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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.
