Comparing Competencies of the Associate Versus Baccalaureate Degree Prepared Nurse

The American Association of Nursing (AACN) defines nursing as “the protection, promotion, and organization 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”. (American Nurses Association;) Nurses receive education in the United States by completing a baccalaureate degree (BSN), associate degree (ADN) or diploma program. Graduation from one of these programs allow the nurse to be eligible to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), which nursing graduates must pass in order to receive initial licensure (ANA). Once the nurse has achieved licensure, they earn the title of Registered Nurse (RN); little differentiation exists in terms of entry-level practice, so one might wonder why a nursing student would choose a baccalaureate degree program over an associate or diploma program. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the difference in competencies between the ADN and BSN, and how those differences might influence the practice of the nurse. The paper will not discuss the diploma prepared RN because “diploma programs have diminished steadily-to 4% of all basic RN programs in 2006…” (American Nurses Association, 2011)

Describing Competency
In order to illustrate the difference in competencies between ADN’ and BSN’s, the term competency must be defined and understood. “Competence is a generic term referring to a person’s overall capacity, while competency refers to specific capabilities…” (Clinton, Murrells, & Robinson, 2005, p. 85) (Clinton, Murrells, & Robinson, 2005). How do the competencies of ADN’s and BSN’s differ? In 1988 the Texas legislature mandated a