NRS 430V Week 2 Assignment Educational Preparation

Details:

Write a formal paper of 750-1,000 words that addresses the following:

1. Discuss the differences in competencies between nurses prepared at the associate-degree level versus the baccalaureate-degree level.
2. Identify a patient care situation in which you describe how nursing care or approaches to decision-making may differ based upon the educational preparation of the nurse (BSN versus a diploma or ADN degree).

For additional help finding research on this topic, refer to the GCU Library tutorial located at in the Student Success Center.

Refer to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Fact Sheet: Creating a More Highly Qualified Nursing Workforce as a resource.

Refer to the assigned readings for concepts that help support your main points.

Refer to “Grand Canyon University College of Nursing Philosophy.” This is an informational resource to assist in completing the assignment.

Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the criteria and expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

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differences in competencies between nurses prepared at the associate-degree level versus the baccalaureate-degree level

Introduction

Nursing programs are preparing more and more associate degree nurses. These students are often better suited to work in areas of acute care, such as emergency departments, while baccalaureate degree nurses tend to focus on long-term care or home care. While some nursing organizations have started to shift their focus away from the associate degree, others still see this as an important part of their mission. In fact, a study by the Joint Commission found that many hospitals and health systems feel that having an associate degree nurse makes them more efficient and effective providers.

Associate degree nurses display a higher level of competency in basic nursing skills, including assessment and data collection.

The associate-degree nurses are more likely to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and therefore have more experience with basic nursing skills.

They also tend to be more experienced at the job because they’ve had time to accumulate more clinical hours, which translates into better patient care.

Associate-level nurses are also more likely to have licenses than baccalaureate-degree nurses, according to recent research published by Becker’s Hospital Review (2016).

Baccalaureate degree nurses are more likely to have higher levels of education, which leads to advanced critical thinking skills.

As you can see, baccalaureate degree nurses are more likely to have higher levels of education. This leads to advanced critical thinking skills, which are important for nurses to make sound decisions in their work environment.

Both groups have good communication skills, but associate degree nurses tend to be more comfortable with technology than baccalaureate degree nurses.

Associate degree nurses have more experience with technology than baccalaureate degree nurses.

This is because associate degrees in nursing are generally shorter and can be obtained within two years, whereas baccalaureate degrees take four or five years to complete (depending on the program).

While nursing programs prepare students with the knowledge they need to succeed in the field, different levels of education lead to different levels of competence.

While nursing programs prepare students with the knowledge they need to succeed in the field, different levels of education lead to different levels of competence. Associate degree nurses tend to be better at patient-care tasks than baccalaureate degree nurses, who are more comfortable with technology and have advanced critical thinking skills.

Both groups have good communication skills, but associate degrees are more likely than baccalauresates to use EHR systems (electronic health records). Associate degree nurses tend not only be familiar with computers but also comfortable using them effectively. In addition, while most nurses report having good interpersonal relationships with colleagues and patients alike, those who hold bachelor’s degrees tend by far more often than those who hold associate degrees say that their interactions with coworkers were professional rather than friendly/jovial/social at times; this may reflect a different attitude toward work among these groups.

Conclusion

There are many reasons why a baccalaureate degree is better than an associate degree, but the real takeaway is that nursing students learn more in general by taking classes at higher levels. In addition, nurses with higher levels of education tend to be more confident in their abilities and feel less threatened by new ideas or challenges.