Bachelor Degree Nursing Competency
Competencies Between Associates Degree Nursing and Bachelor Degree Nursing
Grand Canyon University: NRS 430 Professional Dynamics
Dana Noe
September 7, 2014
Competencies Between Associate Degrees
Nursing and Bachelor Degree Nursing
In this era there are many different kinds of registered nurses: diploma, associate degree (ADN) and baccalaureate degree (BSN). A diploma nurse will obtain schooling through a hospital-based program. An ADN is usually done in two years or less and is usually more affordable and without long waiting lists. The BSN is a four-year degree, more costly and is done at a university. After completing any of these three, the applicant will sit for National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). …show more content…
In this paper, only two of those degrees will be discussed: ADN and BSN.
This paper will also explore a patient care situation where nursing care may be different based on educational background (AND or BSN).
Education
Mildred Montag developed the ADN in 1952 and in 1958 the program was trialed in four different states with an outpour of people who had a desire to be a nurse. These programs multiplied in community colleges and also began to appear at 4-year colleges and universities. “By 1973 approximately 600 associate degree programs existed in the United States (Cresia & Frieberg, 2010, pg27).” According to Montag’s plan, ADN nurses were suppose to work under BSN nurses, but thanks to role confusion both types of nurses sat for the same licensure test and it never happened. An ADN degree is focused more on being at the bedside and lacks learning a lot of the history behind nursing. BSN programs began in 1909, and took five years to complete, two years education and three years nursing (Cresia & Frieberg, 2010). “Baccalaureate nursing programs encompass all of the course work taught in associate degree and diploma programs plus a more in-depth treatment of the physical and social sciences, …show more content…
nursing research, public and community health, nursing management, and the humanities. 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 affect patients and influence health care delivery (AACN, 2014)”. Having an option between different levels of nursing gives opportunities to better accommodate all. If one is a single parent trying to go back to school, income may be an issue, and a diploma or ADN may be more right for him or herself. Nursing annual income continues to rise which has made it more appealing as a career. “Nearly 57% of RNs today work in general medical and surgical hospitals where salaries average $60,970 per year. Salaries for new nurses are somewhat lower, but it is not uncommon to hear that new clinicians are offered salaries in the $45,000 to $50,000 range. Nurses with advanced practice preparation, including nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists, currently command salaries of $80,000 and upwards (ANA, 2014).”
Patient Care Situation Recently, I took care of a 57-year-old male who was newly diagnosed with lung cancer.
He was transported from a local hospital to my facility for difficulty breathing. Upon admission, he was short of breath, very confused and very lethargic. His vitals were stable upon admission and as the day continued I noted that he had a lot of urine in his collection bag, and that it had filled up pretty quickly. The doctor made his rounds, and we began to look through to see what the hospital had been given him so that the physician could order meds, and our patient could be more comfortable. The previous doctors history and physical report stated that the cancer had spread throughout the entire two left lobes and there was no oxygen exchange heard during physical. The patient received several liters of fluid before admission to hospice and he had told an ER nurse that his breathing felt worse. Going through this patient’s medicine use history showed that a rather large dose of Lasix was given and he was discharged right after. The patient was admitted to hospice at 1130am and passed away at four pm. With a BSN maybe I would have been better at assessing the patient and able to reverse some of the damage that had been done. A BSN may have given me those critical thinking skills so that he could’ve had more time with his wife and children instead of dying so soon.
Conclusion
Even though Registered Nurses complete the same tasks, some do carry more education then others. Does holding
a BSN make you more competent as a nurse? Research shows: ““A 10% increase in the proportion of nurses holding BSN degrees decreased the risk of patient death and failure to rescue by 5%.”( Aiken, L.H., Clarke, S.P., Cheung, R.B., Sloane, D.M., & Silber, J.H. 2008). A nurse with a BSN does have more education which could aid in better decisions.
References
Aiken, L.H., Clarke, S.P., Sloane, D.M., Lake, E.T., & Cheney, T. (2008). Effects of hospital
Care environment on patient mortality and nurse outcomes.
Journal of Nursing Administration, 38, 223–229.
