Asn_vs_Bsn

A nurse is educated, trained, and prepared to care for the sick and injured. The nurse works in conjunction other healthcare professionals to treat and help recover the ill who are in need of close observation for a wide variety of ailments such as their physical, psychological, mental, and cultural wellbeing. This paper will describe the differences in competencies between nurses trained at the ADN level and the BSN level. I will also include my personal views on why a bachelor’s degree is more beneficial for nurses. Some competencies for ADN and BSN trained nurses are, they can perform physical assessment, initiate IV lines and administer medications, draw blood for testing, and use of different types of equipment. Both ADN’s and BSN’s have advanced techniques used in emergency situations to help save lives. These include airway management, use of cardiac telemetry monitors, and emergency drug knowledge. The skills that the BSN may exhibit that are beyond the ADN level would be the ability to analyze situations, think logically and critically, they are trained in community health, health promotion, and management. The ADN degree is considered a technical nurse and is usually a two year program at a community college. They are favored because of the number of programs available and you get the education in half the time (McKinney, Sept.2010). The Baccalaureate program nurses are considered professional nurses, tuition is a higher rate, and is a four year program that includes all of the ADN requirements but in addition covers leadership, management, community health, case management, and supervisory and management techniques (Allan, 2010). Statistics have shown that nurse that comes from a school that may be lacking structure within its program will be less qualified for the position than a nurse who comes from a college that offers structured curriculum and clinical opportunities. During a conducted study, hiring nurses with higher education help to decrease mortality rates, prevent medication errors, and return to hospital incidences (Allan, 2010). Patient care depends on highly educated nurses. It improves competency and delivery of care. In March of 2005, the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) made a statement that there was a need for nurses of the BSN level because they would be better prepared for complex and challenging roles in healthcare. There is a need for checking performance and skills overtime to ensure that certain skills are acquired or maintained. If higher education isn’t obtained than this will only further the risk of problems in the future (Rosetter, April 2012). This same statement included research that supported their findings that there were better patient outcomes and more knowledgeable nurses when the nurse managers and supervisors were required to hold bachelor’s degree (Rosetter, April 2012). According to a paper released by the American Nurses Association in 1965, they stated that companies should hire nurses at the baccalaureate level as they would be better prepared for the workforce as they were trained with more of a focus on health promotion, management techniques, and had a greater ability to communicate with patients and their families. In addition, as times changed, healthcare progressed and new specialties began, there was a need for nurses to be further educated, supervised, and be delegated additional responsibilities. Thus, the bachelor’s degree was the perfect solution (Haebler, 2012). Having the BSN level education would have helped me in my current position on numerous accounts. I currently work as an interim DON and clinical educator for a nursing facility. I have been a nurse for many years however I am new to nursing administration. There have been a few instances where I have had to deal with issues that arise with patients and their family members. For instance, I had two residents who continually argued and threatened each other. Family members were irate and demanding that a room change be done. At the time both residents would not agree to change rooms or get along and I wasn’t exactly sure how to handle the situation. Neither leadership nor communication was a prominent part of the curriculum in my ADN program. I had to go to my administrator and discuss options with him as well as go back and speak with the family and the residents. I feel like if I would have had my BSN and the further education, I would have been better prepared for the situation and would have known how to handle problems more efficiently as they arouse. Also, leadership and management classes would have prepared me greatly for my current position. In closing, nursing as a profession is making great progress. We have many prospective students and many with interest. We are moving toward more highly educated nurses and a more promising future. If nurses continue to move up the educational ladder, the future of healthcare can only get better and produce more qualified nurses. I believe that the Baccalaureate program is definitely the best option for nurses because education and being a qualified and competent nurse is important, not only for our patients but so that we can be the best that we can be.