Copyright © 2006 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved Chapter 7 Nursing Education

Copyright © 2006 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved

Chapter 7

Nursing Education


Nursing Education

Compare and contrast the types of educational preparation for nursing

Describe the educational preparation for a graduate degree

Compare and contrast the alternative options provided by career-ladder or bridge programs, external degree, Bachelor or Science in Nursing completion, and online universities

Describe the purpose of nursing program accreditation

Discuss the future of nursing education


Path of Diploma Education

Oldest form Emphasis on skills Less than 10% of all RN programs 2-3 years Close relationship between nursing

school and hospital—prepared for that hospital


Path of Associate Degree Education

First and only program developed from research and experimentation

Began in 1951, grown to more than 880 programs

18 to 21 school calendar months at community college earning 60-72 semester credits


Path of Baccalaureate Education

1889 Mercy Hospital in Chicago affiliated with Northwestern University

Early programs usually 5 years in length

4 to 5 years in length (120-140 credits)



Nontraditional Paths for Nursing Education

What about a master's degree as a path to becoming an RN? Attractive to college graduates Some colleges offer this as the initial

professional degree in nursing What about a doctoral path to becoming

an RN? Least common


Graduate Education

Why would I want a master's degree? Clinical, educational expertise

Why would I want a doctoral degree? Power, authority, and professional status To lead and improve nursing practice




Other Types of Nursing Education

What is a career-ladder program? Focuses on articulation without loss of credit Example: RN to BSN or MSN or doctoral

levels What is a BSN-completion program?

RN baccalaureate program Nurse receives transfer credit in basic

education courses taken at other institutions


Other Types of Nursing Education (cont’d)

What is an external-degree program? Credit for knowledge regardless on how

knowledge acquired Nontraditional program—obtains degree

without attending classes What are the Internet resources?

Courses and entire programs by means of the World Wide Web


Accreditation

What does it mean to be accredited? Assures standards above legal requirements Guarantees quality education

What two organizations provide nursing program accreditation? NLNAC AACN

What implications does it have after graduation? May be required as prerequisite in graduate degree

programs



Nursing Education: Future Trends

The changing student profile Nontraditional students—making

midlife career changes Older, married, and with families Poor, minority, and foreign students

Educational mobility How to return nurses to school for

education advancement


Nursing Education: Future Trends (cont’d)

A shortage of qualified nursing faculty Average age 50.2 Decreasing number of nurses

becoming instructors Technology and education

Advances in telecommunications and computer-assisted instruction

Outreach programs



Changing health care settings Shift from inpatient to outpatient

settings Focus on maintaining health versus

dealing with illness

The aging population Growing Eldercare



Emerging opportunities Increased demand for RNs Case manager Independent consultant Nurse practitioner Policy maker Entrepreneur

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Copyright © 2006 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved Chapter 7 Nursing Education