Risk-taking propensity of nurses: ADN and BSN.

Nursing literature indicates that skills in decision making are inherently important to the modern nurse. The literature also reports a controversy between the associate degree nurse (ADN) and the bachelor degree nurse (BSN). This conflict relates to educational level and experience in terms of leadership and decision-making skills. All decisions involve risk. Therefore decisions in nursing should be influenced by the risk-taking propensity of the individual nurse. The literature shows a linkage between risk-taking propensity and both training and experience. The major purpose of the study was to attempt to correlate risk-taking propensity of nurses by level of education and experience. The study investigated whether differences exist between risk-taking propensity of recently graduated ADNs and BSNs without experience. In addition, the study attempted to determine any differences in risk-taking propensity of ADNs and BSNs with practical experience. The results were analyzed in terms of decision-making competency.

Building TQM into nursing management.

Total quality management (TQM) is a management philosophy that addresses problems currently faced by health care, specifically reducing costs while improving quality of services. As hospital administrators embrace this new management style, nurse executives and managers will be challenged to implement TQM. Building TQM into nursing management will improve quality and reduce costs while meeting the needs of health care customers.