Preview

Why a BSN is the future over ADN

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1027 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Why a BSN is the future over ADN
Why a BSN is the future over ADN
Jeffrey Parker
Grand Canyon University
NRS-430V-O104
August 31, 2013

Associate -Degree Versus the Baccalaureate - degree level in nursing
My theory is that the more education a nurse has the better he/she can be at their job of taking care of patient as a whole and on a complex level.
To obtain a Nursing Degree one can start at the LVN or go all the way to a PHD in nursing. This paper will focus on the abilities or competencies of a prepared Associate Degree nurse, and the abilities or competencies of a Baccalaureate Degree Nurse. This is a hot topic now and has been for many years. I have been hearing for many years that ADN will be phased out, and only BSN will be used in the future. The time period in which to mandate this event is governed differently by the state where the nurse works. There are catchy phrases out there like BNS in 10, or BSN by 2020. “As of 2010, at least 18 states, including New York, New Jersey, were considering BSN in 10 legislation.” (nursing link 2011, 07.)
The first step is to define nursing. “Nursing is the knowledge based discipline, which focuses on the wholeness of human being.” (studymode, 2012,02.) The ADN nurse and BSN take a different approach in teaching their students. They both take the same state mandated NCLEX, but have a different time of training. “The Associated Degree takes a shorter path of two years where the BSN takes a longer with 4 years of education to complete the degree.” (studymode, 2012,02.) Now to break this down and let you know the difference of a 2 and 4 year nursing program. The Associate trained nurse is more task oriented, while the BSN is based on theory and research. I having a diploma hospital based program spent 4 or more days in the hospital setting, but my wife has her BSN and she tells me she usually only spent 1 or 1.5 days at the hospital. I see this now also, where I work we see the Associate nurses more than the BSN students. The clinical



References: Fink, J. (2011, 07 11). 6 reasons to get a BSN. Retrieved from nursinglink.monster.com/education/articles/3542-6-reasons-to-get-a-bsn?print+=true. Marybabu. (2012, 02). Bsn vs Associate Degree in Nursing. Retrieved from studymode.com/essays/Bsn-Vs-Associate-Degree-In-Nursing . Medicine, I. o. (2010). The Future of Nursing. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. PÉREZ-PEÑA, R. (2012, 06 23). Why a BSN? The New York Times, pp. 1-2. Rosseter, R. (2012, 10 24). American Association of nursing Creating a More Highly Qualified Nursing Workforce. Retrieved from www.accn.nche.edu/media-relation/facts-sheets/nursing-workforce. Smoothieshah. (2012, 08 30). Difference between adn and bsn nurses. Retrieved from studymode.com/essy/Differences-between-adn-and-bsn.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Adn vs Bsn - Differences

    • 1246 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In the late 1850s Florence Nightingale started her own school to train nurses and developed standards by which nurses performed their duties. She may never have envisioned that one day there would be different educational tracks resulting in multiple degrees and disciplines in nursing, each having their own set of criteria for excellence. Associate degree nurse (ADN) and baccalaureate degree nurse (BSN) are the two most common entry level nursing positions. An ADN can be obtained in two or three years whereas the BSN takes four years of education to complete due to additional courses. Differences between the degrees begin with education and mature as the nurse gains experience.…

    • 1246 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    After a registered nurse is able to get his/her BSN he/she has many more opportunities in the field of nursing. For the nurse who does not know if they want to get their BSN, the biggest question for them would be “where do you see yourself in the next five to ten years?” It is important for the nurse to visualize where his or her career path is headed, working in a skilled nursing facility or possibly being the director of nursing in that facility. The nurse with the BSN can choose whether they want to be a nurse limited to patient care or a nurse that has the option of transitioning into management or…

