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Nurses: Adn or Bsn

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Nursing has taken a life of its own throughout history. From its origins as strictly a male filled profession to present day where it is a predominantly a female occupied profession. Nursing came from unorganized beginnings, but today there are different educational degrees that can be obtained in the profession of nursing. The Associate’s degree of Nursing, ADN, and the Bachelor’s degree of Nursing, BSN. Both degrees qualify you for the NCLEX licensing exam, leading to your RN, but there are significant differences between the two. The length of time and number of credits required complete the degrees differ greatly. Bachelor’s Degree of nursing typically takes four years to complete, whereas the Associate’s degree only takes two years to obtain. Both degrees include similar core classes such as community nursing, maternal and newborn care, pediatrics, adult health and so on. Associate’s typically focuses on clinical skills, whereas the BSN curriculum according to the Grand Canyon University College of Nursing Philosophy focuses on more nursing theories, leadership, managerial skill, teaching, assessment, ethical decision making, critical thinking and communication. According to Nursinglink.com, the starting salary for both ADN and BSN nurses are typically similar. But there is more potential for higher pay with a BSN in various environments. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Fact Sheet: Creating a More Highly Qualified Nursing Workforce, there is a connection between a BSN education and lower mortality rates in a patient care setting. Statistical research as shown that patients under the care of higher educated nurses have fewer adverse outcomes. Thus demonstrating higher adverse outcomes for patients under the care of nurses with an associates of nursing.

References
American Psychological Association. (2010).

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