Educational Preparation
Lindsey Schnoor
Grand Canyon University: NRS-403V Professional Dynamics
August 23, 2014

Nursing is a profession that has been around for a very long time. While there was not a formal education program when nursing was in its infancy, the need for higher and continuing education has grown exponentially. There are many pathways to choose to enter the field of nursing. Healthcare has had many changes and much advancement. The field continues to evolve on a daily basis. The needs of people are more complex, nurses have a lot of responsibility, and the need for a nurse with a higher education is in demand. There are differences between nurses prepared at a higher level of education, and the care that is delivered may also be affected depending on level of education.
There are many differences between the nurse who has been prepared at the associate degree level and the nurse who has been prepared at the baccalaureate degree level. One big difference is what is viewed as critical content in the curriculum. Nursing educators from both the associate degree and baccalaureate degree programs agreed that important content for curriculum include, “nursing process, caring, communication, ethics, accountability, aging, and cultural diversity” (Meyer, 1997). However, BSN nursing educators also included “critical thinking, health teaching, leadership, and professionalism as essential components” (Meyer, 1997). Patient outcomes are better when nurses have continued their education beyond the diploma or associate degree. Many research studies have shown that mortality rates are lower when a higher number of nurses hold a BSN degree or higher in the hospital setting. One study stated “…every 10% increase in the proportion of BSN nurses on the hospital staff was associated with a 4% decrease in the risk of death” (American Association of Colleges of