    • 872 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Before designating the differences between the baccalaureate degree prepared nurse and associate degree prepared nurses it is important to examine their similarities. Both ADN and BSN nurses take the same licensure exam, the National Council Licensure EXamination, and both receive the same license upon passing the licensure exam. Adding to that both must go through rigorous training prior to providing patient care. The BSN and ADN nurse both assist in determining the health status and needs of clients (Arlington, 2003). Nonetheless though there are similarities there are also many differences. Baccalaureate nurses receive more education. On top of the typical nursing school course work, BSN students must also take courses in theory, community health, research, and management. This additional education has proven to provide baccalaureate prepared nurses with increased critical thinking skills, lower mortality rates, and greater leadership skills. On the other hand, ADN programs “...consist of a balance between general education and clinical nursing courses” (Creasia, 2011). Associate degree nurses enter the workforce prepared for technical and secondary care settings. Given the differences and…

    • 313 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Adn vs. Bsn

    • 979 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Rosseter, R. (2012, 10 24). The impact of education on nursing practice. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/impact-of-education…

    • 979 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    According to Dr. Christopher and colleagues in Health Services Research (2008). Nursing education level has significantly associated with patient outcomes. Nurses that are prepared at the baccalaureate level have a lower mortality rate than nurses that are prepared at the ADN level. A nurse workforce in which a higher…

    • 896 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bsn vs Adn

    • 964 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Nursing is an evidence based practice, and in order for this type of practice to function effectively, research has to be conducted so that people can receive the best care possible. Several studies have been conducted to prove the superiority of BSN over ADN graduates. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing put together a fact sheet entitled, “Creating a More Highly Qualified Nursing Workforce”. This fact sheet contained data on studies performed to look into the effectiveness of higher educated nurses. In the October 2012 issue of Medical Care, researchers from the…

    • 964 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Nurses that acquire an associate degree do not have the extent of education in their 2 year course of study as opposed to the nurse holding a BSN with a 4 year course of study. The associate level degree nurse is trained as a more technical nurse as where the “baccalaureate prepared nurse is trained to incorporate roles of assessing, critical thinking, communication, providing care, teaching and leading” ("GCU college of Nursing Philosophy," 2011, p. 2). However, they both sit for the same licensing examination test, the NCLEX. “The NCLX test for minimum technical competency for safe entry into basic nursing practice. This exam does not test for…

    • 905 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    ADN VS.BSN Degree

    • 815 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The ADN is a two-year program that provides individuals the opportunity to provide entry level nursing care under the title Registered Nurse. Its initial purpose during the 1950s was to temporarily fill the nursing shortage gap after World War II. Nurses prepared at the Associate-degree level are expected to develop competence in safe and effective patient care including delegation and patient teaching. Today, ADN programs have grown exponentially across the nation and have become integrated in the curriculum of community colleges all over the U.S. The standard BSN program is typically 4 years in length and it exposes the student to evidence- based research, theory and science. While nurses prepared at the baccalaureate level are expected to provide the same competent care as an ADN prepared nurse, they are also required to integrate knowledge beyond the scope of the individual into practice. This requires an increased focus on critical thinking (Grand Canyon University, 2011). It is this increased focus on critical thinking and evidence- based approach that helped boost positive patient outcomes.…

    • 815 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    ADN Vs BSN Research Paper

    • 1174 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Abilities to deliver the most safe, total proficient and excellence of care to different groups in healthcare. Due to many actions and modifications in healthcare role of nurses is transformed. Nurses have to be competent to make critical decisions, information, educate and coordinate with patients their families and other health care professionals, and they have to perform research to make progress in nursing and patient care consequences. There are four main causes which define the differences in competencies between associate degree prepared nurses and baccalaureate degree prepared nurses. These causes are course curriculum, time frame, education, job opportunities and cost.ADN programs are two to three years long and can be taken in community college or junior college .they also require prerequisites to join the program, while BSN programs are four years long and are provided by colleges and universities. They also require many prerequisites to…

