ADN And BSN

Understanding ADN and BSN

Nursing is a career full of heartfelt moments, struggles, achievements, and lifelong lessons; a career of passion, commitment, and selflessness. There are multiple educational paths to choose when becoming a registered nurse (RN) including Associates Degree Nursing (ADN) and Baccalaureate Degree Nursing (BSN). Once perquisite classes are complete, an ADN is a two-year path of nursing courses providing the foundation of nursing care. Texas Board of Nursing (TBON, 2011) explains nurses with an ADN should be able to use clinical judgment and knowledge in healthcare settings with “promotion, preventions, rehabilitation, maintenance, and restoration of heath in individuals of all ages” (p. 5). During this degree, the four

As described earlier, an ADN and BSN have different levels of education, creating differences in the level of competencies. Majority of the difference in these competencies from ADN to BSN is using research studies and comprehensive analysis for improving the patient and family care. TBON (2011) also emphasizes the BSN competencies for improved nursing care towards communities and populations health, outcomes, and responses (p. 11-12). A nurse with BSN is expected to advocate and educate the patient, families, and communities they serve while continuously engaging in professional development. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2008) emphasis that “baccalaureate generalist nurses are designers, coordinators, and managers of care” simultaneously representing the nursing profession through the Standards of Nursing, the Scope of Nursing Practice, and the values and ethics of nursing (p.

This course and project gave me the opportunity to discover how community health nurses provide care for patients, families, population groups, and the community as a whole by connecting these groups to community resources. One example is the local senior activities center offers social interaction, health promotion, and connections to other organization to help their specific population. Another example is the Mid-Cities Care Corps, volunteers that provides a multitude of services for those in need ranging from transportation to health appointments or shopping, house and lawn maintenances, or even friendly social interactions through phone conversations.

2. Patient safety

NURS 4377 Risk Analysis and Implications for Practice, Module B: Patient Safety – Communication Models and Information Handling. A newsletter created to further enlighten and remind nurses about the dangers and consequences of breaching the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA) as well as ways to protect of patient’s safety by protecting their privacy. This newsletter also focused on what nurse should and should not do, tips to avoid problems, and the acceptable ways of posting information on social media that is approved by HIPPA.

3. Work as an effective member of interdisciplinary teams to ensued continuous and safe patient