The Importance Of Nursing Education

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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

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