary assist choices, together with scholarships, grants, and loans. Data relating to eligibility standards and software processes could be obtained by means of the college’s monetary assist workplace.

Query 5: What’s the program’s NCLEX-RN cross fee?

This system maintains a powerful NCLEX-RN cross fee, persistently exceeding state and nationwide averages. Present cross charges and program outcomes are revealed on the UIW web site.

Query 6: How does UIW incorporate its mission and values into the nursing program?

The UIW nursing program integrates the college’s mission of service and its core values into the curriculum and scientific experiences. Emphasis is positioned on moral follow, compassionate care, and a dedication to serving the neighborhood. This deal with values-based training prepares graduates to be not solely expert clinicians but additionally moral and compassionate healthcare professionals devoted to social justice.

These FAQs present a normal overview. Potential college students are inspired to seek the advice of the UIW nursing program web site and speak to the admissions workplace for probably the most present and complete info.

For additional insights, the subsequent part explores pupil testimonials and success tales, providing views on the UIW nursing expertise.

Suggestions for Success in Nursing Schooling

Navigating the trail to changing into a profitable nurse requires dedication, efficient methods, and a proactive strategy to studying. The following tips supply steering for potential and present nursing college students in search of to excel of their tutorial journey and put together for fulfilling careers in healthcare.

Tip 1: Robust Basis in Sciences: A strong understanding of biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology is essential for fulfillment in nursing coursework. Supplementing coursework with further examine sources, corresponding to textbooks, on-line tutorials, and examine teams, can reinforce elementary ideas. Mastery of those core sciences supplies a framework for understanding complicated medical ideas and making use of them to affected person care.

Tip 2: Lively Studying Methods: Have interaction actively with course materials by means of note-taking, summarizing key ideas, and collaborating at school discussions. Lively studying promotes deeper understanding and retention of knowledge. Using varied studying modalities, corresponding to visible aids, auditory recordings, and kinesthetic actions, can cater to particular person studying preferences and improve comprehension.

Tip 3: Efficient Time Administration: Nursing training calls for environment friendly time administration abilities. Growing a examine schedule, prioritizing duties, and allocating ample time for each coursework and scientific follow can mitigate stress and improve tutorial efficiency. Using time administration instruments, corresponding to calendars, planners, and job administration apps, can help in sustaining group and assembly deadlines.

Tip 4: Search Mentorship and Assist: Establishing connections with school, tutorial advisors, and practising nurses supplies worthwhile mentorship and assist all through the nursing training journey. Mentors supply steering, share experiences, and supply insights into the realities of the nursing career. Collaborating in mentorship applications and attending networking occasions can facilitate these connections.

Tip 5: Embrace Medical Experiences: Medical rotations supply invaluable alternatives to use theoretical data in real-world settings. Lively participation, in search of suggestions from preceptors, and reflecting on scientific experiences improve sensible abilities and foster skilled growth. Approaching every scientific expertise with a proactive and inquisitive mindset maximizes studying alternatives.

Tip 6: Domesticate Self-Care Practices: Sustaining bodily and emotional well-being is important for navigating the calls for of nursing training. Prioritizing sleep, partaking in common train, and practising stress-reduction strategies can enhance focus, improve resilience, and promote total well-being. Recognizing the significance of self-care is essential for stopping burnout and sustaining a wholesome work-life steadiness all through one’s nursing profession.

Tip 7: Skilled Growth: Have interaction in actions that promote skilled growth, corresponding to attending conferences, becoming a member of skilled organizations, and in search of management alternatives. Skilled growth enhances abilities, expands data, and fosters profession development. Staying knowledgeable about present traits and developments in healthcare demonstrates a dedication to lifelong studying {and professional} progress.

By implementing these methods, nursing college students can domesticate a powerful basis for fulfillment of their tutorial pursuits, skilled growth, and future contributions to the healthcare subject. The following tips present a roadmap for navigating the challenges and alternatives of nursing training and getting ready for a rewarding profession in nursing.

The next part affords concluding ideas on the worth of nursing training and the contributions of UIW to getting ready future generations of nursing professionals.

Conclusion

This exploration of the College of the Incarnate Phrase nursing program has highlighted its multifaceted strategy to getting ready future nursing professionals. From tutorial rigor and numerous scientific experiences to a values-based curriculum and dedication to neighborhood engagement, this system emphasizes complete growth. Superior follow pathways additional equip graduates to imagine management roles and tackle evolving healthcare wants. School experience supplies a basis for excellence in each training and scientific follow. This system’s dedication to profession preparation ensures graduates possess the talents and sources obligatory for profitable transitions into the workforce.

The healthcare panorama calls for competent, compassionate, and ethically grounded nurses ready to navigate complicated challenges and ship high-quality care. The College of the Incarnate Phrase nursing program strives to satisfy this demand, fostering a studying atmosphere that cultivates skilled progress, essential considering, and a dedication to service. Funding in nursing training represents an funding in the way forward for healthcare. This system’s ongoing dedication to innovation, neighborhood engagement, and superior follow growth positions its graduates to form the way forward for the nursing career and contribute considerably to bettering well being outcomes for people and communities.