A Study On An Advanced Nurse Is The Protection, Promotion, And Optimization Of Health And Abilities

There are nine essentials of professional nursing practice that will ensure the professional nurse will be able to practice in complex healthcare systems. The nine essentials are liberal education, basic organizational and systems leadership for quality care and patient safety, scholarship for evidence based practice, information management, health care policy, interprofessional communication and collaboration, clinical prevention, professionalism and baccalaureate generalist nursing practice. These aspects of the baccalaureate education are “essential” for creating a well-rounded nurse able to practice in a variety of settings and provide care for people from “all walks of life.”

An ongoing debate for the requirements to become a Registered Nurse (RN) has been unsettled. Several different educational pathways lead to an RN licensure; however, the minimum educational requirements must be standardized at the baccalaureate level for several reasons. Spetz and Bates (2013) published that a growing number of hospitals prefer hiring nurses with a Bachelor Science in Nursing (BSN) as this increases the status of the nursing profession (p. 1). Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), as well as a certificate on-the-job training Diploma are two other educational pathways to become an RN, which can be disadvantageous to the nursing profession in several ways (Tollick 2013; Spetz and Bates 2013). If entry-level nurses

Healthcare systems and the way safe, quality health care is delivered are continually changing to better serve patients and communities. Professional nursing practice is a large component in the healthcare system today. Back in the 1960s, professional nursing leaders tried to adopt the bachelor degree programs as the only educational track to become a registered nurse (Creasia & Friberg, 2011). Due to nursing shortages and demands this motive did not hold fast. Individuals entering the nursing profession today must first decide which educational pathway to take to become a Registered Nurse (RN).

The Baccalaureate Essentials are educational tools that are utilized to prepare the graduating Baccalaureate Generalist nurse to practice at the professional level delivering safe, top-quality, competent care to an ever-changing diverse patient population. “Baccalaureate-prepared nurses provide patient-centered care that identifies, respects, and addresses patients’ differences, values, preferences, and expressed needs” (AACN, 2008). The Essentials expand on previous learned skills and knowledge of sciences and humanities to promote enhanced communication, critical thinking/reasoning and encourage the continuation of life-long learning.

There is much debate on whether there is a benefit to obtaining a Baccalaureate in Nursing. Since it is only my second week in the RN to BSN program, I don’t have a lot to base my opinion on. This paper will summarize the differences between Associates a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing based on what I’ve been told, research I have done, and my own experiences.

With an ever-increasing body of knowledge in the field of nursing, more education is being required to enter the field of nursing. Many healthcare institutions are raising the educational requirements in order to become employed or maintain employment in their facilities. Healthcare organizations are transitioning to hiring registered nurses (RN) who have a higher level of education, such as, a graduate from a Baccalaureate Degree Nursing (BSN) program. The goal of these institutions is to have nurses with a broader array of skills that can meet the growing demands of our patient population. BSN prepared nurses are recognized for their well-rounded skills in critical thinking, management, case management and health promotion versus Associate Degree nurses (ADN)/Diploma nurses that focus on direct patient care.

Nursing education encompasses a vast continuum. Within the undergraduate subdivision, there are two preparatory levels of nursing education: Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) and Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing (BSN). Although the underlying philosophies of patient-centered care and compassion remain consistent between both degree-levels, there are distinctions pertaining to clinical decision-making and care delivery. Major differences in competency of critical thinking and problem solving skills, evidence-based practice and clinical judgment, exist between nurses prepared at the associate-degree level and baccalaureate degree level, thus

Furthermore according to American Association of College of Nursing, “the baccalaureate degree is designed to prepare nurses for work within the growing and changing health care environment. With nurses taking more active role in the health care, they are expected to develop critical thinking and communication skills in addition to receiving training in clinics and hospital”(American Association of College of Nursing) .

According to Creasia (2010), “The first baccalaureate nursing program was established in the United States at the University of Minnesota in 1909” and many programs were 5 years long (p. 4). Today, the BSN program is a 4-year college degree offered at universities, private schools and community colleges throughout our nation. The BSN degree graduate has many advantages over an ADN degree graduate and these might include: career paths that are only open to nurses with a BSN degree including administrative positions and minimum requirement for advanced practice nursing (APN). Furthermore, the BSN graduates get extensive training in components that might include: quality and patient safety, evidence-based practice, information management, clinical prevention/population health, and professional values, all of which are essential as nursing care becomes more complex (Creasia, 2010, p. 4). One of the biggest disadvantages of having a BSN degree is that the legal scope of practice is undifferentiated due to being awarded the same license as an ADN graduate “hindering the reward system for leadership responsibilities” (Creasia, 2010, p. 16).

Bachelor degree nursing programs are highly regarded for the skilled, clinical thinking, and professionalism of nurses they provide for the community. Obtaining a baccalaureate in nursing provides the same skills and knowledge encompassed in most associate’s programs, while allowing a broadened look into research, public health, management, and humanities (AACN IENP, 2012). Many facilities are now providing incentives for nursing staff to continue their education; from tuition reimbursement, an increase in pay, and played time off for the sole purpose of education. Research has proven that with a more educated

The need for expansion in their roles for higher levels of education and an improved system of education are required for nurses now for meeting the diverse needs of the patients and to provide better care. Improving the education system and achieving a more educated work force is increasing with nurses having baccalaureate degrees , that is, a traditional Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Nursing program or a traditional 4 year Bachelor of Nursing program or a program that allows seamless transition from Associate in Diploma Nursing to Bachelor of Nursing.

The implications for BSN-prepared nurses in addition to those of RNs with an associate degree

The American Nurses Association defines nursing in this way, “Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individual, families, communities and populations” (ANA,2010,p.10) As a nurse we encompass so many different responsibilities into the daily care of patients. The main reason I chose nursing as a career is because I have a passion to help patients and communities improve quality of life by providing not only health care but education. I am passionate about people and helping to improve their lives. Being a nurse allows me to engage with people of different background like race, social economical class and culture. Nursing enables you to learn so much about people, giving you a better understanding of the world in general which helps you to become more compassionate and appreciative of those differences, enriching and transforming your life. Nurses build lasting relationship with their patients and often provide support to patients and families during the most critical moments of their lives. Nursing also allows you to be flexible and work in a number of different environments. For example, if you become jaded with a particular area in nursing you are able to easily move to another department, hospital, or geographical area. Nurses are also able to travel to different cities around the United

This theory consists of four quality-caring models which are; human in relationship, role of the nurse, caring relationship, and the caring factors. These components (models) are simple to apply, specific to patients’ needs, and encourage the use of research into nursing practice. These models have provided tight safe and quality health care outcomes and are very important in the provision of quality care. The four quality-caring models are the basis for patient-centered care with a highly functional team and excellent patient care. (Smith and Parker, 2015).

The professional nurse who possesses baccalaureate degree has attained academic and professional development consequential of further education and knowledge by attending school in depth and hands on knowledge in science of nursing. She or he has developed purposeful, self-regulatory judgment, which results in interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and interference in planning, applying, and evaluating for safer better daily patient care. Patients rely on professional nurses for better judgment and their advices everyday and baccalaureate nurses have competencies and cognitive skills to fulfill patients needs and trust. She or he is well informed of recent evidence based practices based on which she can give trustful reasons for steps of care. She or he is open-minded because of being educated about multicultural and language, ethics, sociology, communication, and adversity of human nature and is flexible to listen and help. Based on critical thinking and leadership management skills learned in baccalaureate degree professional nurse is willing to reconsider and clear issues in complex matters, implementing change, and collaborate with health care team to build positive work environment and outcome. She or he is fair minded in evaluation of