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Associates Degree vs Bachelor

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Running head: DIFFERENCES OF A BACCALAUREATE AND ASSOCIATE DEGREE

Comparison of competencies between Baccalaureate and Associate Degree Prepared Nurses
Kim Krapf
Grand Canyon University NRS 430v

October 11, 2013

The big question every nursing student asks is why a baccalaureate degree? How does this make me more valuable than a nurse receiving an associate’s degree? Does this make me a better nurse and why? These questions are posed all the time and the debate between both degrees continues. This paper will show the differences in both degree’s, point out how it is important to keep up with the competitive edge in healthcare, why it is so driven by education, and how the different levels of degrees impacts patient care.
Both baccalaureate prepared RN’s and associate prepared RN’s is that both take the NCLEX exam, which is looking for a minimum safe competency level. The associate degree takes two years and 72 credits to complete. The baccalaureate degree builds on that base and takes four years and 125 credits. The main difference in these two programs is how they are prepared for the scope of practice, and the different levels of education they receive in community health and leadership skills. (Moore, 2009)
Students who enter the associates degree in nursing (ADN) program focus on the pathophysiology of the disease process and how it affects the patient. The primary focus is on building competencies surrounding direct patient care. ADN practice is limited to the hospitals, long term facilities, physician office and other health community’s. They are taught only the basic leadership skills and are very task orientated in their practice. Academic focus is on clinical preparation to learn the technical aspect of nursing. Theory and science behind nursing as a profession is limited. The associate degree program does not prepare

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