Baccalaureate Degree Nursing/Associate Degree Nursing: Difference in Competencies
November 25 2012
Nurses prepared at the baccalaureate degree level are more competent than those prepared at the associate degree level. As the saying goes knowledge is power, Nurses prepared at baccalaureate degree level have more knowledge, they spend more time in school studying, conducting research, they think deeper, they apply critical thinking skills in patient care and the end result is positive outcome. According to Grand Canyon university college of nursing, preparing nurses at the baccalaureate degree level equipped the nurse for the challenges facing nursing profession with the increase in changes in healthcare system, this also empowers their professionalism , ethical decision making, accountability, critical thinking skills and effective communicating skills. . According to American Association of Colleges of Nursing although Nurses prepared at the baccalaureate degree level and those prepared at the associate degree level have the same passing rate that still does not mean that they deliver the same quality of care when it comes to patient care. Nurses prepared at the baccalaureate level have better communicating skills when communicating with patient and family, they also possess a sense of autonomy in them when making decision regarding care that patient received. According to an article written by American Association of Colleges of Nursing, research conducted by Medical Care Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have found that post-surgical patients cared for by baccalaureate degree nurses have 14% lower post-surgical death and 12% lower rate of failure to rescue rate than those who was cared by Nurses prepared at the Associates degree level. This is to say that surgical Patients have higher
