...Competency Differences in ADN and BSN Nurses Jim Bob Grand Canyon University NRS-430V: Professional Dynamics June 8, 2014 In today’s health care field, most registered nurses are prepared at two different levels. There are ADN or associate degree level nurses and there are BSN or bachelor degree level nurses. Both of these levels of nursing require knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, medications, disease process and appropriate treatment methods. Both levels are also required to sit for and pass the NCLEX-RN licensing exam. However, there are differences in the levels of education. First, the time of completion is shorter for ADN degree. Next is the treatment methods that are learned in the BSN degree program. There are also many studies that show better patient outcomes when cared for by a nurse practicing with a BSN degree. ADN vs. BSN Wikipedia describes associate degree in nursing as “a tertiary education nursing degree which typically takes two to three years to complete.” In the US, this degree is usually obtained through community colleges, nursing schools, and some four year colleges and universities. The curriculum requires supervised clinical experience as well as courses in anatomy, physiology, chemistry, psychology and other social and behavioral sciences (Associate of Science in Nursing, 2014). The associate degree level in nursing is appealing to many individuals because of the time difference in completing the degree. Associate level...
Words: 1185 - Pages: 5
...DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BSN AND ADN Differences Between BSN and ADN Name Grand Canyon University: Professional Dynamics April 8, 2012 There appears to be a trend developing in the healthcare industry. Registered nurse diploma programs are closing. Just in the state of New Jersey; there are a number of diploma programs closing. That list had grown to include the school that I graduated from, Helene Fuld School of Nursing. It has also been reported that Mountainside Nursing School in Bloomfield, NJ closed after 117 years of operation (Read, 2009). There were less than a dozen diploma nursing schools in the state at the time. When I applied and was accepted in 2009, I was told that I would be a member of the last class graduating from this institution that had been in existence since 1885. I asked the receptionist at the school why, and was told that our school had been supported financially over the last 20 years by two hospitals. Those were Cooper University Hospital and Virtua Hospital. She said that both of the hospitals had gone to a hiring policy of requiring its entry level nurses to have at least a Bachelor of Science degree; so why would they continue to support a nursing school that could no longer help staff their hospitals. I have since come to understand more about why more hospitals are moving to similar hiring policies. The most important why is the growing evidence that patient care is improved with advanced degree nurses. There...
Words: 1011 - Pages: 5
...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 sister...
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
...Differences Between ADN and BSN There wasn’t always training for nurses, sick and ill individuals were taken care of by "sinners, saints, or mothers". Those nursing the sick were either prostitutes, women of ill repute, or members of religious orders. Women typically took care of the sick in their families.(Hood&Leddy, publication date) Schooling for nurses traditionally took place in a hospital setting. Now there are diversified college programs producing todays nurses. One can become a Registered Nurse through different educational avenues. There are diploma, associate degree and bachelor degree education that can open the door to this profession. I will be comparing the ADN and the BSN and how these two programs can effect patient care. According to Education portal, “ an associate degree program typically teaches students how to perform patient assessments and basic healthcare duties. They learn about providing emergency care and come to understand the legal requirements of medical personnel.” This is most likely due to the fact the associate nurse studies for approximately 2 years, depending on the college, and the emphasis is on direct patient care in the hospital and long term nursing facilities. The Education portal further states a “Bachelor of Nursing degree program teaches students to assess health conditions, communicate with patients and health professionals, assist physicians and perform various medical procedures.” The focus in the baccalaureate program...
Words: 754 - Pages: 4
...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
...Competency Differences of ADN and BSN Nursing is a self-motivated and multifaceted discipline, one that requires skilled, knowledgeable, and self-sufficient practitioners. The roots of nursing are firmly based on service to other individuals, groups, and communities. ADN Program Associate degree nursing programs are intended to be two years in length based to prepare practical bedside nurses for secondary care settings, such as community hospitals and long-term care facilities. The Associate degree nurse is prepared .to function at the intermediate level, not in leadership and management position. The professional behaviors, communication, assessment, clinical decision making, caring interventions, teaching and learning, collaboration, and managing care are the eight center competencies of ADN. By using clinical and thinking skills ADN graduate is responsible for caring for others while keeping the values of nursing profession for better outcomes. The inclusion of public health nursing as a part of curriculum is main difference between nursing in baccalaureate and diploma programs. BSN Program The Baccalaureate graduates are prepared in order think reasonably, evaluate critically, and communicate effectively with clients and other health care professionals. Baccalaureate programs are four academic years in length, and the nursing major is typically concentrated at the upper division level. There are vital components to prepare the baccalaureate graduate as generalist...
Words: 1003 - Pages: 5
...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
...Difference in Competencies between Associate and Baccalaureate Nurses Introduction The need for competent bedside nurses has drastically increased and so will it be in the near future. The level of basic education that a nurse should have has always been an issue of debate and controversy. Primary focus of this paper will be to point out the difference in competency of nurses educated in an ADN level to those educated in BSN level. Nursing is a profession where skill and knowledge has to work hand in hand to promote and deliver optimum level of care, skill alone acquired by years of experience cannot be an answer for this question .But a combination of expert knowledge, decision making, planning, research and leadership which is an integral part of the basic curriculum of a BSN program is extremely necessary. ADN nurses usually have 2-3 year education in community college setup and are focused to provide individualized care to their patients based on their diagnosis. But on the other hand BSN nurses undergo 4 year degree program where they get more training in the field of science, nursing management research and leadership. .(“When care”,2002,para.20) The more the year of their education the lesser the error in their field of clinical practice and procedure violations. Weather it is a ADN or BSN ,both can get a license to work as RN,provided they pass NCLEXRN.Study suggest that a BSN focuses on psychosocial complexity and therapeutic use of self to know patients...
Words: 930 - Pages: 4
...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
...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 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
...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
...DIFFERENCES IN COMPETENCIES OF ADN AND BSN LEVEL NURSES Laisa Johny Grand Canyon University: NRS- 12/16/11 430V Professional Dynamics 05-Dec-2011(0102) Differences in Competencies of Associate degree and Baccalaureate degree level nursing Education level of nurses makes differences in their nursing practice. Many surveys and researches have done to verify the quality of care providing to the patients by the nurses with associate degree and baccalaureate degree. “Research has shown that lower mortality rates, fewer medication errors, and positive outcomes are all linked to nurses prepared at the baccalaureate and graduate degree levels”(American association of colleges of nursing, fact sheet, 2011) EDUCATION LEVELS OF NUSING We have the opportunities to choose different levels of nursing education. That includes diploma, associate degree, baccalaureate degree, masters’ degree and nurse practitioner. As we educated more high levels, we are able to provide quality services to our people with our advanced knowledge. ASSOSCIATE DEGREE OF NURSING This education program mainly focus on technical skills than theoretical knowledge and with this student can become a registered nurse by passing the board exam. Many people like this because this allows a person to work early and earn money. BACCALAUREATE DEGREE OF NURSING This a 4 year course in United States, learn theories and technical skills, make students capable to provide quality care to the patients. Many institutions...
Words: 808 - Pages: 4
...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
