The Profile of a Graduate from West Coast University

The following characteristics represent the qualities, attitudes and values that students should

possess by the time they have completed their studies at West Coast University.

 Professionalism: Graduates should treat all patients and clients with respect and

dignity. Graduates should always maintain and safeguard the confidentiality of every

patient and client. Graduates should maintain a professional appearance and conduct

themselves with professionalism at all times. Graduates should understand the value of

professional association affiliation.

 Currency, Adaptability, and Lifelong Learning: Graduates should seek to adapt and

remain current with the guidelines and scope of their practice. Graduates should

espouse lifelong learning, and should exhibit this commitment via scholarly inquiry,

including educational achievements in public and/or global health services, evidence

based clinical care, and the sciences.

 Interprofessionalism: Graduates should be prepared as health professionals for

working deliberatively in interprofessional teams and through interprofessional

collaborative practice. Graduates should strive to develop a safe, patient-centered, and

population-based health care system to achieve optimal health and wellness.

 Global Awareness: In addition to the commitment to local, state, regional, national, and

public service, graduates should demonstrate an awareness and appreciation for

international healthcare models and practices.

 Clinical Application: Graduates should be prepared to apply their clinical skills and

knowledge in a variety of diverse settings, both global and local, to promote public

health. Graduates should be able to adapt to a variety of clinical situations.

 Diversity and Cultural Sensitivity as ‘Health Care Citizens’: Graduates should

embrace a commitment to diversity and cultural sensitivity. Graduates should be

prepared to meet the broad and disparate needs of their patients, clients, and the

communities within which they serve. Graduates should be advocates for health care

change and health promotion.

 Service-Oriented and Community Advocacy: Graduates should demonstrate a

sustained and meaningful sense of service to their patients, clients, and communities.

Graduates should have participated in community service opportunities that have

increased their sensitivity to and awareness of the communities within which they serve.

 Acquisition of Personal Attributes: Graduates should demonstrate altruism, integrity,

dependability, compassion, respect, temperance, acceptance of criticism, emotional

stability, self- awareness, and resilience. Graduates should exhibit confidence in taking

appropriate actions and have the aptitude to respond quickly in emergency situations.

Graduates should exhibit personal accountability.

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 Team Player: Graduates should be willing to execute their professional skills as a

member of a team. They should exhibit a keen awareness of team dynamics, and be

willing to be open-minded, seek common ground, and support and encourage all

members of an inter-disciplinary health care team.

 Legal and Ethical Responsibilities: Graduates should be aware of the legal

parameters of their scope of practice. They should abide by their respective

professional code of ethics and/or oaths, as prescribed by each profession, and/or

licensure body.

 Leadership Skills: Graduates should contribute as leaders in their profession and

understand their own strengths and weaknesses, and the importance of being flexible,

and possessing good organizational and time-management skills to achieve a common

goal.

 Interpersonal Communication Skills: Graduates should be active listeners and

communicate well with patients, clients, and families to understand their needs and

explain treatments. Graduates should communicate competently in written, oral, and

electronic forms with patients, clients, and the healthcare team and should be sensitive

to verbal and non-verbal cues.

 Critical Thinking Skills: Graduates should think critically and address problems

proactively. They should exhibit sound judgment and reasoning such as the ability to

measure, calculate, analyze, and synthesize information pertinent to problem solving

when making decisions.

 Knowledge Attainment: Graduates should be qualified and knowledgeable

practitioners, as demonstrated by passing board and/or licensure examinations, course

grades, and by clinical evaluations, such as preceptorships and field experiences.

 Acquisition of Evidence-Based Resources: Graduates should demonstrate

knowledge of information resources and data-bases, to identify strategies for locating

additional evidence-based resources to expand knowledge and skill bases, for referrals

and reference. Graduates should possess the ability to utilize computer technology and

apply this expertise in professional and clinical settings.