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Adn vs. Bsn Competencies

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A Difference in Competencies: ADN, Diploma, and the BSN
Dirk Davis
Grand Canyon University
Professional Dynamics
NRS-430V
Anna Auler
January 26, 2013

A Difference in Competencies: ADN, Diploma, and the BSN
Before Florence Nightingale began changing the profession of nursing, nurses were considered to be on the lower tiers of society and so were considered “caretakers”, there was no formal training and no such rules or regulations as we have in place today. So as sanitation improved, and this was noted as helping the wellbeing of patients, thanks to Florence Nightingale, nursing as a career began to be respected. As a profession, guidelines were then put into place for the training of nurses in our society.
In the area of nursing, there is the Associate Degree in Nursing or ADN and diploma programs, or a Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing, a BSN. One of the differences in these programs is the number of hours spent in school. The ADN curriculum requirement is that of 72 credits and the BSN curriculum are 125 credits (Journal of Nursing Education Volume 25, No.7, 275-285 2008). The ADN program is completed in two years at a Community or Junior College, the Diploma is generally through a hospital and the BSN is completed at a 4 year University.
As the ADN program tends to focus on the direct hands on clinical atmosphere, the BSN program offers managerial and leadership skills which will help carry the BSN nurse further. “The ADN programs attract greater numbers of older students, minority students, and men” (Taylor, 2008, p. 261) According to DeBack & Mentkowski, 1986, pg. 276, “found that the differences in function, knowledge, and basic skills of nurses who graduated from baccalaureate programs compared to nurses who graduated from the associate degree or diploma programs and shares that the BSN graduate sees and understands the whole picture

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