...AND versus BSN, which degree to pursue Dawn York Grand Canyon University Professional Dynamics NRS 430v Michael Jones April 15, 2012 The age old question rear its ugly head again, do I pursue a 2 year degree or a 4 year degree? Will it make me a better nurse to obtain my 4 year degree? In this paper we will discuss the differences between a 2 year and a 4 year degree and the difference in the work place between the nurses that have the 2 different degrees. From here on forward a 2 year degree will be referred to as ADN and a 4 year degree as BSN. ADN nursing degree consists of a two year program, after prerequisites, which prepares the nurse to be a “technical nurse” and have them eligible to sit for their NCLEX. After successful completion of the NCLEX they are now registered nurses. These nurses are now able to work at entry level in a hospital. While in school, each student receives a strong foundation of knowledge and skills in nursing. The areas of nursing these are: fundamentals, medical surgical, and critical care. They are encouraged to take continuing education courses and receive their baccalaureate as well (Cresia & Friberg, 2011). This type of degree is a lot less costly, less time consuming, and less requirements. In contrast, the BSN nursing degree offers 2 more years of schooling with more patient education classes and management classes. “Baccalaureate degree (BSN) offer students a solid liberal education and substantive upper-division...
Words: 865 - Pages: 4
...ADN versus BSN Beth Ruhland GCU Professional Dynamics NRS430v Rita Borden February 12, 2012 ADN versus BSN Currently, nurses must be able to do more than just follow doctor’s orders and start IVs. They need to be able to think critically, make decisions about patient care, and be prepared to question doctors if their orders appear to be inappropriate, as well as be a teacher to the patient and family. These are all expected of nurses whether they have an ADN or BSN. More often than not, nurses have the same pay and job requirements regardless of the education they have. They must both pass the same NCLEX-RN exam. These are facts that create the question, “why spend the extra time and money?” The Goldmark Report in 1923 was the first to recommend that the entry level of education for professional practice as a registered nurse should be a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN), and heated debate has raged among nurses over the issue ever since. (NursingDeree.net) With a shortage of nurses after World War II, Mildred Montag explored an alternative to four-year university nursing programs. This developed into the now very popular two-year Associates Degree. According to an article in Working Nurse (Hanink, 2012) , The W.K. Kellogg Foundation funded the initial experiments: seven pilot sites in four states, one of them Pasadena City College. Success was almost immediate; from the very beginning, the graduates had pass rates comparable to hospital and BSN...
Words: 885 - Pages: 4
...Associate degree levels of nurses were placed in the hospital settings to help more patients that were wounded in the war. However BSN programs help students to pioneer in both theoretical and clinical areas of nursing which differentiate them from ADN program. In this paper the difference in competencies between nurses prepared at the associate versus baccalaureate level in nursing will be discussed. Disparities There is a significant difference between BSN and ADN not only in the professional and educational preparation but also competencies. The measure of nurse performance does vary. These measures include communication skills, knowledge, problem solving and professional role. ADN programs are relatively short. This program was started during World War II to provide more nurses to meet the demand during the war. It was based on a small curriculum that would make the nurse competent in the clinical set up. Main focus is on hand on skills. ADN program does not provide the theoretical and scientific background that is required for the profession of nursing. The ADN nurse programs lack the competency of applying scientific theories. They also lack ability of methods in delivering care. They lack not only managerial but also leadership skills within the nursing field. The ADN program became so popular after starting. The reason was it offered a shortcut to the profession within short...
Words: 905 - Pages: 4
...Baccalaureate-Degree Nurses Versus Associate-Degree Grand Canyon University: NRS-430V January 31, 2016 Baccalaureate-Degree Nurses Versus Associate-Degree According to the American Nurses Association (2010), “a competency is an expected level of performance, knowledge, skills, abilities and judgment” (p. 12). Does the amount of education matter in regards to an associate-degree level nurse (ADN) verses a baccalaureate-degree level nurse (BSN) when it comes to a nurse’s competence? The purpose of this paper will review and compare competencies between nurses studying at the level of ADN versus BSN and describe a patient care scenario where the decision-making process would differ between degree levels. Nursing Education According to the American Association of College of Nursing (AACN), there are three (3) different levels of education for registered nurses that are offered. These include, a 3-year diploma (offered in hospitals), 3-year associate degree from a community college and the 4-year baccalaureate degree which can be obtained through universities or senior level colleges (AACN, 2014). In order to become a registered nurse, specific amounts of education is needed to receive a degree. Education is imperative. Once graduated from one of the three programs, the same National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN®) will be given. This exam tests minimal competencies to enter the nursing profession and there is no comparison in the passing rate (AACN, 2014)...
