Perceptions of full -time associate and baccalaureate degree nursing education faculties toward the impact of health care reform on associate degree nursing education programs

Health care reform began in the United States in the early 1990s. The federal government unsuccessfully attempted to contain health care costs and increase the availability of health care with the introduction of the Health Security Act. The health care industry moved to cut costs and forestall further attempts at government regulation by shifting the delivery of health care away from a traditional hospital setting to nontraditional settings. The shift of health care delivery to nontraditional settings brought with it a change in the education of health care professionals (e.g., registered nurses).;The education of registered nurses occurs primarily in associate degree and baccalaureate degree programs with associate degree programs accounting for 60% of the graduates. The literature describes changes that have occurred in baccalaureate degree nursing education programs in response to health care reform, but there is little literature regarding changes in associate degree nursing education programs in response to health care reform. This study was undertaken to examine the impact of health care reform on associate degree nursing education programs as perceived by nursing education faculty in associate degree and baccalaureate degree nursing education programs. Questionnaires were sent to the faculty of 11 associate degree and 8 baccalaureate degree nursing programs in South Carolina. A total of 226 questionnaires were sent, 124 were returned for a response rate of 54.87%. Seven research questions and four hypotheses were used to analyze and compare the perceptions of associate and baccalaureate degree nursing education faculties. Variance was found among the associate degree and baccalaureate degree nursing education faculties in their perception of what should and what does occur in associate degree nursing education as well as associate degree nursing curriculum, and associate degree nursing faculties. Significant differences were found between the associate degree and baccalaureate degree nursing education faculties in their perceptions of the impact of health care reform on associate degree nursing education, associate degree nursing curriculum, and associate degree nursing faculty.