Running head: ASSOCIATE VERSUS BACCALAUREATE DEGREE NURSES

Associate degree nurses versus baccalaureate degree nurses
Michelle Valencia
Grand Canyon University
August 17, 2012

Associate degree nurses versus baccalaureate degree nurses

Registered nurses are registered nurses right? On the surface one might think there is no real difference between a nurse practicing at an associate degree level and one practicing at a baccalaureate degree level. On the surface they appear to be one and the same. Both are able to work in an acute care hospital and both are responsible to practice according to the same job description. Associate degree nurses (ADN) and baccalaureate degree nurses (BSN) alike take direct care of their patients and are equally responsible for their patients care. Registered nurses whether they are ADN or BSN must live by the code of nursing. All registered nurses live by an oath to serve their community. One obvious difference between the Associate degree nurse and Baccalaureate degree nurse is the time and cost associated with the schooling to obtain these degrees. The most important difference is what this extra education provides. Nursing originated as merely an extension of a women's natural instincts to be a nurturing caregivers. Florence Nightingale learned the value of trained nurses while practicing during the war. Nightingales ideas about trained nurses sparked the beginning of education of nurses today.(Creasia & Friberg, 2011, p. 3) Nurses have been practicing as BSN's since 1923. In was not until WWII, that due to a shortage of nurses, an ADN program was initiated. An ADN program allowed nurses to receive their degree and start practicing as competent registered nurses after a completing a two year program. This allowed more nurses to hit the workforce and help narrow the nursing shortage. In order to get licensed