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Educational Preparation in Nursing

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Educational Preparation in Nursing
INTRODUCTION
The increasing demands for health care pave the way to open the door of opportunities for individuals encouraged to enter nursing schools. Various educational pathways have been made available to students who wanted to pursue a career in nursing. Registered Nurses (RNs) typically complete a program of study at a community college, diploma school of nursing or a four-year college or university and are required to pass a nationally standardized licensing exam in the state in which they begin practice. The essential core of their nursing practice is to deliver holistic, patient-centered care that includes assessment and monitoring, administering a variety of treatments and medications, patient and family education and serving as a member of an interdisciplinary team. Nurses care for individuals and families in all phases of the health and wellness continuum as well as provide leadership in health care delivery systems and in academic settings (Medicine, 2011).
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) graduates have a proven track record for providing safe bedside care for clients from the first day they are hired. They function well as team members and, after a period of orientation, can assume responsibility for the care of clients who are more acutely ill (Catalano, 2009). Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing (BSN) prepared RNs provide an additional focus on leadership, translating research for nursing practice, and population health; they practice across all healthcare settings (Medicine, 2011).
NURSING COMPETENCIES One way in which the nursing profession identifies what nurses do is by looking at competencies. In nursing, the word “competence” is often defined as the combination of skills, knowledge, attitudes, values, and abilities that support the safe and effective practice of the nurse. A nurse practices

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