...have their bachelor’s degree. The purpose of this paper is to discuss why nurses are encouraged to obtain their BSN. In the United States, there are approximately 3 million nurses working in the healthcare industry. This makes nursing one of the largest components of the healthcare system. It is a known fact that nurses have more contact with patients on a daily basis and are directly involved with patient care. As a result of this, studies were performed to research the benefits of the baccalaureate...
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...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...
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...from the others, but in some respects they overlap. This APN definition encompasses nurses engaged in clinical practice; it does not include nurses with advanced preparation for administration, education, or research (ANA, 2014). Only recently has the expectation arisen that APNs should receive their education within master’s or doctoral nursing programs. Although CNSs have always required master’s degrees in nursing, the educational preparation for many nurse-midwives, nurse anesthetists, and nurse practitioners did not necessarily occur in graduate nursing programs. Now, however, NPs must receive their education in graduate masters or clinical doctoral programs in nursing (Sheer, & Wong, 2008). Moving the education of all APNs to graduate degree nursing programs, and now the...
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...occurred in U.S health care delivery. Our current healthcare trends demand nurses to take more active role in the health care decisions in hospital setting, long term care setting and in community healthcare setting. Since “nursing is based upon a body of knowledge that is always changing with new discoveries and innovation” Potter and Perry (2005), nursing profession is compelled to grow from being just a traditional bedside nurse. IOM’s future of nursing report which is released in 2010 calls nurses to be “more highly educated, diverse nursing workforce”. There are two educational routes for becoming a professional registered nurse in U.S. One of the educational routes is be Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and another one is obtaining Bachelors in Nursing (BSN) or Bachelors of Science in Nursing. Although, both degrees enable nurses to get licensed as a Registered Professional Nurse, there are differences among Associate level prepared nurses and Baccalaureate level prepared nurses. In order to meet the requirements and demands of our changing health care system, nurses have to be least Baccalaureate level prepared. First of all, Associate degree program is a two year program that is usually offered by community college or junior college. Upon graduation, ADN student’s earn70 credits. The BSN program is usually four year of study in a college or university with at least 120 credits upon completion of the degree. While both ADN and BSN degree, teach nursing students the...
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...Healthcare Administration Career I chose to my research project on the title above because the field that I want to go into and stay in is the medical field, without performing the clinical aspect of the job (Nurse, LVN, and Medical Assistant). Health care administrators have wide-ranging influence within the world of medicine. The leadership that these professionals provide sets the future course not only for the facilities they manage but also for the health care system as a whole. The educational requirements are as followed: A bachelor’s degree (four years) is the typical entry-level preparation needed for health care administration jobs. Some employers, however, will promote from within or hire other professionals with related experience (ex. Nurses) who are ideal for an administrative role due to their direct health care knowledge. This means attaining a MBA, or a different type of master’s degree, or a doctorate in health administration is required for high- level executive positions. Subspecialties are often available, especially in graduate programs. These include long-term care administration, health care services, or health information management. Prospective health care administrators should look for educational programs accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. An accredited program has successfully gone through a process that ensures responsibility and a commitment to quality progress. Training: Some educational programs...
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...nurses all take the same NCLEX exam to obtain licensure. This has been an area of controversy since the 1950s when nursing visionary, Mildred Montag, introduced the two year Associates Degree program for Nurse Technicians in an effort to alleviate the overwhelming shortage of professional nurses following World War II. This has caused confusion to the public as well as other members of healthcare team. While the pass rates for the NCLEX RN licensing exams are comparable, there has been a push for all nurses entering the field of professional nursing as a registered nurse to obtain baccalaureate degrees. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) remarked in a position statement that the professional nurses’ education must contain advanced knowledge of disease processes, nursing theories and evidence based scientific research ("The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice," 2008, p. 8-10). “With sharp declines in inpatient visits and briefer patient stays increasingly becoming the norm, shifting more health care delivery to outpatient settings, the skills of the BSN nurse are essential for practice in other community sites, such as health maintenance organizations, home health services, community clinics, and managed care firms” (The Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing as Minimal Preparation for Professional Practice, 2000). In addition to general nursing courses, statistics and research courses, BSNs’ receive additional instruction in...