American Association College of Nursing (AACN). (2014). The Impact of Education on Nursing Practice. (2014). Retrieved From: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/impact-of-education
American Nurses Association (ANA). (2014). Career Pathways in Nursing. (2014). Retrieved from: http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/CareerEntryPoints
Creasia, J. L., & Friberg, E. E. (2011). Conceptual foundations: The bridge to professional nursing practice (5th ed). [Pageburst]. Retrieved from: http://pageburst.elsevier.com
Grand Canyon University: NRS 430 Professional Dynamics
Dana Noe
September 7, 2014
Competencies Between Associate Degrees
Nursing and Bachelor Degree Nursing
In this era there are many different kinds of registered nurses: diploma, associate degree (ADN) and baccalaureate degree (BSN). A diploma nurse will obtain schooling through a hospital-based program. An ADN is usually done in two years or less and is usually more affordable and without long waiting lists. The BSN is a four-year degree, more costly and is done at a university. After completing any of these three, the applicant will sit for National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). …show more content…
In this paper, only two of those degrees will be discussed: ADN and BSN.
This paper will also explore a patient care situation where nursing care may be different based on educational background (AND or BSN).
Education
Mildred Montag developed the ADN in 1952 and in 1958 the program was trialed in four different states with an outpour of people who had a desire to be a nurse. These programs multiplied in community colleges and also began to appear at 4-year colleges and universities. “By 1973 approximately 600 associate degree programs existed in the United States (Cresia & Frieberg, 2010, pg27).” According to Montag’s plan, ADN nurses were suppose to work under BSN nurses, but thanks to role confusion both types of nurses sat for the same licensure test and it never happened. An ADN degree is focused more on being at the bedside and lacks learning a lot of the history behind nursing. BSN programs began in 1909, and took five years to complete, two years education and three years nursing (Cresia & Frieberg, 2010). “Baccalaureate nursing programs encompass all of the course work taught in associate degree and diploma programs plus a more in-depth treatment of the physical and social sciences, …show more content…
nursing research, public and community health, nursing management, and the humanities. 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 affect patients and influence health care delivery (AACN, 2014)”. Having an option between different levels of nursing gives opportunities to better accommodate all. If one is a single parent trying to go back to school, income may be an issue, and a diploma or ADN may be more right for him or herself. Nursing annual income continues to rise which has made it more appealing as a career. “Nearly 57% of RNs today work in general medical and surgical hospitals where salaries average $60,970 per year. Salaries for new nurses are somewhat lower, but it is not uncommon to hear that new clinicians are offered salaries in the $45,000 to $50,000 range. Nurses with advanced practice preparation, including nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists, currently command salaries of $80,000 and upwards (ANA, 2014).”
Patient Care Situation Recently, I took care of a 57-year-old male who was newly diagnosed with lung cancer.
He was transported from a local hospital to my facility for difficulty breathing. Upon admission, he was short of breath, very confused and very lethargic. His vitals were stable upon admission and as the day continued I noted that he had a lot of urine in his collection bag, and that it had filled up pretty quickly. The doctor made his rounds, and we began to look through to see what the hospital had been given him so that the physician could order meds, and our patient could be more comfortable. The previous doctors history and physical report stated that the cancer had spread throughout the entire two left lobes and there was no oxygen exchange heard during physical. The patient received several liters of fluid before admission to hospice and he had told an ER nurse that his breathing felt worse. Going through this patient’s medicine use history showed that a rather large dose of Lasix was given and he was discharged right after. The patient was admitted to hospice at 1130am and passed away at four pm. With a BSN maybe I would have been better at assessing the patient and able to reverse some of the damage that had been done. A BSN may have given me those critical thinking skills so that he could’ve had more time with his wife and children instead of dying so soon.
Conclusion
Even though Registered Nurses complete the same tasks, some do carry more education then others. Does holding
a BSN make you more competent as a nurse? Research shows: ““A 10% increase in the proportion of nurses holding BSN degrees decreased the risk of patient death and failure to rescue by 5%.”( Aiken, L.H., Clarke, S.P., Cheung, R.B., Sloane, D.M., & Silber, J.H. 2008). A nurse with a BSN does have more education which could aid in better decisions.
References
Aiken, L.H., Clarke, S.P., Sloane, D.M., Lake, E.T., & Cheney, T. (2008). Effects of hospital
Care environment on patient mortality and nurse outcomes.
Journal of Nursing Administration, 38, 223–229.
American Association College of Nursing (AACN). (2014). The Impact of Education on Nursing Practice. (2014). Retrieved From: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/impact-of-education
American Nurses Association (ANA). (2014). Career Pathways in Nursing. (2014). Retrieved from: http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/CareerEntryPoints
Creasia, J. L., & Friberg, E. E. (2011). Conceptual foundations: The bridge to professional nursing practice (5th ed). [Pageburst]. Retrieved from: http://pageburst.elsevier.com