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Essay on Competency Difference Between Adn and Bsn

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There is an increasingly high demand for students going into nursing careers in our society, but there are also varying educational pathways for these students to get into these careers. Are the three educational pathways (Diploma, Associate Degree, and Baccalaureate Degree) preparing prospective nurses to be at the same competency level after schooling? Advancement in education has become an increasingly important topic amongst health care organizations. Educational preparation can indeed affect nursing care and the decision making of nurses. In this paper, an analysis of nursing history and the degree programs themselves will provide evidence of an increased level of patient care by BSN nurses vs. ADN nurses. In order to get a better …show more content…

Associate degree Nurses have a class curriculum which only requires 74 credits to graduate. The program focuses more on the sciences and technical aspect of nursing, so when their education is complete they are able to provide basic skills required to care for patients. Some advantages to this program include: decreased expenses and flexibility for a family oriented career path. Baccalaureate nursing programs in the very early years were extremely slow at gaining acceptance because they were five years long and the only difference identified between diploma programs was that public health was part of the curriculum. This program now requires 125 credits and takes four years to complete. Baccalaureate nursing programs cover all work taught in an associate and diploma program. Physical and social sciences are studied more in depth. Course curriculum also includes nursing research, humanities, public and community health, and nursing management. “The additional course work enhances the student’s professional development, prepares the new nurse for a broader scope of practice and provides the nurse with a better understanding of the cultural, political, economic, and social issues that affect patients and influence health care delivery”. ("Impact of Education on Nursing Practice," 2014) There is increased evidence that there are differences in the competencies between ADN and BSN. While entry into nursing practice may find all

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