Registered Nurse
The health care system relies on all levels and skills of a Registered Nurse (RN), to meet the high demands and increasing needs in health care. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow 26 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations”, and go on to say “registered nurses with at least a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) will have better job prospects than those without one” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012-2013). To become a registered nurse, you have three pathways, all of which sit for the same NCLEX-RN board: a three year diploma program, a three year associate degree, or a four year bachelor degree in nursing (American Association of Colleges of Nursing,
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2012).
The Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is described as a program that gives you the knowledge and skills necessary through simulation labs, and clinical experiences to become a registered nurse (College America, 2012). Although the ADN and BSN may prepare you clinically for the role as a RN, the BSN includes nursing leadership, social and physical sciences, management, and humanities behind nursing (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2012). What are the different competencies between an RN holding an associate’s degree versus a RN holding a Bachelor degree? This question has been a topic of debate for many years. BSN graduates have a better knowledge of not just hands-on clinical care, but leadership, advocacy, research study, and comprehensive patient care (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2012). Like any higher education, the more you learn, the more you know. Bachelor level degrees are being associated with a decreased mortality rate in acute care settings, and better overall outcomes of patient care (American Nurses Associate, 2013). With the increase and shift in the demands of nursing and more complex care, RNs need to be more educated and able to meet the needs of the population. The Institute of Medicine (2010) states “emerging new competencies in decision making, quality improvement, systems thinking, and team leadership must become part of every nurse’s professional formation”. The committee projects by 2020, 80 percent of all nurses will hold a bachelor degree (Institute of Medicine. 2010). ADN and BSN nurses are still held to a high education standard. Both degrees are required to assess a patient, provide skills learned during clinicals, educate the patient and family, and provide care and compassion. The BSN nurse may make better critical thinking decisions, and be able to assess a patient more in depth. As nurses, we are required to work side by side with some of the most educated professionals, and be able to assist in emergency responses, so it should be only logical that nurses must have close to the same level of education (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2012). As a nurse continuing my education toward a bachelor degree, I understand that the need for more knowledge and theory behind nursing is very important.
I had an experience that helped make my decision to go back to school clear. While transferring a patient to her car following an outpatient surgery, she began to complain of chest pain and shortness of breath. At first I thought maybe she was having a little anxiety, which she had a history of, but soon realized it was getting worse. I quickly brought the patient back to the post operative area and hooked her up to the monitor. Her blood pressure was normal, oxygen stat 98% on room air, but I noticed her heart rate was elevated from her rate before discharge. I offered her some water and had her lay down, but still thinking she was experiencing some anxiety. I did a quick assessment and did not see anything else wrong, but she was still complaining of chest pain. I quickly called another nurse (BSN-RN) to the bedside. She took a deeper look into the patient’s history and physical and did a thorough assessment. She looked over all the medications the patient took and started asking questions. Come to find out, the patient often experienced as she called “flutters in her chest”. The nurse quickly called for the 12-lead monitor to get a better reading of her heart rhythm. Only one minute went by, and the patient quickly worsened and was showing signs of distress. After hooking up to a 12-lead we saw that the patient’s heart rhythm had worsened. The nurse holding her BSN took control of the situation, called for the doctor, and we soon had the patient transported to the hospital. Further report on the patient, at the hospital, showed she experienced a small myocardial infarction. Even though I thought I was prepared and had asked all the questions as the other nurse, I did not go in depth. Watching how she reacted to the situation proved she was educated at higher degree. I was thankful that day to
have someone to count on.
I believe that the RN should possess a higher education as they progress in their fields. RN’s rely everyday on Certified Nurse Assistants and Licensed Practical Nurses, so it should be in the same chain of command for the RN to look up to the BSN for higher knowledge and leadership. I see the future of nursing changing and feel that nurses holding an associate degree will still be in high demand, but nurses holding bachelor degrees will be the ones holding higher level jobs. Having a higher degree does not only help with the skills and knowledge on the job, but as you progress in nursing you have more opportunities in the health care field (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2012).
References
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2012). Fact sheet: creating a more highly qualified nursing workforce. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/impact-of-education
American Nurses Associate. (2013). Nursing education. Retrieved from http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/Policy-Advocacy/State/Legislative-Agenda-Reports/NursingEducation
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. (2012-13). Edition, Registered Nurses. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
College America. (2012). Nursing associate degree. Retrieved from http://www.collegeamerica.edu/healthcare/associates/nursing
Institute of Medicine. (2010). The future of nursing. Retrieved from http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2010/The-Future-of-Nursing/Nursing%20Education%202010%20Brief.pdf
2012).
The Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is described as a program that gives you the knowledge and skills necessary through simulation labs, and clinical experiences to become a registered nurse (College America, 2012). Although the ADN and BSN may prepare you clinically for the role as a RN, the BSN includes nursing leadership, social and physical sciences, management, and humanities behind nursing (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2012). What are the different competencies between an RN holding an associate’s degree versus a RN holding a Bachelor degree? This question has been a topic of debate for many years. BSN graduates have a better knowledge of not just hands-on clinical care, but leadership, advocacy, research study, and comprehensive patient care (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2012). Like any higher education, the more you learn, the more you know. Bachelor level degrees are being associated with a decreased mortality rate in acute care settings, and better overall outcomes of patient care (American Nurses Associate, 2013). With the increase and shift in the demands of nursing and more complex care, RNs need to be more educated and able to meet the needs of the population. The Institute of Medicine (2010) states “emerging new competencies in decision making, quality improvement, systems thinking, and team leadership must become part of every nurse’s professional formation”. The committee projects by 2020, 80 percent of all nurses will hold a bachelor degree (Institute of Medicine. 2010). ADN and BSN nurses are still held to a high education standard. Both degrees are required to assess a patient, provide skills learned during clinicals, educate the patient and family, and provide care and compassion. The BSN nurse may make better critical thinking decisions, and be able to assess a patient more in depth. As nurses, we are required to work side by side with some of the most educated professionals, and be able to assist in emergency responses, so it should be only logical that nurses must have close to the same level of education (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2012). As a nurse continuing my education toward a bachelor degree, I understand that the need for more knowledge and theory behind nursing is very important.
I had an experience that helped make my decision to go back to school clear. While transferring a patient to her car following an outpatient surgery, she began to complain of chest pain and shortness of breath. At first I thought maybe she was having a little anxiety, which she had a history of, but soon realized it was getting worse. I quickly brought the patient back to the post operative area and hooked her up to the monitor. Her blood pressure was normal, oxygen stat 98% on room air, but I noticed her heart rate was elevated from her rate before discharge. I offered her some water and had her lay down, but still thinking she was experiencing some anxiety. I did a quick assessment and did not see anything else wrong, but she was still complaining of chest pain. I quickly called another nurse (BSN-RN) to the bedside. She took a deeper look into the patient’s history and physical and did a thorough assessment. She looked over all the medications the patient took and started asking questions. Come to find out, the patient often experienced as she called “flutters in her chest”. The nurse quickly called for the 12-lead monitor to get a better reading of her heart rhythm. Only one minute went by, and the patient quickly worsened and was showing signs of distress. After hooking up to a 12-lead we saw that the patient’s heart rhythm had worsened. The nurse holding her BSN took control of the situation, called for the doctor, and we soon had the patient transported to the hospital. Further report on the patient, at the hospital, showed she experienced a small myocardial infarction. Even though I thought I was prepared and had asked all the questions as the other nurse, I did not go in depth. Watching how she reacted to the situation proved she was educated at higher degree. I was thankful that day to
have someone to count on.
I believe that the RN should possess a higher education as they progress in their fields. RN’s rely everyday on Certified Nurse Assistants and Licensed Practical Nurses, so it should be in the same chain of command for the RN to look up to the BSN for higher knowledge and leadership. I see the future of nursing changing and feel that nurses holding an associate degree will still be in high demand, but nurses holding bachelor degrees will be the ones holding higher level jobs. Having a higher degree does not only help with the skills and knowledge on the job, but as you progress in nursing you have more opportunities in the health care field (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2012).
References
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2012). Fact sheet: creating a more highly qualified nursing workforce. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/impact-of-education
American Nurses Associate. (2013). Nursing education. Retrieved from http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/Policy-Advocacy/State/Legislative-Agenda-Reports/NursingEducation
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. (2012-13). Edition, Registered Nurses. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
College America. (2012). Nursing associate degree. Retrieved from http://www.collegeamerica.edu/healthcare/associates/nursing
Institute of Medicine. (2010). The future of nursing. Retrieved from http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2010/The-Future-of-Nursing/Nursing%20Education%202010%20Brief.pdf