    • 1174 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rn vs Bsn

    • 669 Words
    • 3 Pages

    MINIMUM EDUCATION FOR NURSES: ADN VS. BSN Minimum Education for Nurses: ADN vs. BSN The debate over the minimum required education for nurses has been one that has gone on for much time now. There are many reasons that one would argue for one degree or the other, however, ADN programs across the country have been the primary source of education for the majority of nurses for some time now. Many argue that a bachelor’s degree should be required in order for a nurse to begin practicing. Some feel that completing this degree gives the nurse the well-rounded education that many other professions require while others feel that nursing is a unique profession which requires specific education related to the nursing practice and, therefore, does not necessarily require the extensive general education needed in many other career fields. “Donley and Flaherty (2008), while supporting the BSN entry requirement, argued that there is a need for more research and dialogue about the amount, type, and measurement of clinical work, adding that these studies are needed in order to make better informed decisions concerning professional legislation, accreditation, certification, education, healthcare outcomes, and future-oriented career ladders.”(Smith, 2009). Requiring a bachelor’s degree for entry into the nursing profession creates a socioeconomic bias, and therefore, prejudice to some degree. Those who decide to be nurses are many times in the lower middle class. They are looking for a way to get an education in a couple of years so that they can support their families and requiring a BSN would mean poverty for many of them. Nursing programs are very intense and in order to succeed, it is not recommended that the student work full-time while attending. This also compounds the financial strain on the student and his/her family. Bachelor’s degrees also cost thousands of dollars, which most people without formal educations…

    • 669 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    College Vs BSN

    • 248 Words
    • 1 Page

    When comparing an associate’s degree in nursing to a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing one can think they are very similar, which they are, however they do have their differences. For instance, to retrieve an ADN you are only required about two to three years of college vs. a BSN that has a minimum four-year college requirement including all core classes. Although the length of education is different they both lead to becoming a registered nurse. Both degrees have similar core classes and courses offered throughout the learning process, however, a BSN covers more than the basics such as; nursing theory, research, and informatics. The starting rate in the medical field is about the same for both degrees, but, a student with a BSN has an…

    • 248 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are three educational pathways one may take in order to become a registered nurse. Students may attend a college offering an associate’s degree in nursing, ADN, or a bachelor’s degree in nursing, BSN, or they may become a diploma nurse. Completion of one of these programs allows a student to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses, the NCLEX, which tests students at what has been determined to be the safe minimum competency to become a new graduate nurse (Creasia, PHD, RN & Friberg, DNP, RN, 2011). There has been controversy over which program creates the best nurses. Many individuals and groups including hospitals, committees, and various organizations feel that in order for nurses to deliver the highest standard of care, it is imperative they become highly educated with a baccalaureate degree (Rosseter, 2012).…

    • 795 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    One of the topics discussed in this report is the future of nursing education. The changes being made to our country’s healthcare system must include changes in nursing education prior to licensing and post license practicing nurses. With this change comes the need for a larger amount of nurses entering the workforce to have a bachelor’s degree or obtain it very early in the career. This report states that nurses must be adequately trained to care for a diverse population and to provide all patients safe and quality care and to perform as a leader. Nurses also must be prepared to care for patients in different care settings, such as, community and public health settings. The baccalaureate nurse receives this education whereas an associate’s degree nurse does not. Nurses should continue to educate themselves throughout the career with physicians and other healthcare professionals. A better educated nurse leads to better education for the patient thus possibly keeping them from an…

    • 796 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    BSN Degrees

    • 754 Words
    • 4 Pages

    What is the difference between nurses prepared as an Associates Degree Nurse (ADN) and nurses prepared with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree? Both nurses have a formal education. After graduating from their programs, they are both required to take the NCLEX-RN licensing exam. However, BSN nurses are better critical thinkers, have better leadership and mentoring skills, and are more prepared to meet the increasing demands placed on nurses today.…

    • 754 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This paper’s the focus will be on the differences in associate degree nursing (ADN and baccalaureate in nursing (BSN) competencies, based on educational preparation. Highly qualified nurses are required by most of the health care system, in the United States (US) Magnet hospitals, have require all nurse managers and nurses leaders to hold a baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing by 2013. (Citation). This writer intents to analyze similarities and differences between ADN and BSN degrees, the ADN is an attractive option for many, due to shortened program, time and the reduce tuition rate; baccalaureate nursing program have additional classes in humanities, sciences and expanded nursing coursework. Additional classes in community health nursing, nursing management and research enables the BSN nurse to be prepared for broader scope of practice (citation). By the end of this paper the reader we will be able to differentiate the two educational levels based on a patient care scenario, which demonstrates why higher education is recommended for nurses.…

    • 673 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays