...Educational Preparation The difference between an Associate's degree education (ADN) and a Bachelor's degree education (BSN) has been a topic of discussion between nurses for years. Completion of either an ADN program or a BSN program will result in the same outcome, a Registered Nurse Licensure (RN). There are some nurses that would argue that there is no need to obtain a BSN degree unless the nurse is planning to work in a management position. Then, there are some nurses that would argue that in the very near future a BSN degree will be required in order to work in an acute care environment. Choosing one over the other depends on financial factors, the length of time to be spent in an educational program, and long-term career goals (Morrow, 2008). All of the arguments may have their validities, but in this paper this writer will describe the differences in competencies between nurses with an ADN education and a BSN education. There are two primary goals of any nursing program whether it is an ADN program or a BSN program. The first goal is to endow their nursing students with the appropriate tools to provide safe and competent care to patients. The second is to prepare their students to complete and pass the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). The NCLEX provides computer adaptive testing that measures minimal competence for safe professional nursing practice. Exam content includes health promotion, pharmacotherapeutics...
Words: 992 - Pages: 4
...Nursing Competencies Between the Associate Level Prepared Nurse and Baccalaureate Degree Prepared Nurse - Including a Patient Case Scenario Elizabeth A. Borowiak NRS 430V-0109 09/07/2014 ADN vs. BSN – The Big Debate The ADN/BSN debate has been going on for decades. This conflict could possibly negatively affect nurses, our profession and ultimately the patients we serve. There will always be nurses who will excel in the field independent of their educational preparation. Patient’s conditions and the healthcare environment are becoming more complex and having a better-educated workforce helps to improve patient outcomes, but how? What are the differences between a nurse who has her ADN degree versus an RN with a BSN degree? Are there advantages of being a BSN prepared nurse? Nurses today have a difficult time choosing between the Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) and the Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing (BSN). One might ask, “Why should a nurse take the BSN route when they can take the ADN route and still be a Registered Nurse (RN) in less time and cost” (Moore, 2009). Yes, you can still be an RN, but studies show the ADN prepared nurse will approach clinical situations differently than that of a BSN prepared nurse. The skills differ in many ways, and the BSN prepared nurse is better for patient outcomes. The Associate Degree program teaches nurses the fundamentals and basics of nursing. “The ADN focuses on bedside nursing and technical aspects of the job” (Moore...
Words: 1213 - Pages: 5
...Differences in competencies between ADN and BSN nurses Registered nurses comprise the largest sector in the health care field. 2008 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses conducted by the Health Resources And Services Administration (HRSA) says that nursing is one of the nation's biggest health Care Profession and it comprises more than 3 million registered nurses (RNs) in the United States. It is a dynamic profession and learning is important for nurses to update their knowledge with Increased complexity of the healthcare needs of today and into the future. Debate regarding the minimum educational requirement for the nurses has been going over years with still no definite answer. Nurse with RN license may be educated to the level of BSN (Bachelor degree of nursing) or ADN (associate degree in nursing). This paper will focus on the differences in the competencies between BSN AND ADN nurses. ADN ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) is the 2-3 year Associate degree level, which can be obtained at a community college or junior college. The associate degree level of nursing was originated when there was a shortage for nurses during Second World War. Primarily AND nurses were known as technical personnel’s by working under the professional nurses’ supervision and by assisting them. Eventually associate degree level of nursing became more popular and is considered as an attractive path for those who want a shortened, less expensive way to become...
Words: 1284 - Pages: 6
...Adn vs Bsn: Differences Rachel McAdams Phoenix University September 2, 2010 Adn vs Bsn: Differences may be a Matter of Degree In the late 1850s Florence Nightingale started her own school to train nurses and developed standards by which nurses performed their duties. She may never have envisioned that one day there would be different educational tracks resulting in multiple degrees and disciplines in nursing, each having their own set of criteria for excellence. Associate degree nurse (ADN) and baccalaureate degree nurse (BSN) are the two most common entry level nursing positions. An ADN can be obtained in two or three years whereas the BSN takes four years of education to complete due to additional courses. Differences between the degrees begin with education and mature as the nurse gains experience. Raines and Taglaireni’s (2008) article states ADN and BSN nurses attend the same basic liberal arts and general education courses such as English, literature, history, math, humanities, and arts. Both have basic nursing courses, the same technical skill sets are taught, and nurses must pass the same National Council Licensing Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN©) which measures minimum technical competency for entry-level nursing practice. Colleges will differ in the exact requirements for each degree but the community college ADN program consists of approximately 75 course credits of which 38 are science and liberal arts prerequisites, and 37 credits are in the...
