...Nursing Competencies: ADN versus BSN Suzi Roberts Grand Canyon University Professional Dynamics NRS-430V Brittney Grabill May 2, 2015 Nursing Competencies: ADN versus BSN According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), nursing is “the largest health care profession, with 3.1 million registered nationwide.” The AACN states on their website, in 1980, 22 percent held the bachelor’s degree and 18 percent held an associate’s degree (American Associate of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2015). By the 2008, the number holding bachelor’s degree increased to 36.8 percent and the number for an associate’s degree increased to 36.1 (AACN, 2015). In the paper, I will discuss what it takes to obtain both degrees, the advantages, disadvantages and the different competencies of the Associates Degree in Nurse (ADN) and the Baccalaureate Degree Nurse (BSN). In the last few years, the hospital I have worked for has really encouraged those with an ADN degree to obtain their BSN. Representatives from different colleges have made visits to the hospital to get nurses to enroll in their ADN to BSN online programs. Our hospital, like many other across the nation, suffer from a nursing shortage. There are 2 universities within an hour in driving distance with BSN programs. Where I live, we are very fortunate to have an ADN program at our local community college, which is right across the street from the only hospital in town. When thinking about becoming a nurse, the...
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...same NCLEX licensing exam, but many believe the BSN nurse is better prepared to meet the needs of patients. The BSN program is a four-year, knowledge, research and theory based degree. The AD is a shorter program, which focuses on clinical skills but lacks the evidence based practice (EBP) teaching the BSN program offers. Dr. Patricia Benner at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching released a study titled Educating Nurses: A Call for Radical Transformation. The study found many of today’s nurses are “under-educated” to carry out the demands placed on them (Benner), and recommends that all nurses be prepared at the BSN level. According to the AACN, BSN prepared nurses have a more rounded education with focuses on social and physical sciences, EBP, community nursing and management teaching (AACN: Fact Sheet). They recognized the AD is less expensive and less time consuming, but still think the BSN is better prepared. BSN students are typically receiving more clinical training hours than the associate degree student (Nursing’s Future). Because of more clinical time, the BSN student feels more confident than his or her counterparts with an associate degree. Preparing a nurse to meet the demands required of them is of even more importance today. From admission to the hospital, to the transition home, nurses are an important part in the care planning process. PATIENT OUTCOMES In a study in the May 2008 issue of the Journal of Nursing Administration, Dr. Linda...
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...The Advantages of Having a Bachelor’s Degree in the Nursing Field The differences of an associate’s degree level nurse and a bachelor’s degree level nurse could have a large impact on the patient population. To meet the needs of patients we are seeing today, nurses must adjust their mentality to provide the best outcome for their patients. A need for higher learning of nurses has come to play and the associate’s degree level nurse is no longer sufficient to meet the needs of the patients. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has compiled a fact sheet of the reasons higher education is needed. In there, it states, that patients who were cared for by nurses with a bachelor’s degree had higher positive patient outcomes, fewer mortality rates, and less medication errors than patients were cared for by associate’s degree level nurses. In 2013, magnet level hospitals have required nurse leaders and nurse management positions to hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing (AACN). Magnet hospitals are known for their superior nursing services due to a higher percentage of bachelor and higher degree of nurses that provide more positive patient outcomes (AACN). Magnet hospitals also have lower mortality rates of inpatients and lower odds for failure-to-rescue rates than non-magnet hospitals (AACN). In the Journal of Advanced Nursing, research done by Dilles, Stichele, Van Rompaey, Van Bortel, and Elseviers (2010), show the difference education level plays on medication safety...
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...degree those who appear to take Nursing licensure Exam for registered nurse (NCLEX-RN). Diploma in nursing that offered through hospitals, second is associate degree which can be obtained through community college or any technical schools and the third is baccalaureate which is usually obtained through a college or university today I will discuss some very important differences between ADN and BSCN programs. An “ ADN program is a two years associate degree usually offered at community colleges ; BSN degree is a four year program offered at senior colleges and university ( AACN)’’. According to the American association of college of nursing (AACN), “a BSCN program encompass all of the course work taught in an associate’s degree and diploma program plus a more in depth treatment of the physical and social sciences, nursing research, public and community health, nursing management and the humanities ( AACN- the impact of education on nursing practice). “Associate degree level tends to practice at a technical level, whereas the nurses educated with a Bachelor of Science degree practice at a professional level. (Hood & Leddy, 2003). When looking at bedside nursing, how is one able to distinguish the differences between as associate degree prepared nurses versus a Baccalaureate degree...
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...The Advantage of the BSN Degree Grand Canyon University 8/25/2012 The obvious difference between the ADN and BSN is the ADN is a two year associate degree and the BSN is a Baccalaureate degree and usually takes four years to complete. I believe the most appealing advantage of the ADN program is time it takes to complete. Nurses can get there RN in two years thus enabling them to get a job quicker. It is also the less expensive way to go. The cost of college has raised so much over the last few years. After receiving your ADN and have the ability to get a job then it may be better for some nurses to continue their education at a later time. The disadvantage of an ADN may be the competition for jobs. The job market in California is saturated due to many new programs popping up the last few years. This gives employers the ability to choose nurses with a higher education to fill the jobs available. As the economy declines more people and joined the nursing field in hope to have a profession that has proven to be stable with an above average income and excellent benefits. As stated by the research quoted in the article by the AACN, mortality rates are decreased with the nurse that is more educated. If Florence Nightingale was alive today she would be proud of this statistic. She was the pioneer in bringing awareness to patient safety and educational advantages. The advantage of The BSN program broadens the opportunity for advancement...
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...level abide by the laws for their nursing practice, and by discipline nurses found to have hazardous practices. The Board of Nursing reports to the office of the Governor of Virginia. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is the principal specialty group found in nursing. The AACN focuses on educating nurses that provide care too critically, and acutely ill patients. They sponsor national symposiums, and hold local and regional assemblies. The AACN offers nurses in the ICU settings the opportunity to become certified by taking and passing an intensive exam, which in turn is used to corroborate the abilities and expertise of the nurse. The differences between the Board of Nursing and the AACN are varied. The BON is responsible for advancing the standards that nurse’s use in their practice. The BON also requires the nurse to follow the Nurse Practice Act for the state. The functional difference between the BON and The AACN is that I have to renew my license every two years through the BON. The AACN does not have any impact on licensing. I am obtained my CCRN certification through the AACN. The AACN offers specialized certifications for already licensed and practicing nurses. The AACN assists the nurse to “stay up to...
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...Running head: The differences in competencies between the Associate Degree Nurse and the Baccalaureate Degree Nurse Educational Preparedness: The differences in competencies between the Associate Degree nurse and the Baccalaureate Degree Nurse Grand Canyon University: Nrs-430V Professional Dynamics Diane Irby January 25, 2014 Introduction In 1860 nurse training began after the Crimean war. Florence Nightingale started the nursing program by caring for the sick, injured and dying soldiers during the war. The first nursing school was established in London. During the civil war the American women provided skilled nursing care. During world-war II they needed more nurses so an Associate’s Degree nurse program was developed. This was intended for them to work in the field of nursing as a technical nurse, assisting and working under the supervision of the professional nurse. (Creasia J., & Freiberg, E (2011). Differences in competencies between the Associate degree nurse and the Baccalaureate degree nurse There are 3 levels of nursing. 1. The diploma nurse who is trained by the hospitals this level hardly exists anymore. 2. The Associate’s degree nurse who gets the training at community colleges and Universities. They learn the technical aspects of nursing by learning the knowledge and skills needed to provide direct care to patients and families mostly in the acute care setting. 3. The baccalaureate nurse which is earned at the...
