Dorett Clarke-Clay Sandra White 2015

Educational Preparation

Despite the fact that the preparation for the Associate Degree in nursing slightly differs from the preparation for the Baccalaureate degree they both hold the title of Registered Nurses. A 3- year associate degree usually offered at a community college; and the 4- year baccalaureate degree offered at a senior college and universities. There are many surveys and research that are being carried out that shows the quality of care given to patients by nurses with associate degree and baccalaureate degree definitely differences exist in competencies based on degree level by demonstrating evidenced based practices, critical thinking, problem solving skills versus technical skills. Baccalaureate nursing programs have a significant impact on the knowledge of nurse clinician as it does on all healthcare providers.
Nowadays there is a difference exist in the original propose curriculum design for the ADN educational programs. ADN graduate nurses are employed as staff nurses in hospitals and studies showed that there is very little differentiation between the role of ADN nurses and BSN nurses as they are asked to assume the same responsibilities. When the ADN programs were implemented it was not meant to prepare graduates for administrative positions. Also there was a real willingness within the educational preparation of nurses, to identify explicitly the role and responsibilities of professional nurses whether they are prepared as nurses from an ADN or BSN programs highly determined by the philosophy and needs of agencies that are employing them.
In the baccalaureate nursing program there are additional course work which enhances the student nurse professional development, by preparing him or her for a broader scope of practice and provide the professional nurse with a better understanding of culture, political economic, and social issues that affect patients and influence healthcare delivery. There are factors that indicated that baccalaureate degree in nursing proves education has a strong impact on a nurse’s ability to practice, and that patients deserves the best educated nurses in the every work place that they encounter with patients. Also, hospitals with higher percentage of registered nurses with baccalaureates have lower congestive heart failure mortality, decubitus ulcers, and post-operative deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. The way of the future of nursing is empowering educational standards to higher knowledge base on outcomes, there are definitely managed care and evidence based practices exist with higher educational preparation.
I have worked for 9.5 years in a hospital based setting and was not treated as a nurse with an ADN degree because of my experience that I developed over the years paying attention working alongside with nurses who had more experience than me. Working in a unit with very sick patients there are one experience in particular that resonated in me. I remember I was working on the telemetry/ critical care unit and I heard squealing coming from the patient’s room, I rushed in the patient’s room to inquire what the squeal was all about and the patient just had defibrillator placed in her left chest and it was set higher than 100 and lower than 50 and if the settings is too high or too low then patient’s defibrillator would shock her back into sinus rhythm. Well this time when the patient was shock in her normal rhythm the patient went in to cardiac arrest and luckily I was there and with experience critical thinking skills that I developed code blue was called. Even though patient had survived and was acting normal again the patient was transferred to ICU unit for closer observation. Being ADN nurse I was not taught handle situations like these. This is where the BSN program differ when handling emergency situation that requires quick critical thinking, but through my experiences critical thinking became a part of me. Nursing is a profession which is universal whether you are train as an Baccalaureate degree in nursing or having an associate degree, experience is the key to successful nursing.

References
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2013). 2012-2013 Enrollment and graduates in the baccalaureate and graduate programs of nursing. Washington DC: Author
Ashkenas, T L(1973). Aids and deterrents to the performance of associate degree graduates in nursing. New York National League for Nursing
DeChow, G (1977) Characteristics of associate degree education Competencies of the graduate. In preparing the associate-graduate. New York: National League for Nursing
Mc Sherry, M.E. & O’Neil, RH (1978) a transition program for new graduates. In The AD graduate: From student to employees New York; National League of Nursing
Montag, FL. (1951) the education of nursing technicians New York: GP Putman & Sons