Words: 1256 - Pages: 6
...Running Head: DIFFERENCES IN COMPETENCIES BETWEEN ADN VS BSN 1 Educational Preparation: Differences in Competencies Between Nurses Prepared at Associates-Degree Level Versus the Baccalaureate-Degree Level in Nursing Jenny Curie Grand Canyon University NRS-430V Tara Harris February 10, 2013 DIFFERENCES IN COMPETENCIES BETWEEN ADN VS BSN 2 Competency is defined as the quality of being competent. To be competent one must possess required skill, knowledge, qualification, or capacity. The profession of nursing requires a skillset and knowledge base that is specific to its kind. There are many options in one’s educational journey to obtain a nursing degree. Nursing is the largest health care profession in our society today with three million registered nurses nationwide (AACN, Nursing Workforce). Along with the growing profession and the ever growing need for quality health care the debate over what qualifies a nurse to be skillful and competent in her profession and what type of education is required is at the for front. What are the differences in competency between a nurse with an associates degree and one holding a baccalaureate degree? Of the three million registered nurses nationwide 50% of those hold a baccalaureate degree while 36.1% have an associates degree, and 13% a diploma (AACN, Nursing Workforce). The quality in which we provide patient care and the need for those in this field to obtain higher levels of education...
Words: 1646 - Pages: 7
...Educational Preparation Differences in Competencies between Nurses Based on Degree Level Is a nurse a nurse? Many nurses seem to do the same things at a glance. They may perform procedures similarly but is the thought process equal? Defining an Associate Degree in Nursing nurse (ADN) and a Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing nurse (BSN) helps to begin understanding the differences they incur. An Associate’s degree program can be completed in 2 years and the focus is on the technical aspects of nursing, at the community college level (Hood & Leddy, 2006, p.18-19). This nurse is usually more task oriented or technical. The Baccalaureate degree RN is a four-year program at a college or university level. The focus is towards more independent thinking within a community as a whole (Hood & Leddy, 2006, p. 19). This nurse concentrates on evidence-based practices. There has been discussion and debate over the mentioned differences and desires since 1965. More recently, In the October 2012 issue of Medical Care, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found that surgical patients in Magnet hospitals had 14% lower odds of inpatient death and 12% lower odds of failure-to-rescue compared with patients cared for in non-Magnet hospitals. The study concluded that better outcomes were attributed in large part to investments in highly qualified and educated nurses, including a higher proportion of baccalaureate prepared nurses. McHugh, MD et al. (2012) Both degrees...
Words: 877 - Pages: 4
...The Difference Between Associate Degree and Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Increasing clinical understanding and the rising complexities in the health care technologies today requires that professional nurses be educated and competent to the baccalaureate level. Nurses with their RN can be educated to the level of associates degree or to baccalaureate degree. According to the Grand Canyon University Baccalaureate Curriculum Model, the associates degree level nurse differs from the baccalaureate level nurse in three main competencies; client, nurse, and nursing education. One of the different competencies between associate degree (ADN) and Baccalaureate degree (BSN) is type of client or patients they are prepared to treat and the care setting which they are allowed to work in. “ADN nurses are educated to provide nursing care to persons with similar health alterations in structured setting, whereas BSN-prepared nurses are educated to engage in independent thinking and to provide nursing care to persons with complex and differing health alterations within a variety of settings, including the community” (Hood, 2010, pg. 18). Health care is not only centered as inpatient hospitals but throughout the community as preventive care as well, leaving ADN nurses in a disadvantage. Nurses now a day have to be able to practice across multiple settings. Contrasting the graduates of an ADN program with the graduate of a BSN program; the BSN nurse is prepared to practice in all health...
Words: 1035 - Pages: 5
...Educational Preparedness: The Differences Between Associate-Degree and Baccalaureate-Degree Nursing Competencies Starting as a profession that was reserved for the bottommost members of the social order, nursing has risen to the stature of an exceedingly regarded profession. There is an intertwining connection between the increasing regard for the nursing profession and the quality of education required of nurses. In the early nineteenth century there was no formal education required or provided for nurses and the profession was considered one for the “undesirables” (Canyon Connect Timeline, 2013). Since the establishment of nursing schools, graduate nurses, and a registry for educated nurses, the nursing profession has become one of the most respected professions of all. Currently in the United States, to become a registered nurse, one must complete one of three different types of formal education followed by the completion of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) with a score of passing. These three types of formal education are baccalaureate-degree nursing (BSN), associate-degree nursing (ADN), and the diploma in nursing. Curriculum standards for all three types of formal education are set and regulated by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Although curriculums vary between the three, the standards set are equivalent for all, requiring education and training of elementary nursing...
