...Running head: DIFFERENCES OF A BACCALAUREATE AND ASSOCIATE DEGREE Comparison of competencies between Baccalaureate and Associate Degree Prepared Nurses Kim Krapf Grand Canyon University NRS 430v October 11, 2013 The big question every nursing student asks is why a baccalaureate degree? How does this make me more valuable than a nurse receiving an associate’s degree? Does this make me a better nurse and why? These questions are posed all the time and the debate between both degrees continues. This paper will show the differences in both degree’s, point out how it is important to keep up with the competitive edge in healthcare, why it is so driven by education, and how the different levels of degrees impacts patient care. Both baccalaureate prepared RN’s and associate prepared RN’s is that both take the NCLEX exam, which is looking for a minimum safe competency level. The associate degree takes two years and 72 credits to complete. The baccalaureate degree builds on that base and takes four years and 125 credits. The main difference in these two programs is how they are prepared for the scope of practice, and the different levels of education they receive in community health and leadership skills. (Moore, 2009) Students who enter the associates degree in nursing (ADN) program focus on the pathophysiology of the disease process and how it affects the patient. The primary focus is on building competencies surrounding direct patient care. ADN...
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...Associate Degree Program vs Bachelor’s Degree Program for Nursing Associate Degree Program vs Bachelor’s Degree Program for Nursing To become a registered nurse, one must graduate from an accredited nursing program and pass the NCLEX exam. There are different routes one may take to become a registered nurse. These routes include a diploma, associate degree, or baccalaureate degree program. The diploma program was the core of nurse educating until the 1960’s. The typical diploma program lasts three years. This program focuses on clinical experience and direct patient care. Over the years, the diploma programs have decreased. In 2010, there was only 54 accredited diploma programs. Since diploma programs are not as common as associate degree programs or bachelor’s degree programs, this paper will compare the ADN and BSN programs and explain why having a bachelor degree in nursing is a benefit to not only the nurse, but also the hospital and the patient. Associate vs. Bachelor’s Degree Programs Associate degree programs typically last two years, but the student is required to take other courses to fulfill graduation requirements. According to Creasia & Friberg (2011),”the ADN program prepares the nurse for direct patient care for secondary care settings, such as community hospitals and long term care facilities”. Many people choose an ADN program because community colleges are less expensive than going to a university. Community colleges can also be more accessible...
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...and research as both BSN and ADN nurses can sit for the same NCLEX-RN exam. There are multiple answer to this question, however the short answer is that nurse with a BSN degree has more opportunities to work in a variety of health care settings that offer an extensive array of opportunities for professional growth. (Moore, 2009) BSN student learn skills at a higher level that are required for exceptional practice. (Huston 7) The difference between the ADN nurse and the BSN nurse is not limited to the opportunities allotted but spans out to the education. The BSN nurse completes a curriculum that has a different focus than that of the ADN curriculum. The BSN curriculum emphasizes evidence based practice, leadership, critical thinking, and public/community health. (Moore, 2009) As part of this curriculum you receive crucial training in key areas like communication, leadership, and critical thinking- enhanced knowledge that will become ever more valuable in the complex and changing future of health care delivery. (Simons, 2012) BSN nurses can be and are not limited to bedside nurses, educators, case managers, discharge planners, administrators, and work in public health, home health, and community clinics. If you are thinking of joining any branch of the military, you will need to have your BSN. The BSN degree is not only a minimum for the military but also a minimum for most medical institutions, as it is the preferred degree. The ADN nurse has learned the...
