Nursing Competencies; ADN versus BSN
All nurses are caring educated individuals that are trained to provide safe and efficient care to their patients. They are the eyes and ears for the doctor when they are unable to be present and they are the patients advocate when they are unable to be their own. It is the knowledge and education of the nurse that aids them in assessing a patient and leads them to ask the right questions so a safe clinical decision is made. (McHugh & Lake, 2010) Any person who graduates for a nursing program, weather it is a diploma, associate degree or a baccalaureate degree is eligible is sit for the licensing exam (NCLEX-RN) to become a Registered Nurse. The NCLEX test for minimum technical competency.
An Associate degree in nursing (ADN) program is a two year degree that focuses more on the clinical skills of the nurse and less on the science and theory that is nursing. Many people choose to pursue this degree due to the fact it often takes less time to obtain and the cost is usually less. While associate degree prepared nurses can be great bedside nurses they tend to be task oriented and lack the education and critical thinking skills needed to be leaders in the nursing field.
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is a four year degree that is based on research and theory. They are trained to treat the whole patient, not only their current issues but everything that the patient encompasses. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) states that education “enhances both clinical competency and care delivery.” (Rosseter, n.d.) During the four years of a nurse’s formal education they study physical and social sciences, theory and research based practice and advanced assessment skills. Due to this they tend to have a better understanding of the nursing process.
The nursing philosophy of Grand Canyon University implies that the BSN degree program from the College of Nursing will use teaching of liberal arts, science, nursing theories and the Christian faith to prepare future nurse leaders. These leaders will not only provide good holistic care to patients they will also continue to pursue knowledge and advance their education. Based on a 2010 survey, 60 percent of nurse educators are over the age of 50 and over 51,000 qualified nursing school applications were rejected because of a lack of faculty. (“AACN, “2011) With a nursing shortage in our near future having good nurse educators and mentors for new nurses will be of even greater importance.
The ability to solve problems is the most important aspect in providing safe patient care. A BSN has the ability to utilize resources and seek solutions, they have the assessment skills that allow them to notice changes in patients that often result in faster interventions. These nurses use their knowledge and evidence based practice to solve problems. A 2003 study of surgical patients stated the odds of 30 day patient mortality and failure to rescue would almost be 20 percent lower in hospitals where more than half of their staff were bachelorette prepared. (Aiken, Clarke, Cheung, Sloane, & Silber, 2003)
The ability to safely utilize autonomy comes with a strong knowledge base of treating the patient as a whole. The ADN and BSN has the ability follow doctors’ orders and assess a patient even teach a patient about their medication or treatments they are undergoing. Only the BSN can teach the patient about the disease process and the rationales behind the medications and treatments. The BSN will also use the 4 metaparadigm theories of nursing to help treat and prevent disease and its progression.
In conclusion the ever changing industry of healthcare calls for nurses to be leaders among their peers and continue to broaden their knowledge and advance their education. The healthcare system in which we live relies on qualified professional nurses. The BSN is more prepared to provided safe holistic care to patients, educate patients, families, and their communities, and provide leadership and mentoring to peers and future nurses. Therefore the bachelorette prepared nurse is critical for the progression of healthcare as a whole.