: Competency Differences, Asn vs. Bsn Nurses

There are three routes to entry level nursing, and two of these routes are at a collegiate level. Both of these collegiate level programs provide enough information for the graduate to take and pass the NCLEX-RN exam. However, there are critical differences between both programs that researchers have discovered eventually affect nursing care and outcomes of patients.

A nurse is a health care professional who cares for ill or disabled individuals, their families and communities ensuring that they attain, maintain or recover optimum health and functioning (Crosta, 2013). There are several kinds of nurses classified depending on their education and experiences. As an example,

Care Profession and it comprises more than 3 million registered nurses (RNs) in the United

According to the American Nursing Association, “ Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization 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” (Association, Scope and Standards of Practice, 2010).

An example of this might be a pediatric trauma patient. The patient is the victim of an accidental gunshot wound by a family member. The family lives on a farm outside of town and drove the victim to the closest hospital. The patient is being stabilized in this rural hospital and prepared for transport to the nearest Level 1 Trauma Center. This small hospital may not have the resources in place to adequately assist this family during a time of crisis. The ADN

The American Nursing Association describes nursing as the profession or practice of providing care for the sick and infirm. They say it is the duty of nurses to protect, promote and optimize the health and abilities of a patient. It is also the duty of those in the profession of nursing to prevent illness and injury, facilitate healing, and alleviate suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response. Nurses also advocate for the care of patients families. Nurses play a very important role in healthcare and they are the primary caregiver for patients.

ANA defines nursing as “The protection promotion and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury alleviation of suffering of human response, and advocacy in the care of individual, families, communities and population” (ANA, 2013).

The BSN case manager is responsible for collaborating with the patient, physician, RN, CNA, family and other ancillary departments. She is also involved with the more complex aspects of the daily care and establishing a relationship with the patient and family.

A BSN represent a Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing, while an ADN is an Associate’s Degree in Nursing. Both degrees will qualify a person to take the same licensing exam NCLEX. There are several differences in the competency levels of these two-degree programs. BSN program is a four-year degree, which is knowledge, theory and research based and the emphasis is on the entire picture of the field of nursing. Exposing the nurse to human diversity and global perspective, health promotion, spiritual perspectives, ethical, legal, political, historical and social influences using liberal arts including biblical concepts for complete

Research further shows that those registered nurses that have obtained their degrees at the associate degree and diploma levels have an increase in their level of skills when completing a BSN degree. When comparing RN to BSN graduates from the years 1995 to 1998 it was (Rosseter, 2010, para. 24) shown that these students had a higher competency in nursing process, articulation, management, professional integration and analysis/dissemination (Phillips, C.Y., Palmer, C.V., Zimmerman, B.J. & Mayfield, M. 2002).

Merriam-Webster defines nurse as: “a person who cares for the sick or infirm; specifically: a licensed health-care professional who practices independently or is supervised by a physician, surgeon, or dentist and who is skilled in promoting and maintaining health”. This definition gives no differentiation between the nurse educated at the Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) level and the nurse educated at the Associate degree of nursing (ADN) level. Many do not realize there is difference between the two. Both nurses subscribe to the same nursing philosophies and teachings

Nurses support and enable individuals, families and groups to maintain, restore or improve their health status. Nurse also care for and comfort when deterioration of health has become irreversible. A traditional ideal of nursing is caring and nurturing of human beings regardless of race, religion, status, age, gender, diagnosis, or any other grounds.

According to Oxford dictionaries.com, a nurse is ‘a person trained to care for the sick or infirm, especially in a hospital.’

A nurse does this by helping the patient staying comfortable and warm for physical, emotionally by providing therapeutic communication, and spiritually by inspiring purpose in the patient's life or providing religious support in their time of need.

Respectively, the American Nurses Association (2010c) currently defines nursing as “the protection, promotion, and optimization 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” (p.10).