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...Healthcare is a basic need of society and today’s healthcare industry is focused on providing quality and safe patient care. And it is for this reason that hospitals are focused on hiring professional and well-trained healthcare workers that are competent, dedicated, and compassionate. In order to accomplish this, advancement in education is often emphasized and offered, as well as yearly competencies required. Not only do these improve and make patient care safe and effective, but they also reward workers with prestige, recognition, appreciation and financial gain. There is no doubt that good educational preparation immensely affects nurses’ competencies in rendering quality patient care. The benefit of acquiring the latest trends and knowledge in healthcare delivery through advancement in education is without any question. The two levels of Nursing education currently are Associate Degree in Nursing (AND) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing which are offered in Community Colleges and Universities, respectively. Nurses who completed either of these programs take the same nursing qualifying examination to practice nursing in each respective state. Moore (2009) stated that the most basic difference between the two nursing programs is that the ADN has 72 credits units while the BSN has 125 credit units which include subjects in research and statistics. What about their difference in the clinical practice as staff nurse? Differences in Competencies between Nurses Based on...
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...Differences in competencies between the associate degree and baccalaureate degree nurse A Registered nurse is one who has completed at least an Associate degree in nursing or a Bachelor’s degree in nursing and who has been successful in passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. Even though the associate degree and bachelor’s degree nurse share similar roles, differences in competencies do exist between these two nursing roles. An associate degree level nurse is one that studied for two years in a community college setting, and whose training focuses mainly on nursing theory and skills. “The graduate of an associate nursing degree program is prepared to provide and coordinate safe, quality holistic patient-centered care as an entry-level professional nurse in a variety of health care settings” (Amarillo College Nursing Division, 2010). The associate degree nurse is prepared to administer care in structured healthcare settings such as community hospitals and long term healthcare facilities. The associate degree nurse not only functions within the nurse’s legal scope of practice but also adheres to the policies and procedures of the healthcare institution. The associate degree nurse functions as an entry-level professional and assists in promoting, restoring and maintaining the health of patients and families. The nurse utilizes a systematic approach and clinical reasoning to provide patient centered care. The nurse provides safe and quality care...
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...Transforming Healthcare Grand Canyon University: NRS-430 Professional Dynamics November 10, 2012 The Institute of Medicine (IOM), developed in 1970, is as self- governing, non-profit organization that provides informed health decisions for decision makers and the public. The IOM’s advice and decisions are based on expert committees’ discussions, discoveries and cross disciplinary thinking. The IOM asks and answers the nation’s most pressing questions about health and health care (Institute of Medicine, 2010). One of the questions that commonly arises is, what is the nurses’ position and responsibility to ensure the ability to carry out the increasing demand for quality health care? Health care is ever changing. With advanced technology and new research, nurses must have the ability to adjust to frequent change and often overcome complex situations. In order for new practices and advancement in healthcare to be successful, nurses must remain educated and involved. The IOM report focuses on the impact of education, nursing practice and leadership and their significance in the future of health care delivery. As healthcare advances, unfortunately, the number of people living with chronic illness rises as well. In order for healthcare members to be able to accommodate and care for these patients it is pertinent that healthcare workers, particularly nurses at the entry level or Associates degree level (ADN) consider continuing education toward the Baccalaureate degree level (BSN)...
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...A. physician practices; large healthcare and allied health organizations such as clinics, hospitals, and foundations; insurance companies; medical publishers; research organizations; and medical product manufacturers 2. Requirements A. Education 1. Associates Degree 2. Total of 68 credits B. Training 1. Internships 2. On-the-job 3. Job Outlook A. Various fields 1. Medical Transcriptionist 2. Insurance Billing B. Expected growth Medical Administrative Specialist In today’s job market of limited opportunities, it is necessary to choose a career path wisely. One sector of the economy with high growth prospects is the medical field. As such, a career in Medical Administration would appear to be a promising choice. However, there are many important aspects that must be taken into account before choosing to follow this career path. These aspects include salary, the large number of available jobs, and the job outlook for the future. When choosing a career, salary isn’t always the first thing to look at, but of course, should be considered. The pay varies greatly in the Healthcare Administration category, since there is a wide range of jobs. An entry-level professional who possesses an Associate’s in Healthcare Administration Degree from an accredited school earns approximately $30,000 per year. On the other hand, a starting professional who possesses a Master’s in Healthcare Administration Degree makes an average of $100,000 or...
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...Weekly Overview Week One Overview Selecting a degree program is an important step in guiding your career. This week, you will look at the focus of the bachelor’s degree and how all the pieces fit together for your learning experience. A bachelor’s degree is comprised of 120 credits that include general education courses that provide a general foundation of learning. Courses in this area can include English, mathematics, history, and science. The remaining credits focus on coursework related to building your knowledge and skills in the business side of health care. In addition, you’ll look at how you can select a curriculum track or certificate to expand your career opportunities. What you will cover 1. BSHA Program Overview a. Describe the purpose of the BSHA program. 1) Program Description a) The Bachelor of Science in Health Administration (BSHA) Program is designed to integrate a framework of general education courses with a health care curriculum that prepares the graduate with the foundational knowledge needed to enter today's challenging health industry. The BSHA curriculum addresses the basic body of knowledge, understanding, and skills identified as relevant to an ever expanding and diverse health care arena. Coursework includes content in some of the following areas- management, finance, legal and ethical parameters, risk and quality management, human resources, and information systems. Upon completion of the core curriculum health care students...
