Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Associates degree versus bachelors degree nurse
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Associates degree versus bachelors degree nurse
The decision of whether or not to set the baccalaureate degree as the standard entry level into nursing programs has been the topic of debate for quite some time. Across the nation professional healthcare organizations and facilities continue to deliberate over nursing education requirements. As healthcare continues to evolve, so do the skills and the educational requirements for practicing nurses. Baccalaureate or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs place a strong emphasis on educating future nurses to function independently as caregivers, nurse leaders, and managers within their profession (Huston, 2013). Some may argue that diploma and Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) programs do not fully prepare nurses for the career path that lies ahead of them. Others have argued that the failure to place the same educational entry level requirements on nursing as in other health professions may place the nursing profession at risk of being labeled a vocational trade rather than a profession (Huston). The idea that nursing requires a lower skill level than other medical professions due to the fact that programs can be completed in a lesser amount of time is false. Nursing requires critical thinking, skill, and a strong knowledge base regardless of the degree level. However, the increasing shortage of nursing and rising number of patients places great emphasis on the need for well-educated nursing professionals to meet the demands of growing healthcare needs. The ADN program was developed due to a need to correct the nursing shortages, yet the shortage is more prevalent than ever before (Huston). The debate then is whether the BSN program should be the standard entry level program to ensure nursing professionals are appr... ... middle of paper ... ...nstitute of Medicine. (2010). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. Retrieved from http://iom.edu/Reports/2010/The-Future-of-Nursing-Leading-Change- Advancing-Health.aspx Lane, S., & Kohlenberg, E., (2010). The future of baccalaureate degrees for nurses. Nursing Forum, 45(4), 218-227. doi:10.1111/j.1744-6198.2010.00194.x National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2010, September 8). National council of state boards of nursing (NCSBN) policy position statement. Retrieved from https://www.ncsbn.org/Policy_Position_Statement.pdf Raines, C., & Taglaireni, M. (2008, September 30). Career pathways in nursing: Entry points and academic progression. Online journal of issues in nursing, 13(3). Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/ OJIN/TableofContents/vol132008/No3Sept08/CareerEntryPoints.html
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.
Taylor, D. (2008). Should the entry into nursing practice be the baccalaureate degree?. AORN Journal, 87(3), 611-620. doi: 10.1016/j.aorn.2007.07.006
The topic of "ADN versus BSN" is one that has plagued the nursing profession for decades. Does a nurse’s level of education really matter? Can ADN nursing graduates perform their duties as well as BSN graduates? These are the types of questions that continue to be debated by policymakers, educational organizations and associations, and the general public. This may be because nurses are now one of the least educated health care roles when compared to other health care professions that are now requiring bachelor degrees or higher for entry. A more likely reason is undoubtedly due to the growing body of evidence suggesting that BSN graduates are more prepared when entering the workforce than their ASN counterparts. These findings have made some hospitals decide to only hire BSN prepared graduates or higher. Linda Aiken, director of the center for health outcomes and research at Penn State, recently stated "the evidence base is growing, and a number of hospitals are acting on it” (Burling, 2010). If employers prefer BSN prepared nurses, why don’t more of them offer pay differentials or other incentives to return to school? The answer to that question is still unknown. The Veterans Administration (VA) is one exception. The VA leads the country in employing the most registered nurses according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2011). The VA made the decision a decade ago to establish the BSN as a requirement for new hires. The VA devoted $50 million in approximately five-years to help
Taylor, D. L. (2008). Should the Entry Into Nursing Practice be the Baccalaureate Degree? AORN Journal, 87(3), 611-619.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended in a 2010 report that eighty percent of registered nurses (RNs) hold a baccalaureate degree by 2020. This is not a new goal, but rather one that has yet to be realized, despite being first recommended in 1965 by the American Nurses Association. Healthcare has made significant advancements since that time, but nursing standards to entry and licensing regulations have not reflected these changes (Hess, 1996). Students of both Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) programs and Baccalaureate Degree (BSN) programs sit for the same national licensing exam, the NCLEX-RN. This is a disservice to the entire profession. Associate degrees are publicly perceived as 'technical' degrees. This influences public opinion on the competency and skill of all nurses (Jacobs, et al., 1998). In addition, the lack of differentiation of graduate degrees equates different educational levels and blurs expectations and requirements of the individual nurse. It also fost...
Fields, S., Bishop, T., DiMattio, M., & Jacobs, L. (1998). The Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing As an Entry-Level Requirement for Professional Nursing Practice. Journal of Professional Nursing, 14, 225-233.
Nursing leaders nationwide believe that it is important for nurses with an Associate Degree to return to school to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) education within 10 years of graduation from an Associate Degree program to keep their licensure. The reason why this bill is passed is because of patient safety. Nurses with Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) have lower mortality rates in surgery department, less incidences, and better outcomes in the acute care settings which are heavily emphasized in the Affordable Care Act necessary for payment reimbursement (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2014). This bill A01977/S02533A was introduced in January 27, 2012 in the state of New York. At the same time the state of New Jersey also introduced similar bill A553. This author will represent one of the registered nurses with an Associate Degree who is going back for their BSN education to see the effectiveness of the bill on the healthcare system and therefore supports the bill.
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.
Peate, I. and Offredy, M. (2006) Becoming a nurse in the 21st century. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons. Page 34
There are various incentives and disincentives for practicing nurses to continue their formal education. Dr. Tanya Altmann, Sacramento State University Associate Professor, published a meta-analysis of ten studies of the concerns faced by diploma nurses (DN) and associates degree nurses (ADN) about pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
The purpose of this paper is to present an evaluation of the integration of the ACCN essentials with the BSN curriculum. The ACCN essentials are the set of personal and professional skills and competencies that are expected of a qualified nursing practitioner as endorsed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (Quality Matters, 2014). Additionally, the BCN curriculum refers to the educational guidelines that underpin the education and training required for the attainment of a Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing practice. The integration of ACCN essentials with the BCN curriculum was officially endorsed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and has since been conventionally referred to as
Increased studies show that Bachelor’s Degree prepared nurses have the ability to provide enhanced nursing care compared to nurses trained at an Associate’s degree level. Nurses who hold a BSN degree, are more well-rounded making them more competent in the profession. Bachelor’s degree nurses are educated in nursing theories, evidence based research, trends and issues in today’s nursing, ethical and spiritual decision making, nursing leadership, public health, and family centered health promotion. Associate degree nurses are trained in the basic technical aspects of nursing with only a minor focus on nursing histories and theory. Nurses work as part of an interdisciplinary team, with colleagues who are educated at a Master’s level or higher.
The BSN program helps the nurses in many ways including utilizing the process to the full scale and it will encourage 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 will also aid in filling the gap from the influx of patients. The baccalaureate degrees and BSN program helps prepare students for the significant part they are going to play in reinforcing the new healthcare reform. At present, I utilize and develop nursing care plans in the nursing process, even though it needs some corrections due to the nature of my work. The highest standards of nursing can only be achieved through better research and advanced training.
Nursing is a challenging profession all over the world, especially in Saudi Arabia. Our Patient –Care- system needs to be improved and I wish to contribute by raising the standards of Healthcare and take it to a higher standard. The first step would be, to start with Consolidating my academic qualifications and gain invaluable experience at a prestigious Institution like yours. I am one of 23 nurse practitioners who want to form a group to advocate Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in Saudi Arabia. The purpose of our group and this letter is to explain the role that I see for APRNs in improving public welfare in our country. APRNs are a crucial part of the team to assist in successful implementation of your mandate to provide proper
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.