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...evolution, nurses had to go through a series of transformations from mere ‘nursing job’ to distinguished profession where the members not only involve in medical care of the patient ,but also in helping the patient as a person and member of a family and society to steer through difficult times. As mentioned in American Association of College of Nursing (AACN) facts sheet : Creating a more quality nursing workforce (AACN, 2012) this elegant approach is implemented nationwide through the hands of more than three million registered nurses. Professional preparedness of nurses who are working today mainly falls in to two categories; Associate degree (AD) and Baccalaureate degree(BS) prepared. Associate degree programs were the answer for nursing shortage that our country experienced in last century especially in the post second world war era. Associate degree programs are usually two years in duration. They prepare nurses to function at bedside based on the core concept of patient safety. These nurses were extremely successful in caring for patients in a setting were physicians took the entire responsibility of medical decision making. Advantage of Associate degree programs are that they prepare nurses in a short span of time and are more widely available compared to bachelor degree programs. They also come with less financial liability at the end of study process because of their shorter duration. These accessibility and affordability factors made associate...
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...Nursing Education According to the IOM report nursing education should include change management, quality improvement, and care management, as well as stressing the importance of lifelong learning and continuing education (IOM, 2010). To this end, the IOM is in favor of an all Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) work force (IOM, 2010). The IOM isn’t alone, one survey showed 76% of physicians surveyed felt BSNs were more competent that Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) (Institute of Medicine, 2010, p. 171, par 1). The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) also supports the need for BSN trained nurses. They state the BSN trained nurse is better-rounded, has more advanced critical thinking skills, and are more ready to step into an entry level leadership role than their ADN counterparts (AACN, 2012). One study shows hospitals would rather hire BSNs than ADNs, fueling the educational fire even further (AACN, 2012). With these recommendations and endorsements it’s easy to see why there are so many RN to BSN programs available affording nurses the opportunity to continue working and advancing their education. Impact on Nursing Practice The 2010 IOM report recommends that “Nurses should practice to the full extent of...
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...make better nurse, but still there are difference in the programs that makes them unique. Associate Degree Nursing Associate Degree Nursing otherwise known as ‘entry level tertiary education nursing degree’ was started in 1952 at Fairleigh Dickson University. This type of degree is awarded by community colleges or hospital based nursing schools in US. To graduate as ADN nurse, one has to study 2 years and earn 72 credit hours. The core curriculum based on adult health, community health, maternal, newborn, pediatric and geriatric nursing. After completing the course, to work as Registered Nurse (RN), one has to pass basic requirements such as NCLEX RN test and other continuing education depending upon the nursing board. There are some advantages of ADN programs, that is, they are less expensive, low time consuming and easy way to entry level nursing jobs. ADN degree is based on practical bed side nursing like patient teaching, communicating, provider of care and manager of care. But scope of ADN nurses are limited to certifications. Baccalaureate Degree Nursing Baccalaureate Degree Nursing also known as Bachelor of Nursing or Bachelor of Science in other countries. It is an academic degree in the science and principles of nursing, awarded by an accredited tertiary education provider such as Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). BSN degree programs were started in 1909 and University of Minnesota was the...
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...In 2008, the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation (RWJF) partnered with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to launch a two-year initiative to “assess and transform the nursing profession”. A report titled “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health” was produced that is to serve as a “blue-print” for nursing’s future. Through this committee, four key messages were developed to structure the recommendations of the report. Three of these messages will be discussed here. (The future, 2011). The first key message in the report states “nurses should practice to the full extent of their education and training”. In order for this to happen, a number of barriers must be overcome. The licensing and scope of practice regulations of many states need to be addressed. Due to licensing and practicing regulations in many states, nurses are entering the workforce qualified to provide more care than they are legally allowed to provide. In the majority of states, for example, the nurse practitioner (NP) is required to be supervised by a physician in order to see and prescribe medications for patients. This poses a problem due to the decreasing number of medical students entering primary care and the increasing number of NPs who are entering primary care (IOM, 2011). Another recommendation is the need for nurse residency programs that would ease the transition from school to work. This would allow new graduates to further develop the skills and experience...
