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The benefits of continuing education for nurses preview
Importance of higher education in nursing
Importance of higher education in nursing
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Nursing is a knowledge-based discipline. Continuing education is essential for to keep nursing as a profession. Continuing education will enhance knowledge, to provide an optimum care for the patient. To strengthen the base of nursing obtaining BSN will provide you with in –depth knowledge of better skills for decisions making, planning and evaluating patient’s outcome. Patient care is the main key component of the nursing practice. Emphases on higher education will helps in advanced nursing provide nurses with critical skills for complex patients, good communication and leadership skills to best outcome of the patent. Research has shown that nurses prepared at the baccalaureate and graduate degree level can lower mortality rates, fewer medication errors, …show more content…
A 2-year-old child admitted with head injury and the doctor’s order was there to do the Glasgow coma scale hourly. Doctors and nurses explained everything to the mum and the importance of doing GCS. When time passed after midnight because of GCS the child couldn’t fall in to sleep and mum feeling distressed, then mum asked the nurse (diploma) who is looking after the kid to skip hourly observations. The nurse (diploma) checked with the doctor on call for neurosurgery and he explained to the nurse to advice mum the importance of hourly observations. However similar situation with different nurse (Baccalaureate degree), when parents asked to skip the hourly observations she has explained them in detail consequences for not doing observation and parents realized the importance to continue observations for their child. The difference is diploma nurse did not try explaining to the parents again, but BSN nurse with her knowledge explained and taught the parents about the seriousness of head injury observations. She did not need the doctor’s reassurance to talk with parents. Degree nurse new the rationale behind the care
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.
According to Weis/Tappen (2010) competency is defined as “the demonstrated ability to carry out specific tasks or activities with reasonable skill and safety that adheres to the prevailing standard of practice in the nursing community” (p. 262). To be competent a person should be able to perform a set skill at an expected level. Pertaining to nursing, competence is shown by skill provided in healthcare with safety and understanding of how it is to be performed. The nurse is responsible for continuing competency throughout his/her career in order to meet the performance level set by the healthcare facility they are employed by.
Potter, Perry, Stockert, and Hall (2015) point out several characteristics of the profession which nurses possess. Continuing education is one of the top components pointed out and
In fact, Researchers had shown the results of outcomes having different degrees of level. According to AACN, Today 61% Nurses in the United States have a BSN degree who works in health settings. In fact, BSN nurses reduce death rate mortality, and readmission rate by using clinical practice knowledge (AACN) . Having advance level of knowledge involves nurses to manage the patient level of care and monitor for progress. American Organization of Nurses Executives states that nurses who have a higher education level promotes safe nursing care and improves patient safety. Higher educational nurses prepare herself for clinical challenging and complex roles (AACN, page 1). They develop more ideas, better intervention, and focus more on clinical
Many associate degree registered nurses never return to school, as they believe with no perceptible job differences or salary enticements, there is no need for further education (Orsolini-Hain, 2012). However, studies show that continuing education improves the critical thinking skills of the nurse, and improves patient outcomes (Barreto et al., 2013). Education is necessary for the nurse to provide superior care.
The effects on nursing education includes a growth in the number of higher cadre of nurses equipped with leadership and community health skills and knowledge. Institutions with higher trained nurses have recorded less mortality rate (AACN, 2014). The growth in number of nurses would positively impact on the nursing shortage thus leading to improvement on care outcome (AACN, 2014). The training institution require nurses at doctorate level thus the initiative to double the existing number will assist the institution prepare adequately for the growing number of students (IOM,
Q.3 Nurses as part of regulated health care practitioners are responsible and accountable to abide by the standards, codes and guidelines of nursing practice (NMBA, 2016). The nurse in the case study has breached the standard 1.4 of the Registered Nurse Standards for Practice. According to standard 1.4, the registered nurse should comply with "legislation, regulation, policies, guidelines and other standards or requirements relevant to the context of practice” when making decisions because this will be the foundation of the nurse in delivering high quality services (NMBA, 2016). The nurse in the scenario did not follow the hospital policy concerning “Between the Flags” or “red zone” and a doctor should be notified of this condition. Furthermore, the nurse failed to effectively respond to a deteriorating patient.
