Premium Essay

Asn vs Bsn Degree

In:

Submitted By Maltimase
Words 873
Pages 4
Associate Degree versus Baccalaureate prepared Nurses
Liza Mosley
Grand Canyon University: NRS-430V
January 10, 2016 The Nursing Profession is diverse and offers individuals the opportunity to become Registered Nurses through Diploma, Associate, Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate programs. Diploma and Associate programs are two year programs that can be taken through hospital programs or community colleges. Bachelor program are four year program taught at senior colleges and universities and often is required to obtain a graduate degree in Nursing such as Masters and Doctorate degrees. Both programs generally have an admission process, there are some prerequisite general education and health sciences course required to be completed prior to being admitted to the program, along with background checks and admission to the college or university is required before submitting an application to the program. The Associate and Bachelor degrees prepare nurses to take the National Council Licensure Examination more commonly called the NCLEX-RN. These two degrees have many similarities, however there are also differences and that is what will be explored in this paper.
An Associate’s degree in Nursing is a fast way to enter the nursing profession, it's a two year program which consist of general education and nursing core curriculum such as Adult health, Pediatrics, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Psychiatry, Community Health and Geriatrics. This degree trains nurses to be more bedside nurses working in hospital settings, under the guidance of advanced degree nurses. These programs became more prevalent in the 1950's in response to the nursing shortage to help alleviate the shortage. (Friberg, 2016). This option was appealing to a large number of individuals because you could obtain your degree fast and enter the workforce making a substantial wage.
Bachelor’s degree in

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Advancing Your Nursing Career

...get my ASN, but wasn’t sure what the difference between ASN vs. BSN really was. I had spoken to several nurses and no one seemed to be able to give me much of a difference that would make me sway one way or another. I did some internet research and my big sell was for going with my ASN. I could do it faster and cheaper than my bachelors and I didn’t have to spend extra time taking classes that at the time I felt were not going to be important in my becoming a nurse. However, after being out of school for several years and functioning as an ASN nurse and working with a variety of nurses with various degrees of ASN vs. BSN, I can understand and appreciate the differences and know now that the knowledge and skills obtained by completing the BSN program are not only important in enhancing personal growth and development, but are also important in providing better patient care. There are some significant differences between the ASN and BSN programs of study, despite the fact both degrees require taking the same licensure test in the NCLEX. The ASN programs provide a cheaper route that students can take through a community college setting. It takes less time to compete this curriculum because there are fewer credits required. ASN programs do cover arts and sciences however these are covered more in depth in the BSN programs. ("The Differences Between an Associate Degree Vs. a Bachelor's Degree for a Registered Nurse") While spending the extra time in taking a BSN program...

Words: 840 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

English Literature

...The Difference between BSN and ADN   The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree can be acquired in 2 years at a university, community college, vocational school or even some hospitals. An ASN educational program readies nurses to deliver direct patient treatment or carry out other qualified nursing duties and responsibilities inside the field of health care. This 2-year degree can be the groundwork for more advanced nursing academic options like a bachelor’s or master’s in nursing. It is a relatively fast way to get into the nursing field and start earning income.  A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree typically takes 4 years to complete at the numerous universities and colleges that offer these programs. The BSN readies nurses to perform in most medical environments. While the job environments for RN’s with BSN degrees may be almost identical to that of RN’s with an ASN degree, those who completed BSN programs have additional preparation and training for clinical jobs that could include management, fiscal duties, medical personnel scheduling, administration, leadership and research roles (ASN vs RSN,. 2024). The main difference is the length of time and the amount of credits required to complete the program. An ADN typically takes 2 years to complete while a BSN will take 4 years to complete (including the time spent taking the prerequisites to enter the program.) There are also accelerated BSN programs (18-21 months) for students who have already obtained a...