Words: 1083 - Pages: 5
...Competent Nurses - ADN Versus BSN Qualified ISAAC GEORGE GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY Professional Dynamics NRS-430V Monica Kidder April 07, 2013 A Competent Nurse, an ADN or BSN. Nursing as a profession is vast, multifaceted, yet independent. Even though the nurse may work independently, he or she works in collaboration, collectively with a host of professionals from various departments, families, and the community as a whole. The main goal being to educate, and equip for better overall health of everyone including the healthy, sick, handicapped or dying. To help with the advancement of nursing, to accept changes, incorporate new technologies and, to be actively involved in the betterment of every sphere of our society. The question on every nurses mind that comes out of a 2 year ADN (Associate Degree Nursing ) program is, “Why do I have to go through 2 more years of school to get a Bachelors Degree in Nursing, when I have already cleared the NCLEX and got my RN license , the same license that qualifies a Baccalaureate nurse to be qualified as a Registered Nurse?” It’s a very good question, and a very apt one. During the course of this essay, we are going to look at the difference between these two levels of education and figure out the advantages of an advance degree, if there are any based on research. To do an in depth analysis between these two programs we will have to look at the difference between the actual programs. Associate degree nursing programs have...
Words: 1176 - Pages: 5
...Running head: DIFFERENCES IN COMPETENCIES BETWEEN ADN AND BSN Differences in competencies between ADN and BSN NRS- 430 V Grand Canyon University Michael Jones December/02/2012 DIFFERENCIES IN COMPETENCIES BETWEEN ADN AND BSN Nursing professions is undergoing rapid changes and are inevitable. Nurses should be able to adapt and practice these changes in order to provide quality health care to the society. Nurses are the vital part of the evolving health care arena, since our profession is getting more complex and demanding it is our responsibly to be competent in the profession for the better outcome. As there are differences in curriculum, there are visible differences in competencies. Both programs provide essential education for the students in order to practice whereas baccalaureate program is broad base which also includes teaching in critical thinking, leadership and management (Differentiated Essential Competencies ,2010). Nurses who possess baccalaureate degree have the capability to meet the complex and unpredictable needs of the divers population even in an unstructured environment. Studies show that there are decreased rate in medication errors, death rates when patients are cared by baccalaureate degree nurses (AACN, 2011). Majority of the task and responsibilities remains same for both the associate degree nurses and baccalaureate nurses. The associate degree nurses are very proficient in bedside nursing as they acquire knowledge through hands-on...
Words: 983 - Pages: 4
...greatest amount of time at the bedside of the patient yet they have the least time spent being educated about the increasingly complex issues their patients face. Ancillary personal, such as social services and physical therapists are required to have graduate level educations, yet nurses do not. Why not? The ADN program was developed during the World War II as a way to produce more nurses to meet the rising shortage of nurses. The associate degree nursing programs are 2 years of education. They are taught fundamentals and basic nursing with a heavy focus on skills. It is task orientated through clinical training. It was designed to be a short time solution. The baccalaureate degree nursing programs are 4 years. The studies include all the ADN education study, but also include social science, nursing research, nursing management, quality and patient safety, and professional values. BSN students are offered a comprehensive understanding of the nursing profession. At the completion of both studies, successful students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX). The first difference in competencies is a higher level of critical thinking in a BSN educated nurse. The dictionary.com website defines critical thinking as “disciplined thinking that is clear, rational, open-minded, and informed by evidence.” Nurses have some of the greatest responsibilities to make the most complex and split- second...
Words: 990 - Pages: 4
...to become a professional Registered Nurse (RN) by following a path of either an Associate Degree Nurse (ADN), or a Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. One other choice of nursing education pathway is that of a Diploma Nurse; this degree does not have a college foundation, but one that is a hospital training based degree. All three of these degrees will allow a student to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The NCLEX will test a graduate nurse (GN) for the minimum competency one must possess before practicing as a registered nurse. ADN programs are attractive to future nursing students as they require only two years of education, less of a tuition burden, and still allow entry into the workforce after graduation to gain independent financial status. BSN programs require two more years of formal education with a pricey tuition bill; this may be less attractive to many future nursing students. There have been years of in-depth debate arguing as to whether nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree provide higher quality of patient care compared to nurses with an Associate Degree in Nursing. The ADN program provides education with a core set of subject matter that encompasses psychiatry, adult and pediatric health, maternal and newborn nursing, anatomy and physiology, and microbiology. ADN nurses have more hands on care, NG-tubes, IV’s, ambulating patients, and foley catheter care. The science...
