NURSE HIRING PRACTICES: IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING EDUCATION.
Contributors: University of Pittsburgh.
Published: 1986
Number of pages: 84
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Education, Health.
Description: Unlike many professions, nursing education occurs in three types of programs which differ in character, focus, and length. Although all graduates are titled registered nurses, it is logical to expect that nurses from diploma, associate degree, or baccalaureate programs will evidence differences in clinical competencies and that these differences, at least in part, may be attributed to their educational preparation.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of basic nursing education on Pennsylvania hospitals' nurse hiring practices. The population for this research was the 298 nursing service directors of hospitals listed in Pennsylvania Hospital Job Guide, 1985 edition.

A ten item questionnaire was used to gather data which identified the type of hospital: rural, suburban, or urban; and the number of diploma, associate degree, or baccalaureate graduates hired from July 1, 1984 to July 1, 1985; as well as the existence of separate job descriptions or salary differentials for each type of graduate. There was a 67% response.

A total of 3,859 beginning practitioners were hired during the stipulated time frame. Diploma nurses were most often hired in both rural and suburban settings, whereas baccalaureate nurses were most frequently employed by urban hospitals. Rural hospitals ranked associate degree graduates second in number employed, but both urban and suburban directors of nursing service ranked them last and overall, they were least often employed.

Only one hospital provided separate job descriptions based on educational preparation, and just 10.5% provided salary differentials. The data have implications for nurse educators as they plan for the future development of nursing programs in an effort to meet the needs of employers and consumers in the safest, most economical way.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-06, Section: B, page: 2374.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, 1986.

School code: 0178.