ABSTRACT

What are the differences in competencies between nurses prepared at the Associate-degree level versus the Baccalaureate-degree level? What are the advantages of the health care industry employing more nurses with a higher level of education? Is raising the educational standard for the nursing profession a means to help improve overall care? Studies have been done to understand the differences, if any, between the two levels of nursing. The health care industry is constantly focused on improving the efficiency and quality of care for patients and the community. These studies and comparisons between the two levels of nursing education are in effort to continue to enhance patient care and treatment outcome.

The differences in competencies between nurses prepared at the Associate-degree level (ADN) versus the Baccalaureate-degree level (BSN) in nursing are important in specific settings of the profession where leadership and authoritative decision is required, in my opinion. The advanced nursing education curriculum that is prepared to transition an RN to a BSN has been “designed to facilitate the students’ abilities to creatively respond to continuously changing health care systems throughout the world” (Grand Canyon University College of Nursing Philosophy). I believe the two separate programs both help to prepare nurses with the practical skills needed to be successful in any basic clinical setting, while the BSN helps to build upon these skills and increases the adaptability of a nurse to an ever changing and improving healthcare industry.

When looking at the comparison between an Associate-level Degree and a Baccalaureate-level Degree, the biggest, and probably most obvious, difference between the two is the time spent within the education process. Thirty-six more credit hours on average are required with the BSN program. Although, while more credit hours are required, there is no additional clinical time or hands-on experience needed for the BSN in comparison to the ADN. A benefit of choosing a Baccalaureate nursing track over the latter is for those who plan to advance their education and career even further to a Masters or Nurse Practitioner. The student’s initial choice of program may come down to where the future nurse’s focus lies. While one track may be conducive to a person’s life and long term goals, the other track may work better for the next. It is important to know that even though one requires a heavier credit load, in the end they are both tested and held to the same nursing standard and taught all of the same concepts and knowledge needed in order to pass the state’s NCLEX exam and receive nursing licensure.

Some studies have indicated that nurses with higher education provide better care. A research, conducted in August 2008 by Christopher Friese and colleagues, discovered that patient outcomes have a direct correlation to the level of education achieved by the nurses over their care. This discovery has now lead to the prediction that “moving to a workforce in which a higher proportion of staff nurses have at least a baccalaureate-level education would result in substantially fewer adverse outcomes for patients.” (Health Services Research, 2008). This study and others have been the driving force for a large amount of hospitals and health facilities raising their standards and requiring their nursing employees to obtain their BSN.

There are definitely nursing situations in which having a higher level of education would be beneficial and could possibly improve an outcome. Critical thinking is a vital element within any nursing capacity and one’s own critical thinking ability is strengthened and improved upon the more it is used. The additional courses required with the BSN program could help to enhance a nurse’s critical thinking ability through it’s advanced theories and concepts. It’s this critical thinking skill that could help a nurse make a faster or smarter decision when given a dire circumstance, ultimately improving the outcome of the situation.

In light of the advanced knowledge base obtained by nurses continuing their education and the research conducted on the matter, a nurse with a higher level of education would prove to be more competent within a work environment than one with a lesser education level. With that being stated, one could also pose the argument that the higher education obtained by nurses on their own accord speaks to that individual’s goal-oriented character and ambitious nature, directly affecting this person’s work ethic. This argument would insinuate that the actual courses and knowledge acquired within the BSN program, that’s not found in the ADN program, is not the determining factor for better patient care. It would argue instead that improved patient care is better based on each individual nurse’s character and work ethic. Forcing employees to acquire their BSN, who were unwilling to do it beforehand, may not be the answer for improved patient care, but either way – on one’s own accord or forced to further a degree to maintain a career – in the end having a higher level of education will do more good than harm for working nurses.

Works Cited
"Philosophy | College of Nursing and Health Care Professions | Grand Canyon University." Grand Canyon University is a private Christian University in Phoenix, AZ. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Aug. 2013. .
Sochalski, J, J.H. Silber , L.H. Aiken, E.T. Lake, and C.R. Friese. "Hospital nurse practice environments and outcomes for surgical oncology patients." Health Services Research 43.4 (2008): 1145-1163. Print.