Required Educational Preparation for Nursing Practice

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Required Educational Preparation for Nursing Practice
There is much controversy about the educational requirement to prepare nurses for practice. Rather the minimal education level be a diploma, associate degree in nursing (ADN), or bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) a need for an agreed upon education level for practice is necessary. There is a wide range of nursing related practices all of which do not require the same amount of education and this author agrees with the National League of Nursing (NLN) concerning scope of practice and preparation for the field of nursing; that an ADN or diploma program is a sufficient level of education for technical nursing practice and the BSN should be the minimum for practice as a professional nurse (Black, 2014, p. 136). This author thinks that the option for an ADN is vital to nursing as a whole, however agrees with the idea that any career requiring only two years of schooling is technical and not professional. This places ADNs in the same category as technicians and assistance in other health care fields (Taylor, 2008, p. 613). This paper examines the necessity for nursing education beyond an associate degree for professional nursing practice in order to meet the increase of complex medical needs.
Why Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing?
The need for a BSN is for entry into nursing practice is widely supported dating back to 1965 when the American Nurses Association (ANA) published a paper stating the BSN to be the minimal level of education for entry in to practice (Taylor, 2008, p. 611). In the opinion of this author, in order to move the practice of nursing from a technical job to a professional career it is vital to have a minimal education of a BSN. Having a BSN helps to level the ...

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...o earn more advance education. This author thinks that a BSN is critical to better patient outcomes and collaborative work among team members. When enter a health care related field education should continue on though out the career continuously advancing. Leadership roles as nurses are important to the advancing health care field and in order to achieve such positions advanced education is essential. A BSN is what a standard minimum for a professional career in nursing with expected desire for furthering beyond.

References
Chitty, K. K., & Black, B. P. (2014). Professional nursing: concepts & challenges
(7th ed.). Maryland Heights, Mo.: Saunders/Elsevier.
Hess, J. Education For Entry Into Practice: An Ethical Perspective.
Journal of Professional Nursing, 289-296.
Tayloriii, D. Should The Entry Into Nursing Practice Be The Baccalaureate Degree?.
AORN, 611-620.

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