THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BSN AND ASSOCIATES-DEGREE IN NURSING.
With the complexity of the disease process and the technology that we have today in the nursing field, it is important to have more educated nurses in our facility. We are gearing to the magnet status in every hospital wherein we are being recognized for nursing excellence and good patient outcome. “In the statement titled Education Advancement of Registered Nurses, the Tri-Council organizations present a united view that a more highly educated nursing workforce is critical to meeting the nation’s nursing needs and delivering safe, effective patient care. In the policy statement, the
Tri-Council finds that “without a more educated nursing workforce, the nation
's health will be further at risk.” “("Tri-Council for Nursing," 2010, p. 3)
The Associate Degree graduates can take the licensure exam after they finished the ADN program. This will take two years to finish the course. Tuition fee varies in different schools but still lower than the BSN. On the other hand, the BSN program is a four year course program. The matriculation fee is higher than the ADN. Baccalaureate and Associate Degree in Nursing opens the same door to healthcare system as long as you meet all the requirements to seat and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Both ADN and BSN will seat in the same kind of examination.
“In 1980, slightly fewer than 20% of RNs were educated in either ADN or BSN programs. This has changed over time: The ADN has become the preferred pathway to the profession.” (Fulcher & Mullen, 2011, p. 6)
What do we really contribute to the healthcare system being a nurse with associate degree and a nurse with bachelor degree? With the trend in nursing today, everybody should continue their education until they have bachelor degree in nursing. The technology in nursing keeps on advocating progress to make patient care safer, and productive. Everything is being computerized that needed more education for its functionality. Policy and procedure needed to be revisited by educator in the hospital.
References
Creating a More HighlyQualified Nursing Workforce. (2010). Retrieved April 3, 2013, from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education-resources/TricouncilEdStatement.pdf