Summary: Competencies Of Associate Degree Nurses

Title: Competencies of Associate Degree Nurses and Baccalaureate Degree Nurses
Name: Sejal Amin
Grand Canyon University: NRS-430V Professional Dynamics
October 5, 2014

The importance of education is very critical with the evolving health care system and when caring for another human being. Differentiating between an ADN and BSN nursing degree will give us a better and clear perspective. The National Council of State Board of Nursing (NCSBN, 2005) define Nursing competency as the “application of knowledge, interpersonal decision-making and psychomotor skills expected for the practice role within the context of public health” (p.70). The Board of Nursing focuses on entry level practice and competency to meet minimal entry level standards.
It takes two years to complete the program and less expensive than the BSN program. Nurses are prepared for an entry level positions in their field/profession. They are taught to provide safe competent care in comprehensive ways. In 1951 Mildred Montag came up with an Associate degree program that gave an opportunity to many people including men, married women with children and older people for nursing as their career. This program was very successful and helped decrease the shortage of Nurses in 1970’s and 1980’s. The Associate degree programs are the major point of entry into nursing today and it prepares the nurse for an entry level jobs at hospitals and any health care settings. Nurses with ADN degree coordinates, assesses and communicates with patients and their families, collaborates with health care team, advocates for the patient, evaluates the patient and the situation, delegates tasks to other health care team members and maintains confidentiality. They focus more on the welfare of the patient and patient’s
It takes four years to complete the program which includes pre-requisites. The courses are based on research, theories and informatics (field of study that examines how nurses use technology). BSN programs came into effect when people started to ask questions about the nature of nursing, its mission, goals and scope of nurse’s role. BSN degree gives nurses an increase opportunity to apply for advance positions in their field. The nurses are prepared at a more higher level of education with advanced clinical practice. It also prepares the nurse for broader scope of practice. Nurses with BSN degree coordinate, communicate, collaborate with the patient and their families, populations and communities. They use multiple referral resources, have strong management, leadership skills and critical thinking skills. They analyze the patient, patient’s family, population and communities. They also delegate task to other health care team members and maintain confidentiality. The focus of a nurse with BSN degree is not only on the patient but also on patient’s family, community and organization as a whole. They have a broader view of the outcome and expectations. With a BSN nurse the quality of patient care increases and with a decrease in mortality rate of patients. The outcome of patient care is better with more satisfaction because of the nurses’ education level. “Today there is an increase demand for nurses with BSN degree because it