Education Is A Growing Aspect Of The Health Care Field

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They determined that patients needing surgery have a "substantial survival advantage" (Aiken, Clark, Cheung, Sloan, & Silber, 2003) if treated in hospitals with higher ratios of nurses educated at the baccalaureate degree level. They too determined through this research that the more nurses holding BSN degrees help decrease the risk of patients dying and the ability to determine the patient is in distress. This research provides the evidence that nurses with a BSN degree have a better comprehension in their ability to formulate nursing diagnoses and evaluate nursing interventions. (Giger & Davidhizar, 1990) BSN degree nurses also demonstrate improved professional integration and research/evaluation skills. (The Future of Nursing:Leading Change, Advancing Health, 2012)

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

In addition to the content taught in ADN programs, the humanistic BSN education encompasses more of the physical and social sciences (Impact of Education, 2011). The BSN nurse is better prepared to work more independently, therefore is well qualified to practice in healthcare systems outside of the hospital. Bachelor programs “prepare professional nurse generalists for acute care settings, community-based practice, and beginning leadership /management positions” (Creasia & Friberg, 2011, p. 32). This course of study is crucial to the delivery of good, safe, quality patient care. There have been several research studies completed to see if there is a correlation between higher RN education level and better patient outcomes. Several studies concluded there is decrease in mortality rates within hospitals that employee a greater percentage of bachelor prepared nurses (Creating a More, 2011).

Nurses a with Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (BSN) are known for their skills in critical thinking, leadership, case management, health promotion, and for their ability to practice across a variety of inpatient and outpatient healthcare settings. These nurses are well-prepared to meet the demands placed on today's nurse.

There are numerous studies depicting the correlation between the four-year degree nursing education and improved patient outcomes. In the August 2008 edition of Health Services Research, Dr. Christopher Friese and associates identified a link between patient outcomes and nursing education level. They determined that moving to a nursing practice environment with a higher proportion of baccalaureate prepared nurses led to a significant decrease in the mortality of hospitalized cancer patients who underwent surgery. In addition to lowered mortality rates, patients also experienced lower failure to rescue rates. In a separate study published by the Journal of Advanced Nursing, researchers at the University of Toronto resolved that facilities with a greater number of BSN prepared nurses had lower 30-day mortality rates. For every 1,000 patients discharged, a 10% increase in the number of baccalaureate degree nurses resulted in 9 fewer deaths (Rosster,

Education increases both clinical competency and quality care. Associate degree in Nursing can be completed in three years. It was initially started to fill the shortage of nurses. BSN degree is four year nursing education and it helps the nurses to be well- rounded academically. ADN versus BSN have been in discussion for some time now. According to “HRSA’s 2013 report, titled The U.S. Nursing Workforce, found that 55% of the RN workforce held BSN or higher degree. In a separate study conducted by National Council of State Boards of Nursing found that 61% of RN workforce in U.S. was BSN or Higher degree”

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).

The differences can be seen when looking at the responsibilities of these two degrees. For example: “the associates degree graduates are expected to provide safe bedside care to clients with defined and predictable health problems” (Creaisa and Friberg, 2011, pg.26), while nurses with their baccalaureate degrees are expected to treat patients with complicated and unpredictable problems. Another difference between the associate’s degree holders and the baccalaureate degree is that once these graduates get to their workplaces, the ones with the baccalaureate degree are expected to display leadership skills such as teaching and also to focus on the need of not just the patient but also the patient’s families and communities. Like Linda Moore Rosen explains “ADN can assess needs, plan interventions, implement care, and perform evaluations with individuals and families under the supervision of a nurse prepared with a BSN or MSN” (Rosen, 2000, p.236). Baccalaureate nursing practices include working in unstructured settings with little or no kind of established procedures, while associate nursing practices only include secure setting with established procedures.

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

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

In 1998 the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) established The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice. The AACN established outcomes that graduates of baccalaureate nursing program have to master in order to provide a high quality patient-centered care. The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice emphasizes that nurses have contributed on delivering the safest, highest quality and the most cost effective health care to the people in the United States. Also, it talks about additional concerns such as a growing demand for registered nurses despite an increase number of students enrolled BSN programs yearly. The reason why United States is experiencing a nursing shortage is because of the increased demands of experienced RNs in specialized areas, a rapid growth of old population and eventually because the current nursing workforce are aging themselves.

Recognizing the changing health care system, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), launched a two-year initiative to assess and transform the nursing profession. The report produced by the IOM & RWJF, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, called out four key messages to guide the changes needed to heighten the future of nursing. One of these messages, nurses achieving higher levels of education- increasing baccalaureate prepared nurses to 80% by 2020, enforces the need for nurses to obtain higher degrees and changes the requirements for entry-level nurses. Improving education levels in the nursing workforce is beneficial to both the nurse receiving the education and the patient receiving care, however with expensive degree programs and an older workforce not willing to go back to school, turmoil has erupted within the profession. This paper uses evidence to review both sides of the argument and its significance to both nursing and patient care outcomes.

They states the current percentage of Registered Nurses in the workforce that holds a bachelors’ degree or higher are on the rise and understanding the demand for nurses with higher educational level is vital to ensure access to effective healthcare system. They argue that while Registered nurses can enter the workforce at different education levels such as with a diploma or an associate’s degree, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends for future nurses entering the nursing field to obtain higher levels of education to increase the percentage of nurses with a bachelor’s degree and higher to 80 percent by the year 2020. This is to further prepare them with the essential skills and knowledge required to care for the most complex patients’ population as well as to prepare them for roles in advanced nursing practice such as teaching and research.

With a baccalaureate degree, a nurse will be well prepared to work in any field. A BSN nurse can work in mental health as well as in surgery. Moreover, baccalaureate degree provides courses like nursing leadership and management, nursing research, professional nursing, and client education. These skills will prepare the nurse provide complex patient care and patient education. BSN nurses design comprehensive nursing care plan and supervise nurses aides. Even a lot of hospitals today prefer to hire nurses with a baccalaureate degree. The BSN nurses design patient care plan, teaching plan, discharge plan, and they also collaborate with physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. With an Associates degree, the duties of a nurse are very limited because of lack of knowledge in advance courses like client education and professional nursing. Today, many nurses go back to schools to obtain their bachelors and even masters since the opportunities are limitless with advanced