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
Nursing has a long history of formal education which moved out of hospitals and into colleges and universities early last century. The associate degree level of nursing was developed out of a need to produce nurses in response to a shortage during and
Through my research for this paper I have found that RNs who have an associate degree or diploma are more likely to make errors during clinical practice. Nurses who hold Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees have a stronger foundation in which to build better communication, leadership, critical thinking and problem solving skills. The high demands placed on today's nurses really challenge all of these skills on a daily basis. Nurses with Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees have a better understanding of the importance to be proficient in these skills. In a study of RN-to-BSN degree graduates from 1995 to
Usually in baccalaureate programs the students are taught “some critical care nursing content” (McIntosh, Duske, Anderson, Hill,2008, pg.330) while the associate programs didn’t provide any kind of critical care nursing lessons, so
There are numerous studies depicting the correlation between the four-year degree nursing education and improved patient outcomes. In the August 2008 edition of Health Services Research, Dr. Christopher Friese and associates identified a link between patient outcomes and nursing education level. They determined that moving to a nursing practice environment with a higher proportion of baccalaureate prepared nurses led to a significant decrease in the mortality of hospitalized cancer patients who underwent surgery. In addition to lowered mortality rates, patients also experienced lower failure to rescue rates. In a separate study published by the Journal of Advanced Nursing, researchers at the University of Toronto resolved that facilities with a greater number of BSN prepared nurses had lower 30-day mortality rates. For every 1,000 patients discharged, a 10% increase in the number of baccalaureate degree nurses resulted in 9 fewer deaths (Rosster,
According to Creasia (2010), “The first baccalaureate nursing program was established in the United States at the University of Minnesota in 1909” and many programs were 5 years long (p. 4). Today, the BSN program is a 4-year college degree offered at universities, private schools and community colleges throughout our nation. The BSN degree graduate has many advantages over an ADN degree graduate and these might include: career paths that are only open to nurses with a BSN degree including administrative positions and minimum requirement for advanced practice nursing (APN). Furthermore, the BSN graduates get extensive training in components that might include: quality and patient safety, evidence-based practice, information management, clinical prevention/population health, and professional values, all of which are essential as nursing care becomes more complex (Creasia, 2010, p. 4). One of the biggest disadvantages of having a BSN degree is that the legal scope of practice is undifferentiated due to being awarded the same license as an ADN graduate “hindering the reward system for leadership responsibilities” (Creasia, 2010, p. 16).
Bachelor degree nursing programs are highly regarded for the skilled, clinical thinking, and professionalism of nurses they provide for the community. Obtaining a baccalaureate in nursing provides the same skills and knowledge encompassed in most associate’s programs, while allowing a broadened look into research, public health, management, and humanities (AACN IENP, 2012). Many facilities are now providing incentives for nursing staff to continue their education; from tuition reimbursement, an increase in pay, and played time off for the sole purpose of education. Research has proven that with a more educated
Nurses a with Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (BSN) are known for their skills in critical thinking, leadership, case management, health promotion, and for their ability to practice across a variety of inpatient and outpatient healthcare settings. These nurses are well-prepared to meet the demands placed on today's nurse.
To practice evidence-based nursing, one must understand the concept of research and how to precisely evaluate research. ADN programs are primarily geared towards the basic nursing skills and lack exposure to this type of research. The BSN programs will cover a broader range of theory-based practice, as well as encourage more developed adaptation skills. The result will be an overall better patient outcome, due to the higher level of education.
In addition the liberal learning in a global perspective gained from Four years of the baccalaureate educations, the BSN curriculum also include clinical, scientific, decision making and humanistic skills including preparation of community health, patient education and nursing management and leadership. They are competent to make quick, sometimes life and death decisions, to have healthier discussions and
paper I will discuss my findings and also give a patient care situation in which I describe how
An ongoing debate for the requirements to become a Registered Nurse (RN) has been unsettled. Several different educational pathways lead to an RN licensure; however, the minimum educational requirements must be standardized at the baccalaureate level for several reasons. Spetz and Bates (2013) published that a growing number of hospitals prefer hiring nurses with a Bachelor Science in Nursing (BSN) as this increases the status of the nursing profession (p. 1). Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), as well as a certificate on-the-job training Diploma are two other educational pathways to become an RN, which can be disadvantageous to the nursing profession in several ways (Tollick 2013; Spetz and Bates 2013). If entry-level nurses
Furthermore according to American Association of College of Nursing, “the baccalaureate degree is designed to prepare nurses for work within the growing and changing health care environment. With nurses taking more active role in the health care, they are expected to develop critical thinking and communication skills in addition to receiving training in clinics and hospital”(American Association of College of Nursing) .
This paper will touch upon the educational requirements for the profession of nursing between Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) and Bachelor Degree Nursing (BSN). It will also explore the competency differences between the ADN and BSN over the educational time frame for each degree. Also discussed will be a patient care scenario where both disciplines provide nursing care and how the care would differ.
The need for expansion in their roles for higher levels of education and an improved system of education are required for nurses now for meeting the diverse needs of the patients and to provide better care. Improving the education system and achieving a more educated work force is increasing with nurses having baccalaureate degrees , that is, a traditional Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Nursing program or a traditional 4 year Bachelor of Nursing program or a program that allows seamless transition from Associate in Diploma Nursing to Bachelor of Nursing.
Discussing the Differences in Competencies between nurses prepared at the Associate-Degree level versus the Baccalaureate-Degree level in Nursing.