Words: 1039 - Pages: 5
...ADN AND BSN DIFFERENCES 1 ADN AND BSN DIFFERENCES 2 Random Differences between ADN and BSN Nurses Although testing for one’s RN license is universal, the training background of an ADN versus a BSN nurse are very different. This has brought us to the discussion of the differences between an ADN and a BSN level nurse. As the needs of the patient population is changing, the demand for a more educated, skilled, resourceful practitioner is required (Smith, 2009). Personal Experience Example of how an ADN versus BSN nurse would treat a CHF patient. A specific patient case I reviewed, was readmitted to a hospital again within thirty days with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. The ADN trained nurse could administer drugs, perform daily weights, ensure that the patient followed a cardiac diet, but was strictly task oriented (The Future of the Associate Degree in Nursing Program, 2013). The BSN trained nurse, would base the care provided using a more integrated system (Why the Push for BSN Nurses?, 2012). The focus of the BSN trained nurse would encompass more teaching, measuring compliance of instructions that were given, and ensure core measures would be met prior to discharge. The follow up care would include determining if the patient had access to meds, home health, understood the need to maintain dietary restrictions, and instruct the patient on keeping a daily weight log to ensure that weight trends would be monitored and recorded. ADN...
Words: 1007 - Pages: 5
...Differences in Competencies between Associate Degree Nurses and Baccalaureate Degree Nurses “BSN in 10” bills either pending or under legislation in some states, will require nurses to obtain a bachelor’s degree in 10 years. Even more hospitals and healthcare facilities seeking Magnet status seem to be encouraging Associate Degree nurses to return to school or obtain a BSN before applying for employment. Nursing is a profession that involves skills and knowledge to provide optimum level of care. ADN versus BSN has been an issue of controversy for years. The primary focus of this paper will be discussing the differences in competencies of nurses educated in an ADN level to those educated in a BSN level. These differences include varying curriculum requirements, education content and patient outcomes. The first difference in ADN and BSN is the amount of education. The associate degree in nursing includes two years in the nursing program and can be obtained at a community or junior college. However, there are prerequisite courses required for entry into the nursing program, so ADN programs can be at least 3 years in length. Today, earning an ADN takes almost as long as earning a BSN (Orsolini-Hain & Waters, 2009). In contrast, baccalaureate degree in nursing includes four academic years of college at a four year university. Both degrees take the same NCLEX board exam for licensing and both degrees enter into the same position as a registered nurse, with similar wages and benefits...
Words: 891 - Pages: 4
...nursing starting in the 1950’s entry-level baccalaureate-degree nursing (BSN) programs was offered in colleges. These programs were a crucial part of the development of the advanced nursing educational program. After the war there was a shortage of nurses and the associate-degree level of nursing (ADN) programs were developed to help with this shortage in a quicker time frame. Both of these nursing programs were important at that time in history and still have their roles in society today (Creasia & Friberg, 2011). There are differences in the educational competencies for ADN nurses compared to those educated at the BSN level. One such difference is the leadership and management positions held in nursing thought by many to be primarily the role of the nurse with a BSN not an ADN degree. There has been quite a lot of debate on this topic over the years and there continues to be a need for clarification of the different roles of the ADN versus the BSN nurse (Schank & Stollenwerk, 1988). Chamings and Teevon (1979) found while asking nurse educators that differences in the competencies of nurses remained undetermined, while there were defined differences in expectations. It is understandable that an ADN or BSN graduate needs to be able to go into the workforce knowing their skills and being able to apply that knowledge to meet the requirements of their nursing role. Ashkenas (1973) did a study on new ADN graduates and found they were often asked to perform tasks for which...
