Differences Between Adn and Bsn Nurses Essay

Nursing Philosophy is the same no matter what degree of nursing that you have obtained. According to the American Nurses Association the definition of nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations. (ANA). So no matter what degree Associates or Bachelors all nurses have the same goal when taking care of patients. Associate degree programs, begun in 1952, opened the nursing profession to a more diverse population than had existed with diploma and baccalaureate education. (Friberg). It opened it up to individuals that could not attend a four year college or a diploma program due to financial or location issues. This is how many nurses of today have obtained their Registered Nurses’ license. Today Associate Degree (ADN) programs are the major point of entry into nursing; as reflected by a recent survey of nursing programs and graduates, AD programs prepared more graduates than did the combined baccalaureate and diploma programs. (Friberg). As it states in the lecture notes Essentials of the Baccalaureate Education, for many students, the RN to BSN Program represents the next stage in professional development after many years of clinical practice. (Essenticials of Baccalaureate Education). Associate Degree Nurses’ have many reasons to further their education; some are for personal gain, professional mobility to be able to advance to a management or teaching position.There are few different ways to bridge from associate to bachelor degree. Attending a four year university, or there is strictly online courses as long as it is accredited to the state. More than 630 RN-to-Baccalaureate programs are available nationwide, including more than 400 programs that are offered at least partially online. These programs build on the education provided in diploma and associate degree programs and prepare graduates for a broader scope of practice. In addition, 161 RN-to-Master’s degree programs are available which cover the baccalaureate content missing in the other entry-level programs as well as graduate level course work. (ANA). Associate Degree nursing students have approximately one and a half years of prerequisites before entering an associates program. The associates program is approximately one and a half years with a combination of classroom and clinical rotations. These clinical rotations are like internships working with patients. After passing the school course there is a National test that has to be taken called National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The Bachelor Degree Program started around 1909. Bachelor Degree nursing student has approximately two years of prerequisite before entering the bachelor program. The bachelor program is approximately two years of course work and clinical rotation. Bachelor students also have to pass the national test NCLEX. Obtaining a bachelor degree would allow the nurse to be more marketable in this economy, if they were attempting to obtain a different job. It would allow upward mobility into management and teaching positions. Baccalaureate nursing practice incorporates the roles of assessing, critical thinking, communicating, providing care, teaching, and leading. The caring professional approach includes the values of autonomy, altruism, human dignity, integrity, and social justice with unconditional regard for all people. (Grand Canyon). Nurses are professionals whether they are ADN or Bachelors of Science in Nursing. A professional is defined by certain criteria’s stated in the lecture notes Essentials of the Baccalaureate Education: * Functions at a high intellectual level * Possesses a specialized body of knowledge that can be learned at intuitions of higher education * Carries a significant level of individual responsibility and accountability * Values public service and altruism over personal financial gain * Functions with a high degree of autonomy and independence * Bears a strong sense of professional identity and a commitment to developing the profession * Abides by a code of ethics, which guides practice * Demonstrates competence and possesses a legally valid license for practice (Essenticials of Baccalaureate Education) The future of nursing will likely continue to demand nursing care that is innovative, efficient, cost effective, and responsive to human needs in all settings. (Friberg). No matter what degree that a nurse holds it is their responsibility to be the best and most informed they can be in their field of practice by continually seeking education and constantly leaning. References American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Fact Sheet: Creating a More Highly Qualified Nursing Workforce. 2012, http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/NursingWorkforce.pdf ANA. (n.d). Retrieved from American Nurses Association: http://www.nursingworld.org/FuncionalMenuCategories/FAQ.saspx Essentials of Baccalaureate Education. (nd).. NRS 430 Lecture 1. 2011 Grand Canyon University. https://lc.gcu.edu/learningPlatform/user/users.html?operation=loggedIn#/learningPlatform/loudBooks /loudbooks.html?currentTopicname=Nursing History, Theories, and Conceptual Model&viewPage=past&operation=innerPage&topicMaterialId=668495e7-02dc-4f87-b2a7-0b2b6b994892&contentId=90d8f604-cca7-4c82-ad07-b242bd698e6d& Friberg, Creasia and (). Conceptual Foundations: The Bridge to Professional Nursing Practice [5] (VitalSource Bookshelf), Retrieved from http://pageburstls.elsevier.com/books/978-0-323-06869-7/id/B9780323068697100017_p0295