Education is the key to a successful career; there are many differences and opportunities between an Associate degree in Nursing and a Baccalaureate degree in Nursing. The difference between an Associate degree in nursing and Baccalaureate degree is that, an Associate degree is two-three years, while a Baccalaureate degree is four years. According to Methodist College of nursing “The numbers of Nurses graduates from Associate-degree programs are 59%, followed by Baccalaureate programs 37% and then diploma programs 4%”, this indicates that there is a rapid growth in nursing education
Over the past several years, policymakers, researchers and practice leaders have identified that education does makes a difference on how a Nurse practice. The Baccalaureate nursing program include all the content in the diploma and associate-degree program, plus it provides students with more in-depth study of the physical and social sciences, nursing research, nursing leadership and management, community and public health nursing. This in-depth education allow the baccalaureate professional better u...
The second key message focused on the recommendation that registered nurses receive greater levels of training and education. This message emphasized the need for nurses to enter the work force with a baccalaureate degree, or obtain it shortly afterwards. It also stressed the need more graduate nurses, specifically “nurse faculty and researchers at the doctoral level” (IOM, 2011, p. 164). Innovative solutions were devised to speak to nursing school capacity and curriculum in order to attain the IOM recommended goal of 80 percent of nurses holding a BSN by the year 2020.
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.
Taylor, D. (2008). Should the entry into nursing practice be the baccalaureate degree?. AORN Journal, 87(3), 611-620. doi: 10.1016/j.aorn.2007.07.006
Taylor, D. L. (2008). Should the Entry Into Nursing Practice be the Baccalaureate Degree? AORN Journal, 87(3), 611-619.
Nursing practice holds different levels of degree for nurses that include Associate degree in Nursing, Bachelor degree in nursing, and Master degree in Nursing. Even though the degree level in nursing are to provide basic care to the patients, but the level of competency and knowledge in the profession is different. Nursing practice in advance level play important role to provide quality of care to patients. Many health care settings require nurses to earn baccalaureate degree level to apply for RN position. The purpose of writing this paper is to identify the proficiency level between an Associate degree of Nursing versus Baccalaureate degree level.
Fields, S., Bishop, T., DiMattio, M., & Jacobs, L. (1998). The Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing As an Entry-Level Requirement for Professional Nursing Practice. Journal of Professional Nursing, 14, 225-233.
Implementing care plans within legal, ethical, and regulatory parameters is a competency that all registered nurses but abide by. As stated before as a baccalaureate nurse you must include not only patients and their families but also the community and population (The Texas Board of Nursing, 2011). Following the nursing process the next competency include evaluate the results of the implementations that have occurred. Once again the biggest difference between the two degree plans is baccalaureate nurses will also include the community and population as well as the patient and their family (The Texas Board of Nursing, 2011). Education is a vital piece of nursing and must be completed at every possible opportunity. Educated patients and their families on promoting health and marinating health is a very important concept. Expanding this education to the community and population is a vital step in helping reduce risk for our patients (The Texas Board of Nursing, 2011). The last competency is the nurse’s role in coordinating human information and material management resources for patients and their families as well as the expansion to include communities and populations as ones transition to a baccalaureate nurse (The Texas Board of Nursing, 2011).
There has been a drastic cut in both the Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates. According to Robert (2012), “cuts of more than $360 billion to Medicare and Medicaid will be made over the next 10 years. The focus of nursing needs to emphasize more on wellness care and prevention rather than acute care” (McNeal, G., 2012). Nursing practice will need to shift more towards community and population focused nursing. Baccalaureate prepared nurses are provided with a curriculum that includes both community health and leadership skills that are not included in the associate program. By encouraging associate’s degree nurses to obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an increase in the awareness of the needs of the community and population may be seen. The IOM report has outlined the anticipated obstacles that healthcare will face if changes are not made. By allowing nurses to provide care within their full scope of practice, quality care may be provided at an affordable cost to the population. The use of advanced practice nurses in primary care may provide quality, access, and cost efficient healthcare to high-risk populations and possibly decrease hospital admission rates, thus lowering the overall cost of healthcare. If nurses partner with doctors and other healthcare providers, it may improve healthcare by providing seamless transitions (Institute of Medicine,
There has been great debate in the nursing community for years regarding what should be the educational requirements for a practicing nurse. There are currently many options for men and women to enter the field through LPN, ADN, and BSN programs. More recently, programs have been popping up allowing accelerated BSN obtainment through second degree programs. The debate stems from the conflicting ideas of whether nursing as a whole is a trade, requiring an associate’s degree, or should be considered a profession, often requiring a Baccalaureate degree. In this paper this author will use past nursing history, current medical demands and advancements, and clinical patient outcomes to argue that the minimum education for a nurse should be a Baccalaureate degree.
The primary goal for nursing education is to obtain higher levels of education and training through an enhanced education system that supports continuous academic progression, this will deeply improve nursing education before and after nurses obtain their license to practice. The twenty-first century nurses need to accomplish more critical proficiencies to deliver complex quality care. The IOM made following recommendations for the future of nursing. An increase in the number of nurses with bachelor’s degree ...
David, T. (2008). Should the entry into nursing practice be the baccalaureate degree. ACORN Journal, 87(2), 611-620.
In 1965, the American Nurses Association shared its vision for the future of nursing education. A primary goal in its message was that a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) becomes the minimum requirement for entry into nursing practice (Nelson, 2002). Fifty years later, debates on this issue continue. In its report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change and Advancing Healthcare, the Institute of Medicine shared its recommendation that 80% of nurses possess a bachelor’s degree by the year 2020. A significant number of health care facilities have adopted the practice of hiring nurses with BSN over those with two year Associate’s Degree of Nursing (ADN) or a three-year hospital based diploma program. Stakeholders in the Registered Nurse (RN)
It is very fascinating the most of the universities are having online courses for nurses to get their higher education, while nurses are struggling between the work and home. Currently most of the hospitals in the United Sates are moving towards magnet status which needed higher educated nurses. In this situation, it is blessing for nurses to attain their higher education through online course even for associate RNs to become BSN. The BSN program helps the nurses in many ways including to utilizing the process to the full scale and it will promote nurses to use their skills like educating the patient as we’ll as creating new nurses. Because of the new health care reform, the BSN program also will aid to fill the gap from the influx of patients. The baccalaureate degrees and BSN program helps and prepares for the significant part they going to play in reinforcing the new healthcare modification. At present, I utilize and develop nursing care plan in the nursing process even though it needs some corrections due to the nature of my work. The highest standards of nursing could be only done through better research and advanced training. All these process will not only aid to create a healthcare model based on the clinicians wants, but also based on better data from the research which will eventually help to direct them towards right direction.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended in a 2010 report that eighty percent of registered nurses (RNs) hold a baccalaureate degree by 2020. This is not a new goal, but rather one that has yet to be realized, despite being first recommended in 1965 by the American Nurses Association. Healthcare has made significant advancements since that time, but nursing standards to entry and licensing regulations have not reflected these changes (Hess, 1996). Students of both Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) programs and Baccalaureate Degree (BSN) programs sit for the same national licensing exam, the NCLEX-RN. This is a disservice to the entire profession. Associate degrees are publicly perceived as 'technical' degrees. This influences public opinion on the competency and skill of all nurses (Jacobs, et al., 1998). In addition, the lack of differentiation of graduate degrees equates different educational levels and blurs expectations and requirements of the individual nurse. It also fost...
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