...competencies vary between ADN and BSN? March 25, 2015 How do competencies vary between ADN and BSN? I am very proud of my accomplishment of obtaining my license as a Registered Nurse as this was my lifelong dream. I chose a very common route to achieve this, through a community college. This program offered a low cost and rather short timeframe to reach my goal of becoming a RN. The ADN program was rumored to be one of the best in Wisconsin so I chose it, with plans of pursuing my BSN right after I graduated. Unfortunately, like most get their ADN, this just doesn’t happen. A person gets a nursing job and deals with work, life and family stressors, who needs to go back to school for a BSN? A BSN does not generally pay better, the job description is the same for both degrees, why would one possible waste their time? During my first class at the community college, the students were told that the ADN graduates generally performed higher on their NCLEX exams than did the BSN graduates. Another point taught was that this ADN degree was more desirable to perspective employers because ADN’s had greater clinical skills and got hired faster. This information seemed to be true, I was hired at a desirable facility and so began my career as an ADN. My career was going great, I was living my dream, having everything I always wanted. Then policies changed, nurses could no longer hold management positions unless they returned to school to earn their BSN. Some of the...
Words: 1075 - Pages: 5
...Differences in Competency between Associate degrees Prepared Nurses versus Baccalaureate Prepared Nurses A BSN represent a Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing, while an ADN is an Associate’s Degree in Nursing. Both degrees will qualify a person to take the same licensing exam NCLEX. There are several differences in the competency levels of these two-degree programs. BSN program is a four-year degree, which is knowledge, theory and research based and the emphasis is on the entire picture of the field of nursing. Exposing the nurse to human diversity and global perspective, health promotion, spiritual perspectives, ethical, legal, political, historical and social influences using liberal arts including biblical concepts for complete understanding of the field . The ADN program is shorter and more concise which focuses on the clinical skills and is more tasks oriented. It lacks the theory and science behind nursing as a profession. BSN Prepared Nurses poses the following competency according to Leddy and Peppers Conceptual Bases of Professional Nursing (Lucy J Hood (2010) BSN gives direct care with diverse nursing judgment, using nursing process. They have ability to carry out their duty, within planned and unplanned environment with independent nursing decisions. Use complex communication skills with clients; collaborate with team and other interdisciplinary members. Assess client information needs and design care plan They join force with nursing teachers to...
Words: 377 - Pages: 2
...The Differences Between an Associate Degree Nurse and a Baccalaureate Degree Nurse Grand Canyon University Although the Associate degree in Nursing and the Bachelors degree in nursing ultimately lead to a nursing profession in the health care industry, there are many differences between them. The fast growing complexity of health care and broadening clinical knowledge have forced nurses to have the educational preparation to meet its complex demand. Unlike the Associate degree program (ADN), the Baccalaureate program (BSN), prepares professional nurses whose practice is based upon science in order to restore and maintain health. Both the ADN and the BSN degrees lead to a profession as a registered nurse upon successfully passing the NCLEX board of licensure exam. However there are major differences that set both degrees apart in the Health care industry There are major differences between the ADN and BSN degrees. One of the differences is the length of time required to complete both programs. The Associate degree requires two years of course work to complete whereas the Bachelors degree normally requires four years of course work. In some instances it but could be less especially in cases where the prospective student already has a bachelors degree in another field or an associate degree in nursing from a community college. In comparing the competencies of both the ADN and BSN degrees both programs produce competent graduates...
Words: 838 - Pages: 4
...Difference Between Associate- Degree Level Nurses and Bachelor- Degree Nurses There is always a question about which program is better; Is it the associate’s degree in nursing program provided by community colleges or the baccalaureate of science in nursing program provided by colleges and universities? One similarity is for sure that nurses from both programs can take the NCLEX-RN exam. Before I started college I was debating whether I should go to school for an Associate Degree in Nursing or a Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing, but because I just had a baby and the university is one hour away from our home, I decided to go ahead and enter the registered nursing program in our community college. I know that there is a lot of differences between nurses that are prepared at the associate-degree level versus the baccalaureate degree level in nursing that is why I set a goal that someday I will go back to school for my Bachelor’s degree. This paper will be explaining the difference in competencies between nurses prepared at the associate degree level versus the baccalaureate degree level in nursing by comparing their education, patient care and opportunities. This paper will also give some examples about a patient care situation in which how nursing care approaches to decision making may differ based upon the educational preparation of a BSN versus ADN. Associate Degree Nurses and Baccalaureate Nurses Differences with Education An associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) program...
