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Does Higher Education Result in More Competent Nurses

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DOES HIGHER EDUCATION RESULT IN MORE COMPETENT NURSES
Grand Canyon University
NRS-430V Professional Dynamics

DOES HIGHER EDUCATION RESULT IN MORE COMPETENT NURSES?

There seems to be a long standing argument between RNs who hold diploma, Associates or Baccalaureate degrees in the equality and competency of nursing care that is delivered to patients. Many studies have been conducted on this subject to identify if there are better patient outcomes for higher educated nurses. Originally the Associates Degree level on nursing was developed out of the demand to produce nurses in response to a nursing shortage during and following World War II, which continues to this day. It originally was proposed as a temporary solution to the extreme shortage and was not intended to replace the Baccalaureate educated nurse. So the question remains what is the difference between a Diploma, Associate, or Baccalaureate prepared nurse? Are they equivalent to each other in terms of delivering competent care to our patient populations?

Both Associate Degree and Baccalaureate nurses sit for the same NCLEX examination. But this exam test only to discern for entry level nursing competency. So when comparing equal level of experience between a BSN-prepared RN and a non-BSN prepared RN many studies have found the following conclusions. Differences were not so much found with new graduate RNs in the first six months of experience, but afterward it was found that “Baccalaureate educated RNs were prepared for more complex decision making using critical thinking combined with comprehensive assessment skills, awareness of epidemiological and individual risk factors, and sensitivity to cultural diversity” (Meyer, 1997, p. 1). Additional studies performed at hospitals demonstrated an increase in patient death rate when there were less Baccalaureate nurses on staff. This is why more

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