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Differences in Competencies Between Nurses at the Associate-Degree Level Verses the Baccalaureate-Degree Level.

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DIFFERENCES IN COMPETENCIES BETWEEN NURSES AT THE ASSOCIATE-DEGREE LEVEL VERSES THE BACCALAUREATE-DEGREE LEVEL

Debbie Stepp
Grand Canyon University: NRS 430
February 3, 2013

DIFFERENCES IN COMPETENCIES BETWEEN NURSES AT THE ASSOCIATE-DEGREE LEVEL VERSES THE BACCALAUREATE – DEGREE LEVEL

The health and care of our patient is our number one focus as nurses. As the demands increase, and with the changing health care system today, we are needing a more highly qualified, educated, and diverse nurse. We all want to live in optimal health and take the best care of our patient. Our role, as nurse’s deal with their physical, emotional, intellectual, and social aspects of the care of the patient. With the fast changing health care system, we are needing a more educated nursing staff and here are some facts on that. The baccalaureate nursing practice incorporates the roles of assessing, critical thinking, communicating, providing care, teaching and leading, as noted by the Grand Canyon University of Nursing Philosophy. The professional approach includes the values of autonomy, altruism, human dignity, integrity, and social justice with unconditional regard for people. Nursing practice includes health promotion, disease preventions, early detection of health deviations, prompt and adequate treatment of the human response to acute and chronic illness, and compassionate care for those experiencing death. The Future of Nursing is called to increase the number of baccalaureate-prepared nurses in the workforce to 80% by 2020. The expert committee charged with preparing the evidence-based recommendations saying “to the demands of an evolving health care system and meet the changing needs of patients, nurses must achieve higher levels of education.” The magnet hospitals are meeting these requirements already. Some of the differences of the competencies already we

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