Words: 1096 - Pages: 5
...Differences in competencies of the ADN and BSN nurse Patricia Baird NRS-430v September 6, 2014 Michael Jones Are there really differences in the competencies of an associate degree nurse and a Bachelor degree nurse? The differences I have found all relate to education, theory, research, and length of schooling. Over the last decade there has been an increase in hospitals that are seeking magnet status and have found better patient outcomes when staffed with bachelor degree nurses according to a study conducted in 2003, Dr. Linda Aiken found that surgical patients have a higher survival rate when the work force consists of more nurses with BSN degrees. (Journal of the American Medical Association Sept 2003) This may be due to the research and evidence based practice taught in the BSN degree program. According to my readings associate degree nurses are more task orientated whereas bachelor degree nurses have the leadership and theory to back their decisions. I believe that education is important for nurses to keep up with current practice and evidence based practice but am having a hard time understanding why the tasks are not a focus for each degree. If the bachelor degree is better shouldn’t the tasks be just as important? To me the answer is yes. Without the knowledge and practice of the tasks can you really understand the outcomes of those tasks and without the experience can these tasks be learned? So my research continued and what I found was that...
Words: 770 - Pages: 4
...The Associate Degree Nurse or ADN has been called to advance their education in the interest of enhancing quality and safety across healthcare settings (Tri-Council, 2010). The Tri-Council states that “A more highly educated nursing workforce is critical to meeting the nation’s nursing needs and delivering safe, effective patient care” and, “without doing so the nation’s health will be further at risk” (Tri-Council, 2010). While both the Baccalaureate and the Associate Degree Nurse share the same licensure and have comparable salaries, there is a call for ADN’s to further their education. The reason for this is so that the Nursing profession as a whole can establish a new definition as to what qualifies someone to be an entry level nurse. This paper will discuss the differences between the Associate Degree Nurse and Baccalaureate Degree Nurse regarding education, employment, and quality of patient care. It is easy to see why the ADN programs have been so successful. Since the 1950’s they have provided a Nursing education that is convenient; cost effective and allows for a newly licensed nurse to make a decent living. The Associate Degree Nurse can gain a degree within two to three years while the Baccalaureate prepared Nurse will be ready for licensure in four years. While both Nursing programs offer a great deal of clinical and technical experience; the Baccalaureate program provides a more in-depth study of nursing research, leadership, public and community health as...
Words: 969 - Pages: 4
...Title - Difference in competencies between nurses prepared at the Associate degree level versus Baccalaureate degree level in nursing. Name - Thomas Paleyl Course – NRS-430V- 0109 Date – 12 April 2014 The importance of education cannot be over-emphasize in any walks of life, it is the vehicle that drive individual to the destination point of achieving goals, objectives and making dreams come true. It is in the same token that people aspire to move up the ladder in their respective field of endeavor in order to get closer to their dreams. But with this education qualification come enormous responsibility in terms of skills and techniques. Thus the differences between Associate Degree Nurse (ADN) versus Baccalaureate Degree Nurse (BSN) could be seen in the manner with which clinical techniques, experience and skills that are applied in the process of taking care of patient. In order to earn an Associate Degree in nursing one would have to undergo two to three years course in a junior college or community college, after which one would qualified to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and then ready to work in any healthcare organization. Because of nurses shortage in the 50s, it become necessary to find other ways of...