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...Educational Preparation There is an ongoing debate about nurses trained at the Associates Degree level versus the baccalaureate degree level. In this paper, I will discuss some of the important differences between the two levels of education and try to determine if one is really better than the other. First of all, when considering the difference between the two types of degrees, it is important to recognize that at either level, a nurse must be able to pass the same NCLEX examination in order to become licensed. Therefore, it is safe to say that a nurse from either type of program must have the basic knowledge required to safely take care of patients as an entry level nurse. So, why bother getting a baccalaureate degree if you can do the same job with less time and money put into your education? Let’s explore some of the advantages. Ask any working nurse if they would have more job opportunities if they had a baccalaureate degree and they will most likely tell you “yes”. Although you can get a job with an associate’s degree, many jobs require that you have baccalaureate degree in order to hold the position. The reason for this is that many positions for nurses require that they be able to be a strong leader in the work environment. Continuing past the associates degree level, a nurse can really learn how to use their knowledge in a leadership role. Many studies have shown that nurses trained at the baccalaureate level are more prepared to care for patients...
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...school, it is not just a decision on what school to attend, it is also a decision on what degree to obtain. A two-year ADN program, a three-year diploma program, or a four year bachelor’s program are the current options to choose from. All will give the education needed to pass the licensing exam, the NCLEX-RN. All will provide the title of RN once the licensing exam is passed. All will have clinical rotations that will prepare the student for their first day on the job, and provides the student with the many options that nursing has to offer. With all of these similarities between the different nursing degrees, there is one major difference between a nurse graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a nurse graduating with an Associates Degree of Nursing. That difference is opportunity. Although graduating with an ADN or Diploma of nursing will create many career openings, those opportunities are not what could be expected if you graduate with a BSN. With many hospitals attempting to obtain magnet status, many job options are open only to those who hold a BSN. In addition, a BSN is necessary to obtain a job in nurse education and administration (Why a BSN, n.d.). Those with their BSN have more room for career advancement and are in greater demand than their ADN/Diploma counterparts. Many new nurses fail to look at the big picture of career growth. They may wonder why they need their BSN, especially if they are not interested in advancement. In order to...
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...between ADN and BSN Nurses Although testing for one’s RN license is universal, the training background of an ADN versus a BSN nurse are very different. This has brought us to the discussion of the differences between an ADN and a BSN level nurse. As the needs of the patient population is changing, the demand for a more educated, skilled, resourceful practitioner is required (Smith, 2009). Personal Experience Example of how an ADN versus BSN nurse would treat a CHF patient. A specific patient case I reviewed, was readmitted to a hospital again within thirty days with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. The ADN trained nurse could administer drugs, perform daily weights, ensure that the patient followed a cardiac diet, but was strictly task oriented (The Future of the Associate Degree in Nursing Program, 2013). The BSN trained nurse, would base the care provided using a more integrated system (Why the Push for BSN Nurses?, 2012). The focus of the BSN trained nurse would encompass more teaching, measuring compliance of instructions that were given, and ensure core measures would be met prior to discharge. The follow up care would include determining if the patient had access to meds, home health, understood the need to maintain dietary restrictions, and instruct the patient on keeping a daily weight log to ensure that weight trends would be monitored and recorded. ADN AND BSN DIFFERENCES 3 The college system today has defined an ADN nurse as technical...
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...between ADN and BSN Nurses Although testing for one’s RN license is universal, the training background of an ADN versus a BSN nurse are very different. This has brought us to the discussion of the differences between an ADN and a BSN level nurse. As the needs of the patient population is changing, the demand for a more educated, skilled, resourceful practitioner is required (Smith, 2009). Personal Experience Example of how an ADN versus BSN nurse would treat a CHF patient. A specific patient case I reviewed, was readmitted to a hospital again within thirty days with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. The ADN trained nurse could administer drugs, perform daily weights, ensure that the patient followed a cardiac diet, but was strictly task oriented (The Future of the Associate Degree in Nursing Program, 2013). The BSN trained nurse, would base the care provided using a more integrated system (Why the Push for BSN Nurses?, 2012). The focus of the BSN trained nurse would encompass more teaching, measuring compliance of instructions that were given, and ensure core measures would be met prior to discharge. The follow up care would include determining if the patient had access to meds, home health, understood the need to maintain dietary restrictions, and instruct the patient on keeping a daily weight log to ensure that weight trends would be monitored and recorded. ADN AND BSN DIFFERENCES 3 The college system today has defined an ADN nurse as technical...
