Assosiates Versus Baccaloreate

Nursing has come a long way from the early days where there were not much focus put on a nurses education. We started off with the ability to earn our education in 4 year universities but the demand for nurses grew so much that the development of a two year degree developed ("Timeline of nursing," 2011). Today there is an increase demand for nurses who hold their Baccalaureate level degree vs. an Associate’s degree. “According to the 2008 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses conducted by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), nursing is the nation 's largest health care profession with more than 3 million registered nurses (RNs) nationwide. Of all licensed RNs, 2.6 million or 84.8% are employed in nursing. The sample survey also shows that 50.0% of the RN workforce holds a baccalaureate or graduate degree while 36.1% earned an associate degree and 13.9% a diploma in nursing” ("American association of," 2012). Even though both levels of nurses are tested the same and need to meet the same basic requirements nurses with a Baccalaureate level degree are becoming more in demand because of the fact that their education is more extensive than that of the Associate level nurse. An Associate degree nurse graduates with an ability to demonstrate an adequate level of clinical nursing competency (Creasia & Friberg, 2011) pg. 15. Nurses at a Baccalaureate level receive more than just the basic requirements needed to perform their job. They are in school longer, typically four to five years vs. the two years of an Associate level nurse. Both graduate with the ability to pass state nursing licensure examinations. These test are meant to test for the knowledge you need to care for patient’s they do not reflect the difference in education between a Associate level nurse ant that of a nurse that has more education like that of a Baccalaureate. This higher level of education improves not only the patient’s Comfort level, but their peers comfort

References: (2012, April 2). American association of colleges of nursing. (2012). [0]. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/NursingWorkforce.pdf Creasia, J. L., & Friberg, E. (2011). Conceptual foundations, the bridge to professional nursing practice. (5 ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby. (Friberg 36-37) Friberg, Creasia and. Conceptual Foundations: The Bridge to Professional Nursing Practice, 5th Edition. Mosby, 2011. . Rosseter, R. (2012, October 24). Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/impact-of-education Timeline of nursing history . (2011). Retrieved from http://lc.gcumedia.com/zwebassets/courseMaterialPages/nrs430V_timeline.php