Essay Comparing ADN To BSN

Grand Canyon University: RN to BSN

NRS 430 V – PROFESSIONAL DYNAMICS

09/22/2013
DIFFERENCES in COMPETENCIES - ADN VERSUS BSN NURSES

COMPETENCY COMPARISON of PROFESSIONAL ADN VERSUS ADVANCE PROFESSIONAL BSN

Nursing has continually evolved throughout time. From St. Benedict in 250 BC who initiated “The Benedictine Nursing Order” to Mildred Montag 1957-1994 with the development of “the Education of Nursing Technicians.” And, now, with nurses pursuing their advanced professional degrees from ADN to BSN we too are a part of this nursing evolution. As our world changes so must nursing to respond to the many demands of a continually evolving health care system and meet the changing needs of patients, nurses must achieve higher levels of education. It is not only that achieving a higher education would meet the needs of our patients, but, that it is the prudent path to take with differences being proven in lower mortality rates, fewer medication errors, and an increase in positive outcomes for our patients. In making the transition from ADN to BSN there are several competency differences.

PROFESSIONAL ADN

An ADN is an Associates Degree in Nursing is considered a 2 yr. degree. The ADN program is shorter, focuses on the clinical skills and is more tasks oriented than the BSN program. Once a nurse has
graduated they are eligible to test (NCLEX-RN) for licensure. Passing of the NCLEX-RN ensures that they have achieved minimum technical competency to safely enter graduate level nursing positions as a registered nurse in their field of practice. Entering into the field of nursing as an ADN nurse can be challenging. As an ADN nurse the decreased level of learned leadership skills, ethical decision-making, accountability, critical thinking, and effective communication has a direct effect in patient diagnosis, treatment, outcomes learned. This makes it difficult when a nurse is faced with assuming a lead position in a clinical setting. The confidence level of the ADN is less than that of a BSN due to the difference in the level of educational preparation of the nurse.

Many hospitals have begun supporting the movement toward hiring a higher level of healthcare staff, the BSN nurse, as opposed to the ADN nurse. When looking on many hospital websites you will find “BSN Preferred.” There are limited areas of practice open to ADN nurses through these employment searches. A majority of managerial positions and higher require a BSN or higher to be considered for the hiring process. Much of this standard for excellence can be attributed to the plans to achieve “Magnet Status” and the standards set by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) to obtain the standard. Supporting this increased requirement for standards is a growing body of evidence based on research connecting education to outcomes.

DIFFERENCES in COMPETENCIES - ADN VERSUS BSN NURSES

In an article published in Health Services Research in August 2008 that examined the effect of nursing practice environments on outcomes.
They found that nursing education level was significantly associated with patient outcomes. A nurse workforce in which a higher proportion of staff nurses had at least a baccalaureate-level education would result in substantially fewer adverse outcomes for patients by lowering mortality and failure-to-rescue rates. According to the 2008 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 36.1% of nurses earned an associates degree in
nursing.

ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL BSN A BSN program is a 4 year degree. This is achieved through the application of liberal arts contructs, science, health and nursing theories, and the values of Christian faith within the scope of nursing knowledge and evidence-based-practice. The program does not expand upon hands-on clinical skills but does incorporate clinical leadership skills with an emphasis on professionalism, ethical decision-making, accountability, critical thinking , and effective communication. Just as the ADN once a BSN nurse has graduated they are eligible to test (NCLEX-RN) for licensure. Passing of the NCLEX-RN ensures that they have achieved minimum technical competency to safely enter graduate level nursing positions as a registered nurse in their field of practice. Although a nurse has obtained her BSN there are still challenges. Applying what a nurse has learned in school about leadership can be very different in a diverse clinical setting of peers, patients and families. This prepares the BSN nurse with an increased level of confidence to assume the role of leadership.

Many employers have limited entry positions available and require that with the “Preferred BSN” or “BSN” minimum qualifications needed is 1yr. - 2yr. recent experience in the area of interest. When they begin working in their area of practice applying what they have learned in leadership, professionalism, ethical decision- making and accountability enables them to perform at an increased level of competence toward a successful outcome for both their employers and patients. According to the 2008 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 50.0% of nurses earned a baccalaureate or graduate degree.

The recommendations are to have an 80% baccalaureate prepared RN workforce by 2020 (IOM). With an increase in our aging population there is a need for additional nurses to provide for care for them. In order to meet these need nursing colleges and universities throughout the United States will need to increase there enrollments and
DIFFERENCES in COMPETENCIES - ADN VERSUS BSN NURSES

graduate teachers to fill these positions. Graduating BSN nurses will help with this process and improve the nursing profession in many other areas that can only benefit our patients after achieving this new standard of care.

PATIENT CARE SITUATION

While working as an oncology charge nurse years ago I was fortunate to work with many nurses with a wide range of experience. Some were associate degree nurses others were baccalaureate nurses. Oncology nurses, in general, are faced with many difficult and many times critical decisions on a daily basis. When working as a charge nurse I was often times depended upon to provide clinical orientation to our new hires. During this time it became obvious to me the educational difference in an ADN new graduate and a BSN new graduate. The notable difference was in the professionalism projected, confidence, willingness to participate in learning opportunities, ability to communicate effectively and document accordingly. The ADN nurses struggled with these tasks consistently while the BSN nurses were essentially autonomous from the very beginning of clinical orientation. It was during this time that I became aware of the importance in the additional education of the BSN to increase positive outcomes for both employers and patients.

REFERENCES

NRS430V.v10R.GrandCanyonUniversityCollegeofNursingPhilosophy_Student.docx

http://lc.gcumedia.com/zwebassets/courseMaterialPages/nrs430V_timeline.php

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/NursingWorkforce.pdf

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/NursingWorkforce.pdf

Aiken, L.H., Clarke, S.P., Sloane, D.M., Lake, E.T. & Cheney, T. (2008, May). Effects of

hospital care environment on patient mortality and nurse outcomes. Journal of Nursing Administration, 38(5), 223-229.

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2009). 2008-2009 Enrollment and

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