Running head: Associate and Baccalaureate-Degree Registered Nurses Associate and Baccalaureate-Degree Registered Nurses: Differences in Competencies R B S Grand Canyon University: NRS 430V 10 July 2011 There are two ways to become a registered nurse: a fast track two year associate degree course or a comprehensive four year baccalaureate course. A graduate of both courses makes the student qualified to take the NCLEX-RN and get an RN license. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2010) believes that “education has a significant impact on the knowledge and competencies of nurses”. The healthcare environment and the nursing world today are constantly changing. The economy is …show more content…
They are more mature, possess strong clinical skills and are able to learn in their new jobs faster. Many employers are now offering tuition reimbursement programs to be able to recruit highly qualified staff. In a study published in the May 2008 issue of the Journal of Nursing Administration, Dr. Linda Aiken and her contemporaries presented their findings which showed a “strong link between nurse education level and patient care outcomes”. The researchers found that “every 10% increase in the proportion of BSN educated staff on the hospital staff was associated with a 4% decrease in the risk of patient death”. The study concluded that employing nurses from bachelor’s degree programs rather than from two year associate’s degree programs could produce a considerable enhancement in patient care. Aiken and her colleagues claimed that nurses with a higher level of education tend to be better at critical thinking, which is a critical part in nursing practice. I can cite a few examples of patient situations where the difference in critical thinking would have an inadvertent outcome in my practice with patients in the oncology unit. In our inpatient unit, all nurses, both ADN and BSN educated get the same training on how to deal change in patient’s status while administering chemotherapy and biotherapy agents which would require calling in the rapid response team if necessary. In one instance a
However, critical thinking skills must being in nursing school. Institutions must help facilitate higher level of thinking to help evolve critical thinking skills in order to have the best outcomes for their patients. Better outcomes equal higher payouts for the business, so it is in everyone’s best interest to educate their staff and continue to strive for success.
Through my research for this paper I have found that RNs who have an associate degree or diploma are more likely to make errors during clinical practice. Nurses who hold Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees have a stronger foundation in which to build better communication, leadership, critical thinking and problem solving skills. The high demands placed on today's nurses really challenge all of these skills on a daily basis. Nurses with Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees have a better understanding of the importance to be proficient in these skills. In a study of RN-to-BSN degree graduates from 1995 to
Subsequently, a Registered Nurse has the option of attending to college for an associates degree which is 2 years, or to obtain a bachelor’s degree that is 4 years. Although, all states require a license for RN. However, another option is to acquire a diploma in a nursing program. “A registered nurse typically needs to have a high school diploma or equivalent, graduate from a nursing program, complete supervised clinical work experience and have a license.” Numerous RN's usually acquire an associate’s degree or bachelor's degree because it increases
With an ever-increasing body of knowledge in the field of nursing, more education is being required to enter the field of nursing. Many healthcare institutions are raising the educational requirements in order to become employed or maintain employment in their facilities. Healthcare organizations are transitioning to hiring registered nurses (RN) who have a higher level of education, such as, a graduate from a Baccalaureate Degree Nursing (BSN) program. The goal of these institutions is to have nurses with a broader array of skills that can meet the growing demands of our patient population. BSN prepared nurses are recognized for their well-rounded skills in critical thinking, management, case management and health promotion versus Associate Degree nurses (ADN)/Diploma nurses that focus on direct patient care.
The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the differences in the scope of practice between Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) and Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN) nurses. There are numerous variances and similarities identified. These variances will be explored to show distinction between the two educational preparedness expectations by the Board of Nurse Examiners (BON).