Words: 906 - Pages: 4
...Nursing Competencies; ADN versus BSN All nurses are caring educated individuals that are trained to provide safe and efficient care to their patients. They are the eyes and ears for the doctor when they are unable to be present and they are the patients advocate when they are unable to be their own. It is the knowledge and education of the nurse that aids them in assessing a patient and leads them to ask the right questions so a safe clinical decision is made. (McHugh & Lake, 2010) Any person who graduates for a nursing program, weather it is a diploma, associate degree or a baccalaureate degree is eligible is sit for the licensing exam (NCLEX-RN) to become a Registered Nurse. The NCLEX test for minimum technical competency. An Associate degree in nursing (ADN) program is a two year degree that focuses more on the clinical skills of the nurse and less on the science and theory that is nursing. Many people choose to pursue this degree due to the fact it often takes less time to obtain and the cost is usually less. While associate degree prepared nurses can be great bedside nurses they tend to be task oriented and lack the education and critical thinking skills needed to be leaders in the nursing field. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is a four year degree that is based on research and theory. They are trained to treat the whole patient, not only their current issues but everything that the patient encompasses. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing...
Words: 695 - Pages: 3
...Discussing the Differences in Competencies of AND vs. BSN Norma Gill Grand Canyon University: NRS-430V November 10, 2013 There was a time when a being Registered Nurse (RN) was sufficient and society did not express concerns on how an education was obtained. The baccalaureate nursing program is considered to be the beginning level of professional nursing. The nursing profession is often confusing mainly because of the various entry levels into the nursing field (Creasia & Reid, 2011 p 25). The ways it can be received are from a hospital diploma program, community college or four-year university. Nursing is a wonderful and humbling profession and it is often a self-disciplined one. No longer is it mainly focused on direct patient care and clinical skills, but one of more complexity that requires advanced skills, assessments, critical thinking, leadership, clinical decision making, case management, health promotion, and collaboration with other discipline of healthcare (Rosseter 2012). There are two types of RN’s, an Associate Degree Registered Nurse (ADN) and a Baccalaureate of Science Degree Nurse (BSN). Both of these types of graduates sit for the same examination to become licensed which is called the NCLEX-RN. However, there are differences in competencies between the two. In relation to nursing, competencies are defined by education and skills for each nursing titles (Hardy, 2013). The ADN is usually comprised of being a two or three year program and is found...
Words: 1047 - Pages: 5
...Difference Between ADN versus BSN Prepared Nurses Grand Canyon University The Difference Between ADN versus BSN Prepared Nurses In the United States of America nurses are allowed to practice as Registered Nurses upon completion of an Associate degree program in nursing and a passing score on the NCLEX boards. From there they have many choices for job opportunities: some of which include hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. They practice alongside physicians prepared at the doctorate level, pharmacists prepared at the bachelors, masters, or doctorate level, and speech pathologists prepared at the masters level (2008, Taylor). While these are requirements for their colleagues, nurses are given a great deal of responsibility with regards to patient care, but allowed the choice of an Associates versus a Bachelors of Nursing. While an ADN prepares a nurse for practicing in a care setting, a BSN furthers those skills and allows for improved critical thinking, improved work performance, and improved leadership skills (2003 Leonard). Improved Critical Thinking A Bachelors of Nursing allows for focus on critical thinking in a manner that an ADN cannot because the focus of an ADN is primarily pathophysiology and its application to everyday nursing (2009, Orsolini-Hain & Waters, V.). The ADN degree promotes more task-oriented nurses, focused on the smaller pieces of the puzzle, versus the whole of the picture and the whole of the patient. BSN nurses are able to utilize...