Words: 532 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Associate vs. Baccalaureate Nurses

...ASSOCIATE VS. BACCALAUREATE NURSES 1 Title: The Difference Between Competencies between an Associate's Level and a Baccalaureate Level Nurse- A Patient care Scenario Name: Susan M. Kreienbrink Grand Canyon University: NRS-430V July 26th, 2014 ASSOCIATE VS. BACCALAUREATE NURSES 2 It’s interesting how the educational requirements for nurses have changed over the years. Just over a 150 years ago you didn’t even need a formal education to be a nurse, in fact, there was none to be had. Now professional nursing organizations are pushing for 80% of nurses to have a bachelor's degree by 2020 (Chard, 2013). This paper will discuss the difference in competencies between nurses prepared at the associate’s degree level versus the baccalaureate degree level. Using a clinical case scenario, it will also describe how nursing care and the approach to decision making may differ based on the educational preparedness of the nurse. Associate Degree Nursing An associates degree in nursing can be acquired in two years with about a years worth of prerequisites. As associate’s degree in nursing (ASN) prepares nurses to deliver direct patient care within the scope of their practise. It is a relatively quick way to become a nurse and was founded by Mildred Montage in 1956, due to the severity of nursing shortage in the post war years. This program was offered to reduce the nursing shortage and the success of the program was measured in terms of the satisfactory level of clinical nursing...

Words: 1648 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Asn to Bsn

...DIFFERENCES, ASN VS. BSN NURSES Competency Differences, ASN vs. BSN Nurses By, Genethia Guerrero Grand Canyon University: NRS-430V Professional Dynamics (0102) Kimberly Stout March 6, 2011 Abstract Competency Differences, ASN vs. BSN Nurses A nurse is a healthcare professional, who in collaboration with other members of a health care team is responsible for the treatment, safety, and recovery of acutely or chronically ill individuals. Nurses are also accountable for the health promotion and maintenance of families, communities, populations, and the treatment of life-threatening emergencies in a wide range of health care settings. Nurses perform a range of clinical and non-clinical functions necessary to the delivery of health care and may also be involved in medical and nursing research. This paper will reflect the differences in the necessary competencies for nurses prepared at the associate degree (ADN) and baccalaureate of science (BSN) level. Both the ADN and BSN level, allow the individual to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). After successfully completing the NCLEX, both the ADN and BSN nurse are knowledgeable enough to complete physical assessments, intravenous, and drug administration. Both are also knowledgeable of medical equipment. ADN’s and BSN’s are competent to demonstrate life-saving practices, like airway management, cardiac monitoring oxygen delivery, drains, and wound care. According to Mahaffey, 2002 the Associate Degree (AD) nursing...

Words: 305 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Competency Differences Between Adn and Bsn Nurses

...Competency Differences between ADN and BSN Nurses James Brown Grand Canyon University Professional Dynamics NRS-430V-0101 July 5, 2013 Competency Differences between ADN and BSN Nurses Each potential or practicing nurses, have heard the furious examinations in regard to the benefits of an ADN/ASN vs. BSN. To date, all efforts on discovering which one scores over the other has done nothing more than led to considerable confusion. Each of these nursing degree programs possesses a unique set of benefits. (Scheckel, 2009) Each program is designed to prepare the student to take the National Council Licensure Examination also referred to as the NCLEX. Following successfully completion the NCLEX, graduates are well-informed to accomplish physical evaluations, and to administer medications. Nursing graduates from these degree programs are similarly well-informed of medical equipment and are proficient in life resuscitating procedures, such as wound care, lacerations, drains, cardiovascular oxygen transport. In today’s nursing environment, more and more are expected from nurses which includes more than just following physician’s orders and commencing IVs. (Forster, 2008)Today’s nurse should be able to make vital decisions regarding a patient’s care. (Forster, 2008)There are significant differences between programs that will ultimately influence nursing care and end-results for patients. (Clarke, Donaldson, 2008)This paper will review the differences in the competency...

Words: 1385 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Asn vs Bsn

...Becoming a Competent Nurse: ASN vs. BSN The history of nursing education has evolved through the centuries. The Baccalaureate degree began with formal education in the hospitals and slowly moved into colleges and universities. With nursing shortages in the United States during and following World War II, the Associates degree was proposed to be a temporary need to help increase the amount of educated nurses in the workforce. (Creasia & Friberg, 2011). Recently, there have been many ongoing debates on which degree should be required before a student is able to receive the RN licensure- Diploma, Associated Degree, or Baccalaureate Degree. The answers that may be heard vary from organization to organization, each having research to support their decision. Many have argued that regardless of the reasons, the pathway to becoming an educated nurse is disorganized and confusing. Many say that change is needed, and many suggest, that there be only one way to become a professional nurse (Creasia & Friberg, 2011). Outlined below are the competencies for each degree and how it applies to the medical settings. The Competencies of an Associate Degree Nurse Associate degree programs (ASN) offer students an opportunity to become a competent nurse, and once completed, is eligible to take the NCLEX-RN and work as a licensed Register Nurse (RN). The ASN program can take 2-3 years and is designed to educate and train to be “technical nurses” and provide entry level care in hospitals. Each...

