References: Aiken, L. H. (2003). Educational Levels of Hospital Nurses and Surgical Patient Mortality. Journal of the American Medical Association. 290(12):1617- 1623. doi:10.1001/jama 290.121617…
One study found that, independent of staffing and the environment, a 10% increase of BSN-educated nurses decreases the odds of patient’s dying by 4% (Ward-Smith 2012). There are many studies published that show hospitals that invest in baccalaureate prepared nurses have lower odds of patient’s deaths after surgery and lower odds of failure to rescue. Other studies have shown that hospitals that employ a higher percentage of baccalaureate nurses had a reduction in congestive heart failure mortality, decubitus ulcers, post operatively deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism and a decreased length of stay (AACN 2013). These studies show that a more educated nursing workforce is needed in order to provide the finest care possible for their patients and their families. This will aid in less medication errors, fewer falls and a decrease in mortality…
According to Dr. Christopher and colleagues in Health Services Research (2008). Nursing education level has significantly associated with patient outcomes. Nurses that are prepared at the baccalaureate level have a lower mortality rate than nurses that are prepared at the ADN level. A nurse workforce in which a higher…
Nursing is an evidence based practice, and in order for this type of practice to function effectively, research has to be conducted so that people can receive the best care possible. Several studies have been conducted to prove the superiority of BSN over ADN graduates. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing put together a fact sheet entitled, “Creating a More Highly Qualified Nursing Workforce”. This fact sheet contained data on studies performed to look into the effectiveness of higher educated nurses. In the October 2012 issue of Medical Care, researchers from the…
The real difference with furthered education is leadership skills and the additional skill of using researching to lead change. At the entry level position there is not much difference between the ADN and the BSN. However, because of the different coursework “the BSN programs provide nurses an expanded world view and increased critical thinking skills.” (Starr, 2010). These increased skills are exemplified by increased patient outcomes. Other advantages in obtaining the BSN is that it creates an increased ability advance in their nursing career. Nurses have a large presence in the health care system, and play a huge role in patient care and outcomes. With increased education nurses are able to expand on their knowledge and are able to have voice in the health care system among the other professional…
The ADN is a two-year program that provides individuals the opportunity to provide entry level nursing care under the title Registered Nurse. Its initial purpose during the 1950s was to temporarily fill the nursing shortage gap after World War II. Nurses prepared at the Associate-degree level are expected to develop competence in safe and effective patient care including delegation and patient teaching. Today, ADN programs have grown exponentially across the nation and have become integrated in the curriculum of community colleges all over the U.S. The standard BSN program is typically 4 years in length and it exposes the student to evidence- based research, theory and science. While nurses prepared at the baccalaureate level are expected to provide the same competent care as an ADN prepared nurse, they are also required to integrate knowledge beyond the scope of the individual into practice. This requires an increased focus on critical thinking (Grand Canyon University, 2011). It is this increased focus on critical thinking and evidence- based approach that helped boost positive patient outcomes.…
The BSN completes their four years of education at the University level training is more focused on patient outcomes and nursing theories. Receiving more theoretical training they are better prepared for management. Also multiple studies show that due to their assessing, critical thinking,communication, leadership, case management, health promotion and their ability to practice across a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings the BSN trained RN has a lower mortality rate and better survival rates for patient resuscitation. (AACN…
Some studies have shown that higher qualified and educated nurses such as those with a BSN degree, produce better patient outcomes. A study of Magnet hospitals in Pennsylvania which employed more BSN nurses, had a lower rate of inpatient deaths within a 30 day period and lower odds of failure-to-rescue compared to non-magnet hospitals with more less educated ADN nurses.…
One of the topics discussed in this report is the future of nursing education. The changes being made to our country’s healthcare system must include changes in nursing education prior to licensing and post license practicing nurses. With this change comes the need for a larger amount of nurses entering the workforce to have a bachelor’s degree or obtain it very early in the career. This report states that nurses must be adequately trained to care for a diverse population and to provide all patients safe and quality care and to perform as a leader. Nurses also must be prepared to care for patients in different care settings, such as, community and public health settings. The baccalaureate nurse receives this education whereas an associate’s degree nurse does not. Nurses should continue to educate themselves throughout the career with physicians and other healthcare professionals. A better educated nurse leads to better education for the patient thus possibly keeping them from an…
The educational levels of the ADN and the BSN differ drastically, they can last anywhere from two to four years in length and focus on many different aspects of the nursing profession, but they all are geared toward the same outcome, optimal care of the patient. In the two year ADN program, the RN is focused on hands on skills. It focuses on the RN mastering the technical part of the profession. In other words it is focused on direct, hands on patient care. Not too much attention is focused on the theoretical or scientific background. “The intent was the nurses with associate degrees would work under the direction of the nurses with the bachelor’s degrees” (Conceptual Foundations, 2011). These nurses were meant for bedside nursing role in the profession.…
By having the theory of disease process, understanding of history within nursing, and in depth patient care, BSNs have an advantage over associate degree nurses. In February 2013, an analysis of 21 University hospitals was done by Mary Blegen and colleagues for the Journal of Nursing Administration. This study looked at the association between RN education and patient outcomes. “The researchers found that hospitals with a higher percentage of RNs with baccalaureate or higher degrees had lower congestive heart failure mortality, decubitus ulcers, failure to rescue, and postoperative deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism and shorter length of stay.” (Baccalaureate Education in Nursing and Patient Outcomes, 43(2), 89-94) This study found that the nursing practices of advanced degree nurses promoted health greater than those without an advanced…
REALITY OF BECOMING A NICU RN MACKENZIE VANDERFELTZ 12/15/2014 INTRODUCTION Everyone deserves a chance at life. My goal in life is to hear someone say, “Thank you for giving my baby a chance at life”. I believe that becoming a NICU RN will fulfill that goal.…
Recently new legislatures are being proposed to states House of Delegates requiring nurses to obtain their BSN degree within 10 years of graduation from an ADN program. A recent article by Robert J. Rossester, Creating a More Highly Qualified Nursing Workforce, where he presented facts that nurses with a BSN degree are better qualified as nurses, even though and ADN nurse sit for the same NCLEX-RN exam. However the NCLEX-RN exam was only created to demonstrate a new graduate nurse was competent to provide safe minimal patient care. It has been argued that the only thing different between an ADN and a BSN, is that BSN contain “nursing theory”. For the purpose of this paper, the history, competency of each nursing program will be explored and the different practice of nursing care for an ICU patient.…
Nursing is a knowledge based discipline, which focuses on the wholeness of human being. (Faucett, 1933.) As per definition nurses are playing great role in modern medicine, either with an associate degree or as bachelor of nursing degree. Both, with the same licensure, the Registered Nurse. Nurse. The Associate dDegree nNurse(ADN) takes a shorter path of two years where the BSN takes longer one with 4 years of education to complete the degree. When we compare the data collected by various groups of nursing professionals, it is evident that the mortality rate, medication errors and patient…
BSN graduates bring exceptional skills to their work as nursing clinicians and play an important role in the safe patient care. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found that surgical patients in Magnet hospitals had 14% lower chances of inpatient death within 30 days and 12% lower chances of failure-to-rescue compared with patients cared for in non-Magnet hospitals. These study states that these effects were creditedin large part to investments in highly qualified and educated nurses.Studies have also found that baccalaureate nurses have stronger communication and problem solving skills and a higher ability to make nursing diagnoses and for nursing interventions. The federal government, the military, nurse executives, health care foundations, nursing organizations, and practice settings recognize the exceptional value of baccalaureate-prepared nurses and advocate for an increase in the number of BSN nurses across clinical settings.…