Application of the nursing process to a case study situation: Comparison of competencies demonstrated by associate degree and baccalaureate degree graduating nursing students

• Main Author: Orders, Dorothy Carolyn
• Language: ENG
• Published: ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst 1988
• Subjects: Curricula|Teaching|Nursing
• Online Access: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI8906317

This was an exploratory study concerned with the identification of similarities and differences between 38 associate degree and 46 baccalaureate degree graduating nursing students in the application of the nursing process to a case study situation. Nursing competencies were identified from a review of the literature and served as the basis for the design of the Nursing Process Application Test. Eleven competencies were identified. Each competency had criteria to distinguish basic and advanced levels of competency. The test data were analyzed to determine whether there were any differences between the two groups of subjects regarding nursing process competencies. The similarities and differences between the two groups were also compared with the findings derived from the literature to determine whether the participants applied the steps of the nursing process in ways that were congruent with the competencies expected of graduates of associate degree and baccalaureate degree nursing education programs. Results of the study showed the following: (1) There were no significant differences between associate degree nurses and baccalaureate degree nurses for 16 of the 22 competencies tested. (2) Significant differences were identified for 6 of the basic and advanced competencies: the baccalaureate degree nurses scored significantly higher in five competencies--basic assessment, advanced nursing diagnosis, basic teaching, basic discharge planning, and basic identification of psychosocial needs; the associate degree nurses scored significantly higher in the advanced planning competency. (3) The associate degree nurses and baccalaureate degree nurses participating in the study did not apply three of the four steps of the nursing process in ways that were congruent with the competencies expected in the literature. Conclusions drawn from this investigation, although they cannot be generalized beyond the scope of this study, are the following: (1) Associate degree nurses and baccalaureate degree nurses have many of the same competencies in regard to the application of the nursing process. (2) The Nursing Process Application Test has demonstrated its potential value in gathering this kind of data.