Overview
The San Lorenzo Ruiz School of Health Sciences was conceived by Mrs. Helen Yuchengco
Dee, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Mapúa Institute of Technology (MIT). She
presented the concept of the school to MIT’s president Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea. Subsequently,
a feasibility study was undertaken, and the results of which favored the opening
of the school.
Since its founding on January 25, 1925, MIT has pioneered in providing technical
education in the country. Thus, many alumni questioned the opening of San Lorenzo
Ruiz School of Health Sciences, specifically the incorporation of Bachelor of Science
in Nursing (BSN) in the Institute’s academic programs. In answer to their various
questions, Dr. Vea wrote the following message to the alumni:
“In July 2004, the institute will start offering a baccalaureate degree program
in nursing at its Makati campus under the newly created San Lorenzo Ruiz School
of Health Sciences. The dean of this school is Mrs. Deogracia M. Valderrama, RN,
BSN, MAN, MHA, the immediate former director for nursing of the UP-PGH and a faculty
member of the University of the Philippines College of Nursing. She is multi-awarded
and well-respected in academic and nursing circles, nationally and internationally.
In the best Mapúa tradition of excellence, we have carefully crafted a rigorous
curriculum, identified the best prospects for faculty and made substantial initial
investments in facilities to assure a quality Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program.
The admissions process is also being carefully devised to assure high and appropriate
qualifications for incoming students. We aim to eventually be among the best in
the nation.
Why nursing?
There is no denying the large global and local demand for nurses. Indeed it presents
a clear opportunity for further growth of Philippine schools and an opportunity
of employment for our countrymen. For the institute, the offering of a nursing program
will provide an additional layer of security for long-term stability against quick-changing
enrolment patterns as much as it will provide an additional means of fulfilling
a social responsibility to develop the country’s human resources.
Out of the comfort zone
Mapúa has always been equated to engineering. Given this long-held and strong association
in the mind of the Mapúa community and the public, the addition of nursing to Mapúa’s
offerings will certainly be jarring. Amidst consternation or even disbelief for
some, we will all have to move away from the comfort of the familiar to the uncertainties
of the new.
Sharpness of focus
But, even with such movement, let it be said that the sharpness of focus need not
be compromised. The way the institute is organized and operated, with empowerment
of the various schools, allows it to focus on many academic programs all at once.
The addition of nursing should perturb the system no more than the addition of biotechnology
does or the addition of engineering management will. We can still keep our eyes
on the ball – in fact several balls up in the air all at once – as we have been
doing all these years.
Clarity of vision
The vision to be an international center of excellence in integrated engineering,
architecture and IT education likewise remains. Just as focus is not diffused, so
the vision remains clear even if we now must simultaneously strive to be an international
center of excellence in nursing education.
The mission likewise simply takes on another dimension as it is applied to another
realm of knowledge. Otherwise the call to generate, transfer, apply and preserve
knowledge still resounds.
A new association
With offerings of degrees in Engineering, Science, Architecture, IT, Management
and Health Science, the Institute can now seriously consider moving towards eligibility
for university status.
If and when we attain that status everyone will simply have to make a new association
– of Mapúa being synonymous with excellence in education. Period. This may take
a while, but it may well be worth it.”
To get the program started, MIT hired Dean Deogracia M. Valderrama on December 7,
2003. The San Lorenzo Ruiz School of Health Sciences was granted the government
permit (CHED-NCR No. C-071 Series 2004) on March 15, 2004, after complying with
the requirements of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Board of Nursing.
On July 14, 2004, MIT offered BSN to its first batch of 206 students. On November
19, 2007, the school was granted Government Recognition (GR) No. 091 Series of 2007.
On November 29 and 30, 2008, 83 graduates of the school took the Philippine Nursing
Licensure Examination (PNLE), which resulted in 86.75% passing rate. In that year,
the San Lorenzo Ruiz School of Health Sciences ranked number 7 among the top-performing
schools under Category B (with 30-99 examinees) in the country.
Vision and Mission
Vision
The San Lorenzo Ruiz School of Health Sciences aims to produce individuals with
a degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing who possess the core competencies of
a professional nurse, making them the best choice nationally and internationally
Mission
As an integral part of Mapúa Institute of Technology, the San Lorenzo Ruiz School
of Health Sciences shares the Institute’s vision and mission. Specifically, it is
committed to develop health resources that are socially responsive to human welfare
through the implementation of a strong, dynamic, values-oriented, community-based
curriculum, integrating state-of-the-art technology to achieve academic excellence
in an environment conducive to learning and caring.
Program Educational Objectives
- The graduates are practicing professionals with core competencies and beginning skills in the use of the nursing process in accordance with ethico-legal-moral norms and standards. The graduates are able to demonstrate these competencies in the context of attention to relationship, a deep understanding of the care experience and the exercise of beginning clinical judgment in the application of nursing science and art.
- As professionals, the graduates utilizes appropriate Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes and Values (KSAV) and technology in dealing with local and global community issues for the improvement in the quality of life of clients by embracing lifelong learning values and continually enhancing personal and professional development.