Words: 1077 - Pages: 5
...Educational Preparation Differences in Competencies between Nurses Based on Degree Level Is a nurse a nurse? Many nurses seem to do the same things at a glance. They may perform procedures similarly but is the thought process equal? Defining an Associate Degree in Nursing nurse (ADN) and a Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing nurse (BSN) helps to begin understanding the differences they incur. An Associate’s degree program can be completed in 2 years and the focus is on the technical aspects of nursing, at the community college level (Hood & Leddy, 2006, p.18-19). This nurse is usually more task oriented or technical. The Baccalaureate degree RN is a four-year program at a college or university level. The focus is towards more independent thinking within a community as a whole (Hood & Leddy, 2006, p. 19). This nurse concentrates on evidence-based practices. There has been discussion and debate over the mentioned differences and desires since 1965. More recently, In the October 2012 issue of Medical Care, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found that surgical patients in Magnet hospitals had 14% lower odds of inpatient death and 12% lower odds of failure-to-rescue compared with patients cared for in non-Magnet hospitals. The study concluded that better outcomes were attributed in large part to investments in highly qualified and educated nurses, including a higher proportion of baccalaureate prepared nurses. McHugh, MD et al. (2012) Both degrees...
Words: 877 - Pages: 4
...ADN AND BSN DIFFERENCES 1 ADN AND BSN DIFFERENCES 2 Random Differences between ADN and BSN Nurses Although testing for one’s RN license is universal, the training background of an ADN versus a BSN nurse are very different. This has brought us to the discussion of the differences between an ADN and a BSN level nurse. As the needs of the patient population is changing, the demand for a more educated, skilled, resourceful practitioner is required (Smith, 2009). Personal Experience Example of how an ADN versus BSN nurse would treat a CHF patient. A specific patient case I reviewed, was readmitted to a hospital again within thirty days with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. The ADN trained nurse could administer drugs, perform daily weights, ensure that the patient followed a cardiac diet, but was strictly task oriented (The Future of the Associate Degree in Nursing Program, 2013). The BSN trained nurse, would base the care provided using a more integrated system (Why the Push for BSN Nurses?, 2012). The focus of the BSN trained nurse would encompass more teaching, measuring compliance of instructions that were given, and ensure core measures would be met prior to discharge. The follow up care would include determining if the patient had access to meds, home health, understood the need to maintain dietary restrictions, and instruct the patient on keeping a daily weight log to ensure that weight trends would be monitored and recorded. ADN...
Words: 1007 - Pages: 5
...Differences in Competencies between an Associate Degree and a Bachelor Degree Nurse Grand Canyon University Professional Dynamics NRS 430V Monica Kidder February 10, 2013 There are three ways; one can get the title of a Registered Nurse (RN) to practice in the United States. One is the Diploma Nurse; it is a hospital based school. It was popular until the mid 1970. This program teaches minimal competencies and let them sit for the NCLEX-RN boards. I have found on the internet that there are some schools that continue to teach it. It takes about 18 to 32 months. Then there is the 2 year Associate Degree Nurse, they get their degree from a community college. The training they receive focuses on the technical skills, it is cheap and fast. The Bachelor Degree is a 4 year academic degree from a university. Since the 1991, the American Nurse Association (ANA) House of Delegates “supported the baccalaureate degree as certification examination by 1998” ("ANA, 2000). Other Association also has a strong support for the “registered nurse to be educated in the baccalaureate program in an effort to adequately prepare clinicians for challenging and complex roles” (Rosseter, 2012) Nursing association believes that there should be a set entry level degree to become a Registered Nurse. Many feel if there was a required degree, then they would be taken serious as a professional career instead of a job. Doctor, Lawyer, CPA and other professional are required to have a certain degree and...
Words: 1026 - Pages: 5
...This paper will outline the differences in competencies between Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), and Bachelor in Science of Nursing (BSN) prepared nurses. Then identify a patient care situation describing how nursing care or approaches to decision making may differ based upon the educational preparation of the nurse. The Free online Dictionary (2013) depicts competency as “The quality of being competent or capable of performing an allotted function.” Here is a comparison of two different pathways to becoming a Registered Nurse: Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), and Bachelor in Science of Nursing (BSN) programs. Born out of the nursing shortage in 1952, the Associate Degree nurse came in to fruition thanks to Mildred Montag. The Associate Degree program for Registered Nurses is two-three years length. This program does hold academic credit based on clinical and general studies preparing these students to be able to function as “technical” bedside nurses. At the end of the ADN program students are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN (Creasia & Reid, 2011). The Bachelors of Science program is four years in length and actually regarded by the American Nurse association as the original entry level requirement to becoming a Registered Nurse (Smith, 2009). This program originated in 1909. The BSN program is based on evidence based practice, Community nursing, and prepares these nurses for leadership roles whereas the ADN programs do not function to prepare nurses in leadership roles (Creasia...
Words: 979 - Pages: 4