Words: 1036 - Pages: 5
...The differences between associate-degree nursing and baccalaureate-degree in nursing Professional Dynamics 5.28.14 The ANA definition of nursing states it is the “protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations (ANA, 2014).”To be a nurse you must incorporate and use all of these qualities. Schooling for a nurse varies; from learning as you go in the 1800s, to the present day four- year bachelor degree and/or the two-year technical associate degree. For many years nursing has been an ever-changing career. One must devote to lifelong learning and schooling to be and stay a nurse because learning and teaching in nursing is an everyday occurrence. From the beginning, the “ANA designated the baccalaureate degree as the educational entry point into professional nursing practice.” (Creasia, Friberg, J. 2011, p.24). Now, one can also obtain a nursing degree through an associate degree or two years. This creates many challenges for nurses in choosing the appropriate schooling. The positive side is that no matter what the route of schooling taken, there will always be a demand for nurses. Although you can find a job with an associate degree, many health systems are pushing for the baccalaureate degree. The baccalaureate nursing program was established in 1909....
Words: 1093 - Pages: 5
...The main paths to becoming a Registered Nurse and the core differences in competencies between nurses with the associate-degree versus the baccalaureate degree Svetlana Jones Grand Canyon University: NRS-430V Professional Dynamics November 26, 2014 The Origin of Nursing Education Programs Regardless of the general recommendation proposing to move nursing schools from hospitals to universities throughout the first half of the 20th century, it was not till 1950s when hospitals finally agreed to this significant change. Nonetheless, the baccalaureate nursing programs (BSN) did not generate enough nurses to eliminate the post-war nursing shortage. Fortunately in 1951, a well-know nurse and educator Mildred Montag suggested and shaped a new associate degree-nursing program (ADN) to overcome the nursing shortage (Creasia, 2011). The two-year ADN program was designed to be only a temporary solution to a pressing problem; however, the ADN program remained and is producing many new nurses every year. The emphasis of my work is to compare the current ADN and BSN program and highlight the main differences between an ADN and BSN nurse. Moreover, I will use a patient scenario to demonstrate how nurses with an ADN and BSN degree are prepared to provide a competent and safe nursing care to their patients. Two Main Pathways of Becoming RN An ADN program takes two years to complete and is usually offered by community colleges. The curriculum for this nursing...
Words: 1246 - Pages: 5
...Differences In Competencies between ADN and BSN NRS-430v July 14, 2013 Differences in Competencies between ADN and BSN Over the past few decades, many drastic changes 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...
Words: 1021 - Pages: 5
...three pathways to follow and these are Diploma- a 3year hospital based program, Associate degree- a 2year degree obtainable from community colleges, and Baccalaureate degree program from 4year colleges and universities. All three of these pathways will qualify the nurse to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). As stated in the journal of American Association of colleges of Nursing (AACN) “The NCLEX-RN is only one indicator of competency and does not measure performance over time or test for all the knowledge and skills developed through BSN program (Rossetter 2012). However, we will focus more on the differences in competencies between nurses prepared at the associate degree level versus baccalaureate degree level in nursing and identify a patient care situation in which nursing care or approaches to decision making may differ based upon educational preparation. The associate degree program (ADN) which was founded by Mildred Montag due to severe shortage of nurses was designed to prepare technical bedside nurses for secondary care settings such as community hospitals and long term...
Words: 1143 - Pages: 5
...Running head: EDUCATION PREPARATION DIFFERENCES IN COMPETENCIES OF NURSING DEGREES: ASSOCIATES VS. BACCALAUREATES Patel, Hetal Grand Canyon University: NRS 430V Professional Dynamics January 25, 2012 There are many differences in the competencies between nurses prepared at the associate’s degree level versus the baccalaureate level in nursing. The differences in competencies has be seen in the leadership ladder for advancement in the profession of nursing, the ability to provide care, the coordination of patient care, and the membership of an educated interdisciplinary health care team. In my matriculation into Grand Canyon University’s RN-BSN program, I previously researched this topic extensively. In 1965, the American Nurses Association (ANA) took a courageous position in publishing a first position paper asking for the baccalaureate degree to be the minimal level of education for the professional nursing ( A position paper 1965). This was the first documented attempt to change the level of education of nurses from a technical based education to a scientific based education. The position that the ANA held had many of the following obstacles to overcome, the interference of government funding of programs, nurses to see beyond just the technical based profession and the perception of nursing as a caregiver. The ladder of leadership after obtaining an associate degree in nursing (ADN) is the certifications that can be obtain through their professional organizations...