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...and positive outcomes are all linked to nurses prepared at the baccalaureate and graduate degree levels. Education enhances both clinical competency and care delivery. The overall outlook of healthcare professions has dramatically changed in the past few decades. In nursing, competencies define the duties and skills required for nursing positions and establish the educational requirements needed to qualify for each nursing title. In its October 2010 report on The Future of Nursing, the institute of Medicine states” an increase in the percentage of nurses with BSN is imperative as the scope of what the public needs from nurses grows, expectations surrounding quality heightens, and the settings where nurses are needed proliferate and become more complex.”In a study released in May 2008 issue of the Journal of Nursing Administration, Dr Linda Aiken and her colleagues confirmed the findings from their landmark 2003 study which shows a strong link between RN education level and patient outcomes, The researchers found that every 10% increase in the proportion of BSN nurses on the hospital staff was associated with a 4 % decrease in the risk of death and failure to rescue by 5%. The Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing requires a four-year university degree in which the first two years focus on general science and the second two on a more specific nursing curriculum. The ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) requires two years of...
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...nurses, technical nurses (ADN), professional (BSN) up to the master degree nurses and PhD nurses. All of above level of nursing are graduates and trained to work in hospital setting after successful completion of National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). BSN is a four-year degree program offered by accredited universities while ADN is a two to three year by Community colleges. Despite the similarity in their role in-patient care and their entry-level income is pretty much similar and close, however there are a number of distinctive differences between the two programs. Baccalaureate Degree Nurse The BSN program is usually four-year program, so is longer to complete the program after completing program then the graduate is able to take National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Baccalaureate nursing programs encompass all the course work taught in associate degree and diploma programs added in depth more in areas in physical and social sciences, leadership, public health and research. According to AACN fact sheet " The additional course work enhances the student’s professional development, prepares the new nurse for a broader scope of practice, and provides the nurse with a better understanding of the cultural, political, economic, and social issues that affects patients and influence healthcare delivery”. Higher-level education does make a different in patient care. Associate Degree Nurse The ADN program it usually take place in community college...
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...workforce planning and policy making require better data collection and information infrastructure" (Institute of Medicine, 2010). Impact of IOM Report on Nursing Education The IOM mentions that nurses must go for advanced level of learning to encounter the demand of the health care structure in our country. Rise the number of nurses with a baccalaureate degree, encourage nurses with associate degree to enter a bachelor’s degree program, provide loans and grants for nursing students, double the amount of nurses with masters or doctorate, make sure that nurses involve in constant learning are some of the recommendations from IOM to improve nursing education (Institute of Medicine, 2010) As a result of this report, lots of changes are happening on nursing education. One of the hospitals in New York wants all the nurses hired recently to become baccalaureate degree holders with in five years. Most of the hospitals have stopped employing LPN (licensed Practical Nurses) staff. They are looking for registered nurses with at least associate degree. These hospitals are encouraging associate degree nurses to earn the bachelor’s degree (Crowley, 2011). The hospitals and educational...
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...Course: Professional Dynamics The differences in competencies between nurses prepared at the Associate-degree level nursing versus the Baccalaureate-degree level will be discussed in the following manner to inform the reader of individual topics. First, the difference in educational provisions between the two levels of degrees; second, variances among program graduates outcomes, and finally how nursing care approaches may differ upon the two education preparations of the nurse. It has for a long time been debated whether or not a Bachelor-Degree-prepared nurse is superior to the Associates-Degree-prepared nurse. In 1965, the American Nurses Association published a dissertation supporting the Baccalaureate degree to be the minimal standard for entry-level nurses. Certain opinions argue that the higher level of education will not be applied to direct care while others contend that the nurses schooled at the Bachelor’s level exhibit more proficiency in many areas of nursing practice. It seems it can be said that each program does provide a different focus and approach in the preparation and training for its nurses. The Associates curriculum emphases technical skills and clinical understanding; whereas, the Bachelors agenda puts its efforts on management, communication, evidence-based practice and research. The general consensus is that an ADN is obtained in a two year time period and that a BSN is obtained in an approximately 4 year time frame. According to The American Association...
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