There are several differences in competencies between an ADN and a BSN. These include, but are not limited to decision-making skills, the depth of knowledge base, as well as critical thinking abilities. As the nursing is role is becoming more complicated; strong skills are necessary for providing excellence in patient care (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, n.d.a., pp. 1,3). More than ever patients that are being admitted to hospitals have multiple commodities. When caring for a post-surgical open heart patient, it takes multiple types of critical thinking skills to recognize when a patient is becoming hemodynamically unstable. Quick, crucial, and significant decisions need to be made quickly to turn a grave situation around.
The role of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) in health care has been identified as a critical role in the goal to provide high-quality health care. APRNs have a bigger role to play in the health care system and it is important that students are provided with relevant and valuable knowledge as well as experience that improve their abilities. Achieving course objectives are critical for APRNs with the goal of contributing positively to the health care system. As a future APRN, I place high priority on life-long learning and the development of other people’s skill sets. All duties associated with health care require a dedication to excellence and selflessness. These are two components of learning that will improve the capabilities of
The national shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs) has helped generate formidable interest in the nursing profession among people entering the workforce and those pursuing a career change. According to a report issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service in 2002, the national population is continuing to grow and age and medical services continue to advance, so the need for nurses will continue to increase. They report from 2000 to 2020 the predicted shortage of nurses is expected to grow to 29 percent, compared to a 6 percent shortage in 2000. With the projected supply, demand, and shortage of registered nurses and nursing salaries ever-increasing, the nursing profession can offer countless opportunities. But first one must determine which educational path to pursue, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Associate Degree in nursing (ADN). Most will initially be educated at the associate degree level, even though the American Organization of Nursing Executives (AONE) has recommended a baccalaureate level as a minimal for entry-level nurses. With the expanding number of RN to BSN programs available there is always the option to further one’s education at a later date. The benefits for acquiring a BSN over an ADN include a better knowledge for evidence-based practice, an increased advantage for promotion, and the necessary gateway for higher education.
There are a variety of health settings that provide patient health services. With the use of health services there has to be some type of health information exchange or system that will enable users to exchange data. Today there are networks that do this. Some of these networks are Community health information network (CHIN), Regional health information network (RHINO), National Health Information Network (NHIN) and Health Information technology for economic and clinical health act (HITECH Act). The purpose of this paper is to identify these networks, discuss the relationship among each other and lastly, explain their relationship to formation of a patient-centered management system and electronic health records (EHRs).
Examples of patients with complex acute care needs are those with multiple comorbidities who need mechanical ventilator weaning, administration of intravenous antibiotics, and those with complex wound care (Munoz-Price, 2009, p. 438). According to Landon Horton, CNO of Select Specialty Hospital in Fort Smith, Arkansas, “The services provided by LTACH facilities allow the patients to get home who would not otherwise, have a higher level of functioning at discharge, and increase their quality of life” (personal communication, March 7, 2014). The role of the Chief Nursing Officer is a complex position. Educational preparation for the CNO role ranges from a Master’s in Nursing to a degree outside of the profession such as an MBA or a degree in a related area of study (Kerfoot, 2012, p. 38-39). In L. Horton’s role as the CNO for Select Specialty Hospital, the duties required by him are multifaceted.
The modern nurse has much to be thankful for because of some of the early pioneers of nursing, such as Florence Nightingale and Jensey Snow. However, the scope and influence of professional nursing, as well as the individual nurse, has seen more exponential growth and change in North America since the establishment of the first professional organization for nursing, the Nurses Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada, which in 1911 came to be known as the American Nurses Association.
The program emphasizes critical decision making, thorough assessment skills and implementing independent nursing judgements that require a broad background knowledge. Obtaining a BSN degree, allows for many different career opportunities. Most areas of leadership and management in nursing require at least a bachelor’s degree, allowing many different opportunities. Some nurses are intrigued by the opportunity to become a patient care manager, work in research, perform studies on evidence based practice and work in case management and communicate with insurance companies. Being the chair of a committee in the hospital or even taking on the role in the training and development department with the responsibility of educating new nurses and employees is obtainable with a BSN. “Registered Nurses with a diploma usually learn the basics of nursing care, while nurses who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, will have learned more communication techniques, critical thinking, and leadership skills” (Jakubik, 2017, pg 150). Obtaining a BSN has significant impacts on career advancement, and will open doors for many different career opportunities.
provides the much stronger base in science and humanities that provides a base for advanced
Critical thinking and clinical judgment are vital skills for professional nurses. According to Mann (2012), research has indicated that nearly one-third of the new graduate nurses have adequate critical thinking skills for entry-level practice. The problem identified in this article was that research indicated that majority of graduate nurses were not capable of meeting entry-level expectations for clinical judgment (Mann, 2012).
