Building on prior research regarding the skill requirements of work and education reforms designed to address the changing needs of the workplace, CCRC, under the auspices of the Institute on Education and the Economy (IEE), has conducted research regarding nurse preparation and the workplace demands of novice nurses. Because new nurses in the United States can become eligible for licensure as an RN in one of three ways-earning a hospital-based diploma, baccalaureate in nursing (BSN) or associate degree in nursing (ADN)-there is a long-standing debate regarding the most appropriate educational background for novice RNs. In recent years, the debate has increased in its volume and fervor, as the country faces a severe nursing shortage, a changed health care environment, and the increasing importance of professional credentials in the workplace.

In response to these growing concerns, the IEE undertook an investigation of the topic. IEE researchers Melinda Mechur Karp, James Jacobs, and Katherine Hughes have written a monograph, Credentials, Curriculum, and Access: The Debate over Nurse Preparation, which explores the BSN/ADN debate, what is known about the programmatic differences between pre-licensure programs, and current research on the differential job performance of ADN- and BSN-educated nurses. Much of the existing research is dated, however, and thus does not reflect the rapidly changing health care environment. The literature also does not resolve the question of the optimal balance between associate and baccalaureate preparation.