Words: 957 - Pages: 4
...Running head: COMPETENCY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ADN AND BSN LEVEL OF NURSING Competency Difference between ADN and BSN Level of Nursing Mari Rennie Grand Canyon University: Professional Dynamics July 8, 2012 Abstract This paper will show the associate-degree level of nursing being a foundation to a higher level of learning as in the baccalaureate-degree level all the way to the doctorate level, while also distinguishing the appropriate requirements. A patient care scenario will also be included to provide an example of how these two levels would differ in the real world. Competency Difference between ADN and BSN Level of Nursing There are many different levels of nursing that are determined by education. Education has a lengthy history dating back to the 1800s that includes nursing. There are several competencies that differ between the associate-degree levels in nursing versus the baccalaureate-degree level in nursing. The more education that is received the higher level of learning is accomplished, which in turn leads to advancement in career, less chance of errors, a more educated community, a less hostile environment, and better outcomes (Berry, 10/2010). Education Education has always been a vital aspect in life. In the realm of nursing education we have to thank Florence Nightingale for the start of the education movement back in the 1800s. She was very strong in her beliefs and wanted to find a career that would change women’s lives...
Words: 1345 - Pages: 6
...Competency Differences of ADN and BSN Graduates Virginia Tanner Grand Canyon University: NRS-430V January 10, 2016 Controversy over the entry level educational requirements to the nursing profession has been on-going since the inception of the two-year degree program by Mildred Montag in 1952. This educational model was meant to be a temporary solution to a critical nursing shortage post WWII but became a mainstay of nursing education to present day. Therefore, the debate between various state educational programs, nursing organizations, and other interest groups has continued for over half a century without formal resolution (Mahaffey, E. 2002). Additionally the reality that both associate degree (ADN) and baccalaureate degree (BSN) prepared nurses gain the title of RN by passing the same board examination only increases the confusion surrounding these two program levels of nursing education. Examination of these different educational preparation pathways in the level of nurses’ competencies requires discussion for the nursing profession to evolve while continuing to utilize both ADN and BSN prepared nurses. The primary educational focus for an ADN is hands-on bedside care of patients. The BSN educational focus encompasses the ADN model along with public and community health care, and leadership development within the nursing field. The different degree levels is advantageous because ADN programs provide a population source for BSN programs. Associate program graduates...
Words: 1169 - Pages: 5
...The Differences Between ADN and BSN Nurses Grand Canyon University: NRS-430v 5/01/16 For those not working in the healthcare field, the profession of nursing can cause a lot of confusion. There are multiple different certifications or degrees that get lumped into many peoples’ idea of nursing. For example, there are certified nursing assistants (CNAs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), associate-level nurses (ADNs), baccalaureate-level nurses (BSNs), masters-level nurses (MSNs), doctorate level nurses (PhDs) and (APRNs) and many different types of specialty certifications. All of these different levels of nursing require varying levels of schooling and certification. For the purposes of this paper the discussion will focus on the differences in competency levels between ADNs and BSNs. Schooling One big difference between the associates nurse and the bachelors nurse is the length of time to get the degree. To get an associate’s degree, the schooling is usually done through a junior college or community college and completed within 2-3 years. On the other hand, the BSN is done through a traditional university and completed within 4 years. This difference in the length of time has made the ADN very popular because you get to start working and making money much more quickly. Also the ADN is much cheaper since you are in school for less time. The BSN has all of the same courses as an ADN, however, the education goes much more in depth. The additions of nursing management...
Words: 1049 - Pages: 5