Rayhena Karim: I am a Registered Nurse with fifteen years of experience in Acute Rehabilitation. I completed an Associate of Science Degree in Nursing in 1999 from Rio Hondo Community College. Nursing in today’s healthcare system is challenging because of rapid technological advance and changes in healthcare policies. There is a high demand for professionally educated nurses to meet the needs of a more complex and changing health care system. My desire to pursue a bachelor degree in nursing to enhance my nursing education. As a dedicated nursing professional with a passion for learning, I want to stay on top of these changes and learn all I can to increase my knowledge.
Nursing encompasses several levels of education and licensure. For decades the differentiation between these levels has been debated, primarily between the differentiation of the Associates degree in Nursing (ADN) and the Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing (BSN). The associate’s degree, which began with the intention of creating a technical nurse, has developed into being “equivalent” to a bachelors degree (Hess, 1996). The two degrees however are not equivalent, the bachelors educated nurse receives two years education beyond the associate, in the liberal arts and upper division nursing courses
Learning is considered a long term goal as it helps in continuity and evolution professionally (Thibault, 2011). It is important for me to be updated for best possible care provision. I will achieve this by developing interest to study towards attainment of highest levels of education for example PHD programs, attending education forums hosted by different universities, workshops and health seminars. My other long term ambitions include joining nurses’ professional organizations, administration duties and management skill acquisition and job promotions.
It is very fascinating the most of the universities are having online courses for nurses to get their higher education, while nurses are struggling between the work and home. Currently most of the hospitals in the United Sates are moving towards magnet status which needed higher educated nurses. In this situation, it is blessing for nurses to attain their higher education through online course even for associate RNs to become BSN. The BSN program helps the nurses in many ways including to utilizing the process to the full scale and it will promote nurses to use their skills like educating the patient as we’ll as creating new nurses. Because of the new health care reform, the BSN program also will aid to fill the gap from the influx of patients. The baccalaureate degrees and BSN program helps and prepares for the significant part they going to play in reinforcing the new healthcare modification. At present, I utilize and develop nursing care plan in the nursing process even though it needs some corrections due to the nature of my work. The highest standards of nursing could be only done through better research and advanced training. All these process will not only aid to create a healthcare model based on the clinicians wants, but also based on better data from the research which will eventually help to direct them towards right direction.
In the current health care system change has become constant so it has been recognised that lifelong learning is even more imperative for nurses to ensure that they can develop their skills to keep pace with these changes and improve their performance. One of the nursing registration requirements that are outlined in the current Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Conduct (NMC, 2015, p.17) is to “keep your knowledge and skills up to date, taking part in appropriate and regular learning and professional development activities that aim to maintain and develop your competence and improve your performance.” Nurses are required to involve themselves in lifelong learning activities to ensure that they can practice effectively and maintain their
The BSN is the opportunity to increase the knowledge and understanding of the nursing career. “Nursing is a unique profession because of its synthesis of practice, multidimensional assessment/intervention, interpersonal communication, case management, and resource-linking on behalf of patients” (Jackson et al. 150). I love my work and as a registered nurse I feel totally complete, nevertheless, an advance education as the BSN program, will incorporate critical thinking expertise and leadership skills, required qualities in order to get a better position in the nursing
Nurses can’t limit to pursue a degree as their working place is complex and dynamic with constant change in medicine and technology, they do need to update themselves and many a times because of shortage of nurses they even have to work in other specialties also so they have to be competent enough to perform duties in almost all specialties. Skolnik, 1990 find that continuing education programs should be jointly controlled by college/university and educational planners regarding admission, programming and
In the healthcare setting, a systematic process to ensure maximum care and maximum recovery in patients is needed, which is called the nursing process. This process consists of four steps: assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation (Walton, 2016). The nursing process is important to ensure quality care and to get the preferred outcome. In the nursing process, critical thinking is used to recognize the issue and come up with a logical solution to solving it. One important aspect of the nursing process is that the plan is not set in stone; it is meant to be manipulated in order to better suit the patient. Nurses must be able to think critically in order to recognize the issue, develop a way to correct it, and be able to communicate the issue to others. Throughout the nursing process, critical thinking is used to determine the best plan of care for a patient based on their diagnosis.