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Adn vs Bsn Competencies

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Competencies and Patient Care;
ADN vs. BSN
Kristina Aguilar
Grand Canyon University
Professional Dynamics in Nursing
NRS-430V-O101
Chris Bartholomew
April 22, 2016

Competencies and Patient Care;
ADN vs. BSN
Introduction
It could be hard for some people to understand the differences between the competencies of a Registered Nurse. They may ask, “Isn’t a Nurse, just a Nurse?” The answer is actually, “well, yes…. but not really.” There are 3 different avenues one can take to obtain a nursing degree. Students can choose between a 3 year hospital based diploma program, a 2 year Associates Degree, or a 4 year Baccalaureate Degree. According to the National League of Nursing, “nearly 60% of all graduates come from community colleges” with an ADN degree. In the 2007-2008 school year alone there was 106,095 ADN graduates, compared to only 38,724 BSN graduates. ("Nursing Education Research," 2010) Despite this extreme growth, with an increase in chronic health conditions and emerging technology, the Institute of Medicine now recommends “that 80% of all RN’s obtain a Bachelors degree by 2020. ("Institute of Medicine," 2011). These nurses are educated at a level to provide better quality patient care, with better outcomes.

ADN vs. BSN
Although graduates from both programs are required to take the same NCLEX exam to obtain their license, there are quite a few differences in the competencies that each program provides.
In 1951, Mildred Montag developed the 2 years Associates Degree for Nursing (ADN). She initially came up with this as a way to quickly get nurses educated and working to help lessen the nursing shortage. Over time, the ADN became a more affordable and practical way of obtaining a nursing degree. A nurse with an ADN is referred to as a “technical nurse” and has been educated at a technical level with a strong emphasis on learning the

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