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...between Nurses with Associate-Degree and Baccalaureate-Degree Imagine this scenario. Two nurses apply for a position in labor and delivery. One of the nurses that interviewed has an associate’s degree with 3 years of clinical practice. With one year spent in labor and delivery at a hospital 45 miles away and has applied for this position because it is only 5 miles from her home which would be ideal for her growing family. The other nurse that interviewed for the same position has recently graduated with her baccalaureate in nursing and only has 6 months experience on a medical-surgical unit. The director calls back the first nurse shortly after they are both interviewed and lets her know that the position was filled with a more qualified nurse with a baccalaureate degree. The nurse mentions that she has experience in labor and delivery and is rather baffled and a little disappointed that experience was overshadowed by baccalaureates degree. A little curious about why exactly this degree is preferred she does some research and is surprised by her findings. There are many substantial differences in both degrees yet there are only a few worth mentioning. The most important of the differences is as simple as the quality of care the patients are receiving which cannot be compromised. Everything depends on the level of education the nurse has received and the quality of care the nurse can give based on the education route chosen. Years of research has proven that a nurse with a baccalaureate...
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...change of times, preparations for the expectations of tomorrows nursing persist. Currently there is a large population of associate-degree (ADN) nurses and a smaller amount of baccalaureate-degree (BSN) nurses, but with the change of times the trends of nursing are changing. Education is becoming a requirement from ADN to BSN levels of nursing. What is causing this modification in nursing? Why is this adjustment imperative to the future? There is a very distinct difference between the associate-degree nurse and the baccalaureate-degree nurse. This discussion will look at the difference between the ADN and BSN degree’s and answer the question of why the nursing trends must change at this time. Nursing started out by men caring for the ill in 300 BC. Prior to the 1800’s, nursing was still in its formative years, the ill and the poor were cared for by the lowest class of humanity. In 1873 the first formal nursing education program in the United States was a 4-month hospital-based diploma program at the Boston Training School for Nurses at Massachusetts General Hospital which was originally intended to emulate the model put forward by Florence Nightingale when she established collegiate nursing in London in 1860 (Creasia, 2011). In 1958 diploma graduates made up almost the complete workforce of registered nurses. In 1963 86% of nurses were from diploma programs, after which started to decline. In 1909 the first baccalaureate program was founded at the University...
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...a registered nurse. There are the completions of an associate degree program or the baccalaureate degree program to name a few. In my research to distinguish both programs I have noted that associate degree programs are shorter in length with more focus on clinical skills and are more task oriented, where a baccalaureate program is focused on knowledge, theory and research with a broader picture of the nursing field. Each program prepares a person to acquire the skills necessary for bedside nursing. Our healthcare system is changing everyday, the higher a level of education a nurse can posses will meet the demands necessary to fulfill the needs of the patients along with the evolving changes (Institute of Medicine, 2010). With each degree brings different levels of competencies. As defined in the Mosby’s Dictionary of Complementary and Alternative Medicine “ competence is the state or condition of being sufficiently qualified to perform a particular action. To achieve this condition, one must possess the proper knowledge, skills, training, and professionalism” (2005). Having a bachelor degree in nursing provides you with a clearer understanding of the physical and social sciences, public and community health and nursing management. The program enhances the nurse and their professional development and allows the nurse to understand the cultural, political, economic and social issues that can affect a patient (“The Impact”, 2012), As opposed to an associates degree program. As stated...
