The Difference Between Competencies between an Associate's Level and a Baccalaureate Level Nurse-

It’s interesting how the educational requirements for nurses have changed over the years. Just over
a 150 years ago you didn’t even need a formal education to be a nurse, in fact, there was none to be
had. Now professional nursing organizations are pushing for 80% of nurses to have a bachelor's
degree by 2020 (Chard, 2013). This paper will discuss the difference in competencies between
nurses prepared at the associate’s degree level versus the baccalaureate degree level. Using a
clinical case scenario, it will also describe how nursing care and the approach to decision making
may differ based on the educational preparedness of the nurse. Associate Degree Nursing
An associates degree in nursing can be acquired in two years with about a years worth of
prerequisites. As associate’s degree in nursing (ASN) prepares nurses to deliver direct patient care
within the scope of their practise. It is a relatively quick way to become a nurse and was founded by
Mildred Montage in 1956, due to the severity of nursing shortage in the post war years. This program
was offered to reduce the nursing shortage and the success of the program was measured in terms
of the satisfactory level of clinical nursing care and the graduates NCLEX pass rate (Friberg, 2011).
An ASN lays the groundwork for nurses to continue their education while already working as a
nurse. Due to the chronic shortage of nurses it is an effective way to get trained registered nurses in
the shortest time possible. Baccalaureate Degree Nursing A Bachelor of Science degree (BSN) in
nursing usually takes 4 years to complete.