Master's Degree In Nursing

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.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2011).  The essentials of Master’s Education for Advance Practice Nursing. Retrieved July 09. 2015.

The differences between the baccalaureate-prepared and a master’s-prepared nurse are the deeper understanding theories and practices. Communication skills now have evolved to include all departments involved to improve patient’s care outcomes while being mindful of cost (American Associations of Colleges of Nursing, 2011). Advanced knowledge and analytical thinking generates a higher level of self-esteem leading to professional growth. In turn, colleagues identify you as a role model perusing their own personal growth (Cotterill-Walker, 2012).

The purpose of doing an interview with a Mastered prepared Nurse here is to look for new awareness about a role, much desired by the interviewer and increase insight into the relationship between career path, education and opportunities. The goal is to recognize the interviewer’s current view of the MSN role with that someone presently occupied in that role, and develop a new apprehension. In a face to face interview, we discussed the personal experience, educational preparation and achievements. B.G describes her journey from BSN through master’s degree in Education and post master’s degree in FNP. Getting real role information will aid the interviewer to gain an insight in to the career advancement and is an eye opener to the new opportunities lies ahead of a Master’s prepared Nurse.

The third barrier discussed in the IOM’s Future of Nursing report was that nurses need to be full partners, with all other health care professionals, in order to redesign health care in the United States (IOM, 2010). To do this nursing education must add leadership aspects to the education programs. In doing this it will ensure that nurse are ready to actively participate and lead in decisions regarding healthcare

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).

My career objectives are to advance my nursing career through professional development of self by engaging in long life learning through continuing education in graduate school. Also, to assume leadership role in the use of evidence based research in healthy public policy and contribute to population health. Nursing is a field that keeps unfolding and requires updated knowledge to provide quality care, meet the professional requirements and challenges. Hence, long life learning would increase my professional values and competencies required to deliver quality care to diverse population. As a Public Health Nurse, by pursing Masters in Nursing, I will be able to build on my capacity to enhance and advance the field of nursing as a science.

Some of the dilemmas associated with today’s nursing force are: Many are under-educated and task-oriented, unaware of their patient’s plan of care, medical histories, or pertinent results. Too many rely on clinical coordinators and team leaders, when it comes to critical thinking, therefore, miss out on the vital fundamentals, which make nursing such an honorable profession (Grietens, 2007, p. 10). In order to create a stronger, more knowledgeable nursing workforce, entry-level requirements for RNs, as well as APRNs, need to be uniform. In addition, research shows bachelors and masters prepared nurses, result in better patient outcomes. An example of a proposed solution includes:

Due to the demands of an evolving health care system and an emphasis in health and wellness, Master’s prepared nurses are in demand. What does a Master’s prepared nurse entails? According to the American Association College of Nursing, Master’s prepared nurses obtain a higher level of learning as well as key competencies and skills. The ultimate goal is to achieve positive patient outcomes resulting in an overall improved health care system. The purpose of this paper is to provide insight on a Master’s prepared nurse conducted through an interview. My interviewee has obtained an MSN

To reflect on the recommendation by the IOM and the consensus by American Association of Colleges of Nursing (ANCN) to elevate the educational level for the advanced practice nurses to increase patient healthcare quality, safety, and positive health outcomes are the DNP essentials with healthcare policy and competencies that are relevant to advocacy (Melnyk, 2013). According to Potempa (2011), the DNP essentials are relevant to DNP graduates, as well as the DNP students to be prepared to involve proactively in the healthcare policy preparations and implementation in all system levels. In addition, it prepares the DNP nurses to lead and provide a critical boundary between the research, policy, and practice (Melnyk, B. M. (2013). Therefore, the

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.