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...Nursing learning has an immense contact on a nurse’s capability to practice, so as patient also requires the knowledgeable nursing personnel. I am an associate degree nurse. I have been working in the hospitals for last 8 year. I do have experience but still I am lacking something as a nurse then I have decided to add three more letters after RN. Nurses with Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees are well-educated to meet the workload placed on today’s nurse. BSN nurses are appreciated for their proficiency in critical thinking, problem solving, case management, clinical decision and health promotion. Baccalaureate nurse have additional chances to move up in nursing employment ladder in a variety of health care areas which offers as extensive professional development. Furthermore, nurses with a baccalaureate degree exhibit more nursing competencies as compared to their associate degree or diploma nurses. This discussion will point out the dissimilarity between Associate degree nurse (ADN) and Baccalaureate degree nurse (BSN) and also their ability to make sound clinical decisions. Associate Degree Nursing Versus Baccalaureate Degree Nursing The nation’s demand for nurses increased noticeably after World War II, as 78 million children were born between 1946 and 1964 (eventually known as baby boomers) (Creasia &. Friberg, 2011). Because of the nurses’ shortage after the World War II, associate degree nursing was originated by Mildred Montage in 1951. ADN was introduced...
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...of “quality and patient safety, evidence-based practice, information management, healthcare policy and finance, communication/collaboration, clinical prevention/population health, and professional values” (AACN, 2008a ) as additional education courses in the baccalaureate degree programs. Where as in the Associate Degree Programs the total education courses in nursing are two years focusing more in the technical /skills part of nursing. Baccalaureate Degree Nurse The Baccalaureate Degree Program prepares the nurse to use their technical skills, and it trains the nurse to think critically and clinically about the disease process and to go as far as diagnosing and or taking part of the medical treatment plan. The additional teaching and training in different areas related to healthcare, policies, and medical treatment in the baccalaureate programs helps the nurse be well rounded in all aspects. According to The American Association of College of Nursing “Education enhances both clinical competency and care delivery” (AACN 2013). Another study to support this is by Dr. Linda Aiken at the university of Pennsylvania “which identified a clear link between higher levels of nursing education and better patient outcomes in surgical patients have substantial survival advantage if treated in hospitals with higher proportion of nurses holding BSN degrees”(Aiken, 2003 p1617-1623). Associate Degree in Nursing The Associate Degree Programs in Nursing (AND) were started in the 1950’s...
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...Differences Between Adn and Bsn Nurses The Difference in competencies between Nurses prepared at the Associate Degree level versus the Baccalaureate Degree level. Bernice Brown-Hypolite Grand Canyon University, Phoenix Arizona: NRS-430V-0500 November 24, 2015 Introduction: Education enhances both clinical competency and quality care delivery. Quality patient care hinges on having a well-educated nursing workforce. Research has shown that lower mortality rates, fewer medication errors, and positive outcomes are all linked to nurses prepared at the baccalaureate and graduate degree levels. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is committed to working collaboratively to create a more highly qualified nursing workforce since education enhances both clinical competency and care delivery. The AACN fact sheet looks at today’s nursing workforce, highlights research, connecting education to outcomes and outlines the capacity of four year colleges to enhance the level of nursing education in the U.S. The definition of Associate Degree and Baccalaureate degree is stated below: Associate Degree in Nursing: The Associated Degree was founded by Dr. Mildred Montag in 1956, in order to alleviate the shortage of Nurses after World War 11, by decreasing the length of education to 2 years, and also providing a sound educational base for nurses. Creasia and Friberg (2011). This program was deemed successful because the graduates were able to pass the NCLEX...
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...to nursing care. First we will define the difference in competencies between an ADN, BSN, and APN. Differences in Competencies Educational levels in nursing hold different competencies. All nurses must pass a state board exam, regardless of their educational level, to enter the profession. There are four levels of nursing which include the ADN, BSN, APN, and clinical nurse leader (CNL). Although the CNL will not be discussed, the ADN, BSN, and APN will be discussed in detail (Cresaia & Friberg, 2010). First, we will discuss the ADN. Associates Degree (ADN) The ADN requires two years of study in nursing theory and skills. The ADN provides education for entry level of care in a hospital setting (Cresaia & Friberg, 2010). The advantages of an ADN are the strong clinical skills, a shortened period of time for completion, and reduced costs...
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