Nursing education encompasses a vast continuum. Within the undergraduate subdivision, there are two preparatory levels of nursing education: Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) and Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing (BSN). Although the underlying philosophies of patient-centered care and compassion remain consistent between both degree-levels, there are distinctions pertaining to clinical decision-making and care delivery. Major differences in competency of critical thinking and problem solving skills, evidence-based practice and clinical judgment, exist between nurses prepared at the associate-degree level and baccalaureate degree level, thus
160) Knowledge elevates the power of critical thinking. Critical thinking is very essential to work in areas such as Intensive Care Units, Emergency Care Units. Assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation are best done by a BSN than an ADN because of the power of critical thinking. The skills of critical thinking, better problem solving, and development of clinical judgment are important for increase patient acuity. Since BSN is better in critical thinking and evidence based practice, they lower mortality rate significantly. (Aiken, 2003)
The co-operative nursing assignment has given me the opportunity to use my critical thinking, decision-making, leadership, and clinical nursing expertise learned throughout the RN-BSN program. “The fostering of critical thinking as one of the terminal learning goals of nursing education based on the idea that critical thinking is important not only in the nursing workplace, but also in nursing education” (Shin, Jung, Shin & Kim, 2006, p. 233). My
Which is better, having an Associate Degree in Nursing versus a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing? This is a common question these days. Many people have a misunderstanding of the difference between the two. What is known is that the time it takes to get an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is shorter than the time is takes to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Also, after completing nursing school everyone sits for the same licensing exam, the NCLEX-RN. When considering the two degrees’ it’s important to consider training, skill level, patient outcomes, advancements and the future of nursing.
My response after reading the assigned articles is that I do feel like there is a positive relationship between the outcomes of patients who were provided care from nurses that were BSN prepared versus ASN prepared. Nurses who are BSN prepare develop a higher level of critical thinking, which is vital in promoting a more advanced level of patient care. Nurses also exhibiting a higher degree of critical thinking would be quicker to pick up on deteriorating patients, therefore would lead a decrease in hospital mortality rates. In addition, a nurse utilizing a higher degree of critical thinking would be quicker to initiate better patient care. I found that both of the studies provided similar evidence to support patients who are cared for
Is having a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing (BSN) better than an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)? Why should nurses get a BSN? Many nurses ask themselves these questions. Hospitals are pushing for nurses to advance their education. If there is an ADN nurse and BSN nurse applying for the same position most likely the BSN nurse will receive the job before the ADN nurse because “ the additional course work enhances the student’s professional development, prepares the new nurse for a broader scope of practice, and provides the nurse with a better understanding of the cultural, political, economic, and social issues that
Critical thinking and clinical judgment are important skills that professional nurses use in every day clinical setting. In 2012, a mix method qualitative study by Dr. Jeanne Mann was done to evaluate the effectiveness of educational strategy to develop clinical judgment skills in nursing students. In this study, the population was identified as volunteered Level II baccalaureate nursing students from a Midwest nursing program. The variables identified in this article are the relation between critical thinking and clinical judgment. The title of the article clearly indicated the focus of the study and created an interest in reading the research due to nurses utilize their ability to critical think and
Recent research has shown that hospitals and health care organizations that employ a higher number of bachelors prepared nurses see better patient outcomes as a result of the nurse having a greater capacity to practice (Impact of Education, n.d.). Studies have shown that bachelors prepared nurses practice more confidently and as a result can react faster to patient situations resulting in better outcomes (Impact of Education, n.d.). Also a bachelor’s prepared nurse is trained more extensively in “clinical, scientific, decision making, and humanistic skills, including preparation in community health, patient education, and nursing management and leadership” (Baccalaureate Degree, 2001) The education that patients get in how to care for themselves after leaving the hospital leads to better outcomes once they are gone and less recurrence of
Critical thinking is essential part of the nursing practice according to Ward and Morris in their article (2016). Nursing educators are discussed as trying to develop ways in which to teach critical thinking to nursing students (Ward & Morris, 2016). There is a gap between student success and their ability to critically think (Ward & Morris, 2016).
In the medical field, the main goal is to make a patient feel better than they did when they came into the hospital or clinic. According to Dorothea Orem “the interpersonal relationship between a nurse and a client contributes to the alleviation of the client's stress and that of the family, enabling the client and the family to act responsibly in matters of health” (2001). In order to maintain the goal and relationship, it is essential for any nurse to be able to critically think which will allow the focus to be on the main problem to be influential when making decisions on what to do next (Potter, Perry, Stockert, & Hall, 2015). Potter, Perry, Stockert, and Hall