The national shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs) has helped generate formidable interest in the nursing profession among people entering the workforce and those pursuing a career change. According to a report issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service in 2002, the national population is continuing to grow and age and medical services continue to advance, so the need for nurses will continue to increase. They report from 2000 to 2020 the predicted shortage of nurses is expected to grow to 29 percent, compared to a 6 percent shortage in 2000. With the projected supply, demand, and shortage of registered nurses and nursing salaries ever-increasing, the nursing profession can offer countless opportunities. But first one must determine which educational path to pursue, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Associate Degree in nursing (ADN). Most will initially be educated at the associate degree level, even though the American Organization of Nursing Executives (AONE) has recommended a baccalaureate level as a minimal for entry-level nurses. With the expanding number of RN to BSN programs available there is always the option to further one’s education at a later date. The benefits for acquiring a BSN over an ADN include a better knowledge for evidence-based practice, an increased advantage for promotion, and the necessary gateway for higher education.
Higher education is a highly encouraged aspect in today’s society. The higher degree a person has, the more knowledgeable they are said to be. The education and degree that a registered nurse acquires affects not only the nurse, but their patients and their fellow coworkers as well. It is crucial to consider how different education levels of registered nurses will impact the patients, the nurse, the medical field, and the view on nurses as a whole. A nurse with a BSN rather than an ADN could perhaps provide more knowledgeable care that is consistent with the advances of today’s society. With our society and technologies always advancing and changing, it is safe to assume that a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree should be the required level of education for a registered nurse.
What images come to mind when you hear the word “professional”? Many people think of business suits and offices at the top of tall buildings overlooking a city, but is this the true meaning of professionalism? What does professionalism look like in the health care system, and more specifically, what does professionalism look like in the role of the nurse? Cherry and Jacob’s “Contemporary Nursing” (2017) lists the professional nursing roles as: “care provider, educator and counselor, client advocate, change agent, leader and manager, researcher, and coordinator of the interprofessional healthcare team" (p. 406). We will discuss professionalism as it relates to nursing education as well as the field of nursing.
Professionalism in Nursing
There are many careers in which professionalism is important and nursing is one of those careers. There are many components that make up professionalism and there are different ways to display it in nursing. Values, both personal and career, define what is expected in the nursing occupation. It is important to understand the definition of professionalism and how to apply it to the workplace.
The development of ADN programs has allowed many to reach their career goals by offering a shorter and less expensive way to complete their degrees. Some believe that Associate’s degree programs lack strong nursing theory and understanding of the actual science of nursing (Auerbach, Buerhaus & Staiger,
Taylor, D. L. (2008). Should the Entry Into Nursing Practice be the Baccalaureate Degree? AORN Journal, 87(3), 611-619.
However, the differences become apparent when we consider nursing beyond the fundamental level. Baccalaureate programs provide students with a greater understanding through theories that provide both a psychosocial and physiological outlook, and an ability to provide care beyond the patient to include a broader scope of family, the community, and diverse populations (Hooper, 2012). Baccalaureate programs are tailored to stress and employ evidence-based practice, humanities, advocacy, communication, statistics, research, leadership and management (Haverkamp & Ball, 2013). The ideology behind baccalaureate nursing programs is not to simply care for the patient but to provide advanced and scientifically grounded practices to improve
The primary concept of professionalism refers to the attendance, accountability, ability to work with difficult people, expressing good work ethics, and critical thinking when faced with dilemma. (Shepard, 2014). Nursing students are expected to gain and demonstrate the skill of professionalism in their schools and in clinical setting. Nursing is a profession and not a job because, it is a chosen paid occupation that requires formal education and prolonged training. Therefore, nurses as professionals are expected to display competent and skillful behaviors that aligns with their profession (Kathleen, 2013). Professionalism in nursing should not start when people become nurses, it should start as they gain knowledge of diseases and human responses in
I wish I had enrolled in the RN-BSN program sooner than this time. Before the RN-BSN program, I did not fully understand my role as a nurse. I had no knowledge of the functions of the Nurse Practice Act and the Board of Nursing. Nursing research was just a part of nursing curriculum. I have no prior knowledge of the evidence based practice. However, my trajectory into the RN-BSN program changed all that. I feel more confident and equipped as a professional nurse now than before. My two specific examples of change in behavior as a result of RN-BSN program are, one, changes in my skills and two, attitudes toward family dynamics, values and believes. The complexities of nursing practice, healthcare policies, and patients' needs lead to the
The BSN is the opportunity to increase the knowledge and understanding of the nursing career. “Nursing is a unique profession because of its synthesis of practice, multidimensional assessment/intervention, interpersonal communication, case management, and resource-linking on behalf of patients” (Jackson et al. 150). I love my work and as a registered nurse I feel totally complete, nevertheless, an advance education as the BSN program, will incorporate critical thinking expertise and leadership skills, required qualities in order to get a better position in the nursing