Words: 1055 - Pages: 5
...Eziaku Oliver Grand Canyon University Baccalaureate Degree Nursing/Associate Degree Nursing: Difference in Competencies November 25 2012 Nurses prepared at the baccalaureate degree level are more competent than those prepared at the associate degree level. As the saying goes knowledge is power, Nurses prepared at baccalaureate degree level have more knowledge, they spend more time in school studying, conducting research, they think deeper, they apply critical thinking skills in patient care and the end result is positive outcome. According to Grand Canyon university college of nursing, preparing nurses at the baccalaureate degree level equipped the nurse for the challenges facing nursing profession with the increase in changes in healthcare system, this also empowers their professionalism , ethical decision making, accountability, critical thinking skills and effective communicating skills. . According to American Association of Colleges of Nursing although Nurses prepared at the baccalaureate degree level and those prepared at the associate degree level have the same passing rate that still does not mean that they deliver the same quality of care when it comes to patient care. Nurses prepared at the baccalaureate level have better communicating skills when communicating with patient and family, they also possess a sense of autonomy in them when making decision regarding care that patient received. According to an article written by American Association of Colleges...
Words: 822 - Pages: 4
...head: THE DIFFERENCE IN COMPETENCIES OF AN ADN AND A BSN 1 The Difference in Competencies of a Nurse with an ADN versus a Nurse with a BSN Stacey M. Kestler Grand Canyon University THE DIFFERENCE IN COMPETENCIES OF AN ADN AND A BSN 2 Abstract According to American Association of Colleges of Nursing fact sheet: Creating a More Highly Qualified Nursing Workforce, there are 2.8 million registered nurses currently active and practicing, of these 55% hold a bachelor’s degree, and by 2020 they estimate that number will increase to 80%. This is important because what will happen to the nurses that currently have an ADN or are about to enter into the ADN program? What is the difference between a nurse with an ADN and a nurse with a BSN, and is one better than the other? Nurses make the decisions to get their ADN or BSN for many different reasons, but there are many journals and articles in publication that statically show that having a BSN is safer for patients. In the October 2014 issue of Medical Care, it published that having a 10% increase in the proportion of bachelor educated nurses decreased mortality rates by 10.9%. In the May 2014 issue of The Lancet, it published that European hospitals with a higher number of BSN nurses showed that patients were more likely to live after facing complications due to surgery. In conclusion Nancy Burgess states in her article ADN versus BSN Nursing Degree…Which will it be?, that the...
Words: 1284 - Pages: 6
...Associate Degree versus Baccalaureate: The Difference in Nursing Grand Canyon University NRS-430V Professional Dynamics Associate Degree versus Baccalaureate: The Difference in Nursing There are several differences between nurse’s competencies for an associate degree program (ADN) versus a baccalaureate degree program (BSN). These nursing programs differ in terms of time for completion, financial cost and career opportunities. An ADN usually takes 24 months to finish, while the BSN program takes a minimum of 4 years (Peterson, 2014). Traditionally, in the academic arena, the ADN college degree prepares the nurse with introductory course work, which then prepares the student for a four-year BSN degree program. While the BSN program is more in-depth, it can be much costlier. The cost of an ADN degree is lower than the cost of a BSN four-year degree. However, the ADN and the BSN degree coursework contain similar level course content, such as medical terminology, nutrition, biology and anatomy. The nurses that complete their ADN degree work in the same settings as the nurses that earn a BSN degree (Peterson, 2014). The only limitation for the nurse with the ADN is that her long-term career advancement opportunities are limited without a BSN. The paradigm shift in the nursing industry has started to require nurses to have a BSN degree as requirement for hire (Stevens, 2013). In the past, the ADN degree program may have enjoyed the same jobs as the BSN, however, that trend...
Words: 978 - Pages: 4
...Running head: DIFFERENCES IN COMPETENCIES BETWEEN ADN VERSUS DIFFERENCES IN COMPETENCIES BETWEEN ADN VERSUS BSN DIFFERENCES IN COMPETENCIES BETWEEN BSN VERSUS ADN The purpose of this work is to explore the differences in competencies between Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing (BSN) and Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). Registered nurses are only legally allowed to practice on patients and clients, these nurses have to be certified and issued licenses by a licensure council after successfully completing and passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). These nurses are either Bachelors of nurses or ADN nursing students. ADN nursing program was first introduced during the World War 11 when there was high demand of clinically skill oriented nurses to meet the rising demand the war prompted. ADN program usually take two years to complete and can be done in city or community colleges in comparison to the BSN program which is done in the university and takes about four years to complete. (Moorhead &Cowen, 2006). ADN program emphasize on the acquisition of clinical skills and does not offer the theoretical and scientific knowledge required for the nursing profession, making the program lack competency of scientific theory and ways of providing health services. BSN program, is very different because it requires four years to complete and it focuses on the whole view of nursing field and it enables the student a wide range of diverse populations...
Words: 1040 - Pages: 5
