Baccalaureate Degree Case Study

Reflect on your reasons for pursing a baccalaureate degree. How would you describe your perspective on the need for academic preparation of nurses at the baccalaureate level? There are 2 educational ways of being an RN (Registered Nurse) in Canada, the baccalaureate degree and a 3 year diploma program. Graduates of these two programs sit for the same licensing examination to become registered nurses. Since these two educational paths lead to the same licensing exam, it can therefore be assumed that the contents, depth and academic exertion of these two academic programs are the same or roughly so. However, a more cursory look and analysis proves that is not the case. The analysis also shows that the baccalaureate degree has some other advantages
that supersedes the three year diploma programs.
Current demands for high quality services and professionalism in patient care have necessitated that a nurse should develop a very high level of critical thinking. The baccalaureate degree adequately equips the students to be able to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to engage in critical thinking.
The baccalaureate degree offers a more in-depth level of study that includes all of the contents in the diploma with more study of the physical and social sciences, nursing research, leadership, the humanities and public health nursing. Broader and more in-depth education enhances professionals’ development and equip graduates of the baccalaureate to better understanding of the many factors that affect patient care, the political, economic and socio-cultural factors.
Advances in science and technology complied with increasing patient complexity have accelerated the need for nurses with skills and knowledge to manage a changing and increasingly diverse health care environment (McIntyre & McDonald, 2014)

References
Mclntyre, M., & McDonald, C. (2014). Realities of Canadian Nursing.