Nobody is perfect. We all make mistakes. Some of the best lessons in life are learned from making a mistake. But in the healthcare world making mistakes means losing lives. This has started to happen so frequently there has been a term coined – Failure to Rescue or FTR. Failure to rescue is a situation in which a patient was starting to deteriorate and it wasn’t noticed or it wasn’t properly addressed and the patient dies. The idea is that doctors or nurses could’ve had the opportunity to save the life of the patient but because of a variety of reasons, didn’t. This paper discusses the concept of FTR, describes ways to prevent it from happening; especially in relation to strokes or cerebrovascular accidents, and discusses the nursing implications involved in all of these factors.
As a medical / surgical RN, I provided care for the elderly, the infirm, the mentally challenged, the young, and the psychologically disturbed. The wide variety of patients exposed me to the effects of life style choices, health care choices, and the resulting impacts to the patient as well as to the family of the patient. This experience has fully matured my view of the awesome responsibility that we, as health care professionals, have been charged with, and it has furthered my desire to obtain the skills necessary to provide more advanced care for my patients. In addition to exposure, maturity and experience, my career as a medical / surgical RN has also sharpened my critical thinking abilities and provided insight on observing signs and symptoms that a patient may be unware of. Furthermore, as a charge nurse I learned the importance of collaborating with other health care professionals in order to provide the highest level of care available. In summary, my career as an RN has provided valuable experience, maturity, exposure to impact and outcome, enhanced my critical thinking abilities, and improved my collaboration
The decision to enroll in graduate school came after considerable time and soul searching. While contemplating the decision to return to school I thought about life, school and work. I realized that my experience in these areas have prepared me for the challenge and I am going to succeed.
Prioritization is to make sure that the patient receives safe and quality care. A nurse would prioritize care of a patient based on their individual needs. The nurse uses critical thinking to determine what issues need to be addressed first, such as assessing the patients respirations, circulation, neurosensory, food and fluid intake, bowel and bladder eliminations, comfort, rest, sleep, safety, activity, hygiene, significant relationships, ego, integrity and sexuality. The first level of prioritizing to makes sure that the patient’s ABC’s are not compromised. ABC’s refer to airway, breathing, and circulation. The nurse is going to take care of a patient who is having trouble breathing or does not...
Clinical reasoning has been defined by Tanner (2006) as ‘a process by which nurses make clinical judgements by selecting from alternatives, weighing evidence, using intuition and by pattern recognition’. It involves the judgements of what is wrong and clinical decision-making of what to do (Levett-Jones et al.,
Many studies indicate that hospitals that consist of higher percentage of BSN prepared nurses will lead to lower congestive heart failure mortality, decubitus ulcers, postoperative deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and shorter length of stay (Blegen et al, 2013). According to “Baccalaureate Education in Nursing and Patient outcomes” article, a cross sectional study was conducted and the data sets that was created by University Health System Consortium (UHC) was utilized. The data sets consists of patient diagnosis, procedure codes, actual and expected length of stay (Blegen et al, 2013). Another set of data contain direct caregiver hours (Blegen et al, 2013). Also questionnaires were delivered to RN in each of these hospitals to assess the education level (Blegen et al, 2013). Hospitals that consist of approximately 62% of RN that held BSN was compared to hospitals that had lower percentages of BSN prepared nurses out of 21 UHC hospitals (Blegen et al, 2013). The finding of this study showed that there was significant decrease of cardiac heart failure mortality rate, pressure ulcers, infection due to medical care, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis and patient’s stay in hospital (Blegen et al, 2013). In addition, BSN prepared nurses spend more total hour of care per patient day and work over time to provide better quality
Nurses deal with a variety of patients who all suffer from some kind of illness on a daily basis. They need to be knowledgeable on how to care and asses them. Critical thinking is involved in the nursing process to help the nurse analyze the information, solve the problem and make a decision on how to care for the patient. Once the nurse has figured out these three factors she can make a diagnosis. In making these decisions, not only does it affect the patient, but it also can affect the families. This process does not just happen overnight. It will take some time to learn and to gain the abilities needed to make appropriate decisions.