Standardized education for nursing.

Abstract

The need for establishing standardized education for nursing is discussed. New health needs, patient demands, and technological advances are causing changes in the health-care system that affect the future of nursing. To meet these changes, the American Nurses' Association (ANA) has proposed that the baccalaureate degree be the entry-level degree for future professional nurses. Currently, many nurses' educational competencies are not matched by the suitable job category. This leads to frustration and problems with underutilization and misutilization of nurses that affects the delivery of health-care services. The ANA has proposed a clearer delineation of nurses into two equally valid categories, each of which will include nurses with a specific educational preparation, to alleviate these problems. The nurse educated at the associate degree (diploma) level will be a member of a nursing team and practice within specific limits. The nurse prepared at the baccalaureate level will have a more comprehensive education to help evaluate and design a patient's treatment plan, perform research, coordinate the work of other health personnel, and attain advanced degrees in specialized clinical areas. To answer many of the objections to its proposal, the ANA has emphasized the need for implementing continuing education programs for all nurses and baccalaureate-degree programs for diploma and associate-degree nurses who want to earn that degree. ANA advocates that such programs give credit for the experience and the on-the-job training that registered nurses have had. Establishing standardized education for nursing is proposed as the best means for the profession to be prepared to meet the demands of the future and for the delivery of better health care.