Difference in competencies between Associated Vs Baccalaureate degree
Anju Joy
NRS-430V
September 04 -Sunday, 2011
Karen Benjamin

Difference in competencies between Associated Vs Baccalaureate degree

In United state, there are three ways to become a registered nurse. Diploma in nursing obtain thought hospital based program. Associated degree in nursing can be obtained from any college in two years. And the third one is bachelor degree in nursing, which obtain by four years of college degree. Every one work as an RN once they compete any of these nursing course and pass the licensure exam. Both these courses include, physical and behavioral sciences, and nursing theory as well as clinical experience. But a BSN degree will allow a nurses to become more advanced and supervisory positions. According to O' Shea, nursing competency defined as the "knowledge, skills, ability and behavior that a person possess in order to perform tasks correctly and skillfully" (O'Shea, 2002).
Education influences expertise by providing a theoretical and practical knowledge base that can be tested and refined in actual situations (Dreyfus & Dreyfus, 1996). For Bachelor in education nursing, there is more years of study associated, which include theoretical, practical as well as communication. Also in BSN programs, they are practicing critical thinking in their studies, which very much needed in nursing practice. But in the diploma in nursing, the main focus is to prepare nurses to give bed side care in hospital, or nursing home. The nursing care by a nurse with ADN and BSN is distinguishing by their approach. The BSN nurses uses evidence based analytical approach, but the ADN nurses uses technical education based approach. The BSN nurses will demonstrate clinical expertise in providing patient care by using the evidence based theory. By applying this theory, the nursed with BSN develop and implement the plans to meet the learning needs of the client. ADN nurses have limited knowledge in critical thinking and the use of resources.
According to Johnson, BSN nurses has stronger communication skills, problem solving ability and leadership skills. In the BSN program, they have the courses that help them to understand the legal and business side of the health care industry. Studies shows there are fewer medication error for BSN nurses over nurses with ADN. With more advanced technology and the explosion of knowledge, the health system became complex. So nurses has to provide high quality care, use of critical thinking in the nursing practice to show there competencies.
This example will shows how patient care is different with the nurses BSN and ADN. A 50 -year-old gentleman admitted in to medical surgical ward with CAD. Next day the coronary artery stent placement done for the patient. The patient was put on bed rest for six hours. During this stay he was complaint of SOB and chest spasm. RN did the assessment on that patient and found that the patient was little hypertensive and complaint of pain. Started on Oxygen and called house officer. He came and assess the patient and concluded that the patient is having muscle spasm due to procedure and started on pain medication. Patient seems comfortable after a dose of pain medication. Next day shift nurse came, who is and RN with BSN , while doing the physical assessment, she found pt is having slight tenderness on the calf area. She checked the patient history and found that the patient was on Coumadin at home and was put on hold because of the procedure. RN's knowledge and critical thinking, she called the attending physician and he also agreed with her conclusion. and tests were ordered. The result came back positive for PE and DVT and patient transferred to higher acuity level unit. Due to her critical thinking and knowledge she save the life of a patient. This is just once incidence which shows the knowledge and evidence based theory in BSN education helped the nurses to give a quality care to a patient.
Although both degrees produce RN's, the nurses with BSN's have more knowledge and theoretical evidence based practices, which they getting though the BSN course, help them to produce more quality patient care than compare to ADN.

References
Dreyfus, H. L., & Dreyfus, S. E. (1996). The relationship of theory and practice in the acquisition of skill. New York, NY: Springer.
O'Shea, K. (2002). Staff development nursing secrets. Philadelphia, PA: Hanley & Belfus.