Nursing education and organizational commitment: degree versus diploma programs

In the context of calls to change the educational qualifications for entry into the nursing profession, this study attempts to determine whether type of nursing education is associated with nurses' commitment to their employer hospitals. The analysis indicates that even when controlling for personal attributes, personal investments and work attitudes, type of nursing education is related to the level of organizational commitment expressed by nurses. Degree nurses are less committed than diploma nurses. Contrary to prevailing beliefs, the findings also reveal basic similarities between degree and diploma nurses on other measures of professional and work-related attitudes. From an organizational perspective, these similarities call into question the benefit of redefining educational entry standards.