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...Bachelor Degree versus Associate Degree So, Why? The reason why this is the million dollar question is because one will not know until they are at the next level. For that reason I referred to my husband who has an advance degree in nursing. He graduated more than twenty years ago with an associate degree and went on to obtain a bachelor degree so after. He stated that when “he was in school the pending threat was that Associate Degree Nurses (ADNs) will be phased out in the future.” For that reason he went on to obtain his bachelor. However, as the years passed he realized that time was repeating itself and nurses over the decades were being told year after year ADNs will be phased out. But it was both far from the truth but gradually becoming a reality. In the book, Nursing Against the Odds, Susan Gordon identified that in the 1990’s nursing was under attack through the establishment of the managed care system. She stated that “many hospitals responded with cuts and restructuring plans that drastically increased the workloads of individual nurses, even as the cost pressures also meant the average hospital patient was sicker and the average stay shorter, so the patient actually needed far more care.” Now my husband a 1992 graduate confirmed this by identifying working on a 44 bed cardiac post-open heart unit with only four registered nurses and two licensed practical nurses each shift. The nurse to patient ratio was 10:1 with a medication nurse. At that time he thought how...
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...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....
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... BSN Having worked with hundreds of registered nurses throughout my ten year career, it is not usually very easy to determine if the nurse next to me graduated with an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree. Whether working with a charge nurse, staff nurse or even a case manager, the differences are minor, and only upon further inspection realized. Both types of nurses are qualified and excel at their jobs, but the BSN nurse has the extra training and critical thinking skills needed, not only for their current station in life, but also their future and growth in the field. First I will be discussing why there are so many more ADN nurses in relation to BSN nurses. Secondly, a discussion of why there is a major push towards BSN prepared nurses. Last, a look into the differences I have noticed in my own nursing career between the ADN nurse and the BSN nurse. Not long ago, the primary degree in nursing was a hospital diploma. This was the standard way to becoming a nurse. As recently as the mid-1980’s, half of the country’s registered nurses had started that way. By that time though, community colleges and the associate’s degree of nursing was beginning to take over (Perez-Pena, 2012, para. 4). Although many four year programs existed, this was the quickest and easiest way for a student to obtain a nursing degree. This quicker program appealed especially to the workforce that were going back to school to earn a second degree, and to the mothers that were going back to school...
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...University Professional Dynamics NRS-430V Leigh Ann Tovar April 28, 2012 Educational Preparation Now that I have completed my Registered Nursing (RN) degree, and am working as a new grad nurse, I am venturing into the future with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Some people ask me “why do you bother getting your BSN?” This is a question I have considered myself over the past year, and now I am back in school, I realize the benefits to further education are enormous. Nursing link website states “in today’s nursing world, more is expected from a nurse than following doctor’s orders and starting IVs.” (Forster, 2008, para. 4) It continues to report that we as nurses must be able to “make critical decisions about a patient’s care, to question the doctor if orders seem inappropriate and to help the patient through, sometimes, difficult life-changing decisions.” One can only develop these skills with a broad based education, one that includes “critical thinking, and exposure to many different people, though process, and cultural and social norms.” Therefore BSN programs offer more education aimed at developing such necessary skills. (Forster, 2008, para. 4) This paper will discus such benefits in obtaining a BSN degree in further detail; by comparing the differences in competencies between nurses based on their degree level, the use of patient care situation describing differences in approach to nursing care based of formal education in nursing, and the overall benefits...
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...been going on for decades and still continues with no end in sight is the difference between an associate degree in nursing versus the baccalaureate degree. Some questions that arise are what is the difference in schooling, training, bedside care, critical thinking and much more! Florence Nightingale is a very important figure in nursing who led women in 1854 to care for wounded soldiers. She made crucial observations on the spread of infection that has influenced the care of patients to this day. After the war, Nightingale pushed for education in the health care setting as well as in classrooms and she developed London's first school to train nurses in 1860. Within a few years the trend had spread to the United States and in 1867 Linda Richards was the first "trained" nurse in America. Since then education has developed and changed dramatically. Associate Degree Nurse Associate degrees in nursing are obtained from junior and community colleges. They generally take 2 to 3 years to complete. Originally the associate program was created in response to fill the large nursing shortage during World War II. "It was proposed as a temporary solution to a shortage but was not intended to replace the professional level of nursing education." (ADN or BSN, 2004) Those who graduated from the associate level were to work under the care of a professional nurse as a technical nurse. However, the associate level of education became desirable and more popular and is now viewed as a admirable...
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