A comparison of three community college programs in nursing reveals that one of the primary competencies that students are expected to develop prior to graduation is that of professionalism. Professional behavior is expected at all levels of the nursing profession. Associate degree students learn to develop a sense of professionalism through their clinical training experience and in the classroom where they are introduced to the idea through their introductory nursing courses. The Delaware Tech Community College website indicates that nursing students must learn to balance professionalism with their role as a caregiver. As such, they must find a balance between professional behavior and their role as an advocate working to restore the health of the patient.
Coinciding with professional behavior, the NLN and all three community colleges (Delaware Tech, Baton Rouge Community College and Los Angeles Harbor Community College) list collaboration as a key competency to develop at the associate's degree level. Because the health of the patient is dependent upon the work of more than one individual, nurses must be able to work in groups known as "interdisciplinary teams" (LAHCC) designed to provide holistic nursing care from a variety of perspectives. The Baton Rouge Community College program notes that this collaboration occurs not only with and among colleagues, but also with family members of the patient, the patient and the larger community in which they live, if necessary.
Critical thinking is an essential skill that should be the outcome of nearly any academic discipline. In nursing, it is essential because it informs the decision-making process. Nurses must be able to make decisions in clinical practice that are sometimes based on research and precedent set by former practitioners. This form of nursing, known as evidence-based nursing, involves a five step process whereby nurses formulate questions, perform research, evaluate it, apply it, then re-evaluate it based on its effectiveness. In order to properly utilize this process, nursing students need to hone their critical thinking skills from the outset.