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Educational Differences in Nursing

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Submitted By stacysbunch
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June 19, 2016

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), believes that the level of education a nurse has plays a significant role in the competency of nurses to give the best care outcomes for their patients. Nurses with Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees are better prepared through education to meet the demands placed on today's nurses in this highly demanding field. BSN nurses are recognized for their critical thinking skills and leadership abilities. BSN nurses are also educated in the areas of case management and health promotion. Nurses who obtain a bachelor degree are thought to have better adaptability to practice across a variety of settings, both inpatient and outpatient. Many healthcare organizations identify that baccalaureate degree nurses bring a unique value to the practice settings of the many fields of nursing (Bushy, 2014)

There are 3 levels of education for those wishing to be a Registered Nurse. A Diploma Nurse, AND or Associate Degree Nurse, and a BSN or Bachelor Degree Nurse. A diploma nurse trains for 3 years in a hospital, an ADN trains for 2-3 years in a community college, and a BSN trains for 4 years at a university or upper level college. All three sit for the same NCLEX-RN exam to obtain their licensure to practice. The areas in which each nurse can practice are mostly similar except BSN nurses have management opportunities in which ADN nurses generally do not. The thought being that a BSN educated nurse is exposed to the additional education needed to handle the increased responsibility and critical thinking needed by nurses in management. The Diploma nurse training is not very common these days. Many hospitals do not do diploma programs anymore but have a complete bachelor degree program for nurses. The thought is that nursing is turning to an all BSN field, similar to that of teachers and

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