Words: 1058 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Educational Preparation

...Associates Degree vs Bachelorette Degree D’ann J. Farr Grand Canyon University: NRS-430V Professional Dynamics February 9, 2014 Associate Degree vs Bachelorette Degree In the beginning nursing was regarded as women’s work and no formal training was required. In the 1800’s, Florence Nightingale began the first educational program for nurses (Wood, 2011). Throughout the years came new diseases, illness, and an ever growing need for better nursing. These changes provoked changes in nursing education and the way they were to be educated. We are at a crossroads again. Medicine is ever changing and we are again faced with the need for better education to care for the population. The Bachelorette Degree involves all the information and education that an Associate Degree has, but with the expansion of knowledge to prepare for all health care settings and a four year degree. The bachelorette level incorporates the roles of assessing, critical thinking, communicating, providing care, teaching, and leading. The education is designed to provide, direct, and evaluate client-centered care while focusing on the person as an integrated whole (GCU, 2011). Having a bachelorette degree does not mean a person is smarter, but does allow for them to be better prepared for an ever changing and complicated medical environment. Having a bachelorette degree also opens doors to grow within nursing. BSN nurses are able to advance into positions of administration which can also lay the...

Words: 1261 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Educational Preparation Assignment

...The Educational Preparation of The ADN vs BSN Degree in Nursing Nursing consists of many different avenues and specialties that may play a part in what route a student takes when deciding on the educational aspects of pursuing a career in nursing. Some nurses are educated on an Associates degree (ADN) level and some are educated on a Baccalaureate- degree (BSN) level, or higher. I will discuss the differences in competencies between nurses prepared at the two different levels. Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is a two-year degree attainable through a community college, private college, or a hospital based nursing school. This particular degree would mainly set its emphasis on nursing from the technical aspect. On the other hand, a Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a four-year degree, achievable at colleges as well as universities. A nurse with a (BSN) is prepared for professional nursing in its entirety and all of the many healthcare settings. There are numerous variations in the educational training levels of these two degrees. Studies have been done through various individuals and medical groups to see if there is really a difference in the proficiency levels of the holders of these two degrees. Studies were performed that compared the competencies of the ASN versus the BSN nurse graduates (M, 1986). The University of Vermont completed...

Words: 785 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Bsn to Rn

...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...

Words: 1350 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Competencies

...Competencies between nurses prepared at Associate Degree level vs. Baccalaureate Degree level Susan Chacko Grand Canyon University Professional Dynamics NRS-430 V December 09, 2012 “Trained nurse has become one of the great blessings of humanity, taking a place beside the physician and the priest”, these words were spoken by William Osler and it is true because as the modern medicine becomes more and more sophisticated day by day there is a higher need and demand of professional who are trained and have advance knowledge about the field, thus a baccalaureate-degree in nursing is absolutely crucial and necessary for nurses who are directly involved in the care and progress of the patient. Baccalaureate-degree in nursing opens up a wide array of new opportunity and are prepared to work in any healthcare environment as compared to someone who only has an associate-degree as they are limited to provide the patients with a higher level of care and assistance. So we are going to look at several differences and more importantly the benefits of acquiring a BSN rather than an associate-degree in nursing. With more than 36.1 million people admitted to hospitals each year in U.S with different problems there is a growing need for nurses who are well trained, have exception knowledge and communication skills who can provide proper care and needed assistance to the patient, and although RN’s are well equipped to handle any situation, nurses with a bachelors have an upper hand...

