PERCEPTIONS OF NURSING PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS, NURSING FACULTY, AND RN-BSN STUDENTS TOWARDS ARTICULATION BETWEEN ASSOCIATE DEGREE AND BACCALAUREATE NURSING PROGRAM

The purpose of this study was to determine perceptions of nursing program administrators, nursing faculty, and registered nurse students toward articulation between associate degree and baccalaureate nursing programs in public colleges and universities in Alabama.;Subjects were from community, junior and senior college associate degree nursing programs, and baccalaureate nursing programs in public colleges and universities in Alabama. Data were collected via an investigator developed questionnaire. Part one of the questionnaire included descriptive information while part two included 35 statements regarding articulation. Part three included an open-ended statement regarding the major problem faced by registered nurse students. Participants were asked to write one recommendation for solving the identified articulation problem. The questionnaire was mailed to 6 baccalaureate and 15 associate degree nursing programs that agreed to participate in the study. Descriptive statistics were utilized in analyzing the data. Chi-square was utilized to determine statistically significant differences in the responses of the participants to 35 statements regarding articulation.;Statistically significant differences existed between faculty and students regarding questionnaire items included in the categories of credit evaluation; curriculum; philosophical issues; and educational planning. Statistically significant differences existed between administrators and students regarding questionnaire items included in the categories of credit evaluation; philosophical issues; and educational planning.;The following conclusions were drawn: (1) Administrators, faculty, and students in this study held identifiable perceptions regarding factors that facilitated articulation, hindered articulation or not involved in articulation. (2) Participants believed that two-year and four-year nurse preparation programs should articulate to facilitate educational mobility. (3) Administrators and faculty believed that credit evaluation is a major articulation problem. (4) Students in this study perceived challenge examinations as a major articulation problem. (5) Administrators did not acknowledge the associate degree in nursing as completion of lower division requirements of the baccalaureate nursing program or for registered nurse preference in admission.;The following recommendations were offered: replicate the study with a randomly selected sample from the southern region; facilitate communication between associate degree and baccalaureate faculty through a sponsored articulation conference; study articulation problems and recommendations identified by the participants; and identify and implement creative strategies in curriculum development.