DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BACCALAUREATE AND MASTER'S-PREPARED HOME HEALTH NURSES IN CLINICAL DECISION MAKING BEHAVIORS.
Contributors: Rush University, College Of Nursing.
Published: 1988
Number of pages: 125
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Nursing leaders have long advocated advanced education for practice. But, the question remains what educational level is necessary for sophisticated decisions that affect patient's health. This study examined task (situational characteristics) and clinician (nurses' characteristics) variables that influence decision making in baccalaureate and master's prepared nurses, and the relationship between years of experience, decision making behaviors, and the nurses' educational levels.

The sample was 86 baccalaureate (N = 59) and master's prepared (N = 27) practicing home health nurses in Illinois who received a survey. Section one was a clinical simulation which required the nurse to make physiological, emotional, and social decisions. Information items were hidden from immediate view by silver coating which was removed to reveal the item. The nurse indicated the actions necessary, time required to complete the simulation and the degree of decision confidence. Section two consisted of Rokeach's Dogmatism Scale and section three obtained demographic information.

Data analysis included means testing of the simulation and dogmatism scores between the two groups. Pearson's correlation was used to test patient simulation scores and selected dependent variables.

Findings revealed no statistically significant differences between groups on time to make decisions, critical information selected, degree of decision confidence or accuracy, number of items used, and dogmatism score obtained. Similarly, no statistically significant correlations between years of experience and these variables were found.

Thus, there do not appear to be differences in selected decision making behaviors between baccalaureate and master's prepared nurses working in home care. However, patient care differences between these nurses have not been substantiated.

It is recommended that research concentrate on whether differences exist between baccalaureate and master's prepared nurses in the areas of behavior, skill, activity and knowledge. Additional recommendations include study of: socialization of graduate students concerning expectations of high care norms and standards; cost/benefit ratios of care provided by baccalaureate and master's prepared nurses to assess what factors influence care delivery; methods to teach undergraduates' decision strategies; study replication in a variety of settings; reliability and validity testing of the simulation; and associations between factors hypothesized to influence decision making and decision behaviors.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-10, Section: B, page: 4228.

Thesis (D.N.SC.)--RUSH UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE OF NURSING, 1988.

School code: 0591.