Words: 1221 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Asn vs Bsn

...Abstract Competency Differences, ASN vs. BSN Nurses       A nurse is a healthcare professional, who in collaboration with other members of a health care team is responsible for the treatment, safety, and recovery of acutely or chronically ill individuals. Nurses are also accountable for the health promotion and maintenance of families, communities, populations, and the treatment of life-threatening emergencies in a wide range of health care settings. Nurses perform a range of clinical and non-clinical functions necessary to the delivery of health care and may also be involved in medical and nursing research. This paper will reflect the differences in the necessary competencies for nurses prepared at the associate degree (ADN) and baccalaureate of science (BSN) level.       Both the ADN and BSN level, allow the individual to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). After successfully completing the NCLEX, both the ADN and BSN nurse are knowledgeable enough to complete physical assessments, intravenous, and drug administration. Both are also knowledgeable of medical equipment. ADN’s and BSN’s are competent to demonstrate life-saving practices, like airway management, cardiac monitoring oxygen delivery, drains, and wound care. According to Mahaffey,   2002 the Associate Degree (AD) nursing program originated during a period when the nursing personnel shortage was extensive enough, to prepare a practitioner capable of providing direct and safe nursing care under...

Words: 267 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Adn vs Bsn

...ADN vs BSN Skilled or Educated For many centuries there has been a long standing debate regarding which type of nurse possesses greater competency or better prepared, an Associate Degree Nurse ( ASN) or the Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing( BSN). Many have argued that the ADN prepared education has more bedside skill but lacks critical thinking.(cite) and leadership ability. On the other hand the BSN education is the most prepared to think critically and work in leadership positions. Much of the research has even explored which degree program has a higher potential for hire. As nursing has created this chaos of distinction, there are some that may argue that it is pure rhetoric and then others that have given statistical evidence to how it effects patients outcomes relating to lower mortality rates, decubitus ulcers and pulmonary embolism(cite). Based on the research and evidence found it would be safe to say that, the impact of having a BSN significantly increases the nurses ability to deliver the best patient care due to the sound ability in making critical decisions, perform in higher administrative and leadership roles and increased marketability. According to most studies the ADN who pursues the BSN will benefit because they will become better able to think critically and function in a capacity of leadership and collaborate more effectively as a professional with the interdesciplinary team. Research toots that there is better patient care and patient outcomes when care...

Words: 738 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Educational Preparation of the Baccalaureate Degree Nurse

...Educational Preparation of the Baccalaureate degree Nurse Shelly Crawford Grand Canyon University Professional Dynamics NRS-430V Leigh Ann Tovar March 16, 2013 Educational Preparation of the Baccalaureate degree Nurse To truly understand the differences between the Baccalaureate of Science in nursing degree verses the Diploma nurse and the Associates Degree in Nursing, you must first be able to understand the definition, description and the competencies of each Degree. 1. Definition of the Diploma Nurse A Diploma Nurse is someone who completes a nursing curriculum associated with a hospital or medical facility than traditional colleges. The Diploma Nurse program is a three-year program. ("Diploma vs. BSN," 2010, p. 1) 2. Definition of the Associates Degree in Nursing An Associate’s Degree in Nursing is a two to three year degree. Requirements are a minimum of 60 semester credit hours. Often these nursing degrees are conferred at community colleges. There are many 4 year colleges and universities that offer the associates degree programs as well. (Seehorn, “n.d.”, p. 1) 3. Definition of the Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing (BSN) A Baccalaureate Degree in nursing is described as a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nursing that combines theory and clinical nursing courses and is granted by an accredited school. This degree is a 4 year degree which requires a minimum of 120 semester credit hours. ("Bachelor Degree," “n.d.”, Para. 1) There are many...

Words: 1250 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Adn vs Bsn

...Running head: ADN vs. BSN Associate’s Degree versus Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing Competency Antoinette Bordeaux Grand Canyon University Professional Dynamics- 430V November 13, 2010 Associates Degree versus Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing Competency A registered nurse (RN) originally graduates from one of three educational programs which include diploma, associate degree (ADN), or a baccalaureate degree (BSN) program. All three programs have similarities and differences. One similarity is that all programs are required to take the same state board exam to become license and the passing rates for all degree are all somewhat similar. Starr and Edwards, (2010) specified, “Nationally in 2009, 91% of diploma graduates, 88% of associate degree graduates and 89% of baccalaureate degree graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on the first attempt(National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 2009)”. Another similarity suggestive from the statistics of the NCLEX-RN is that all three programs possess the required minimum knowledge in order to provide safe and effective care. Associate Degree History After World War II, Hood and Leddy (2010) states, “The nursing shortage increased as more hospital beds became available” (p.47). As the shortage hit hard and nurses were leaving the profession for multiple reasons it was recommended that nursing education be moved to universities and colleges rather than the hospital setting. In 1952 Mildred Montag proposed a solution to the nursing...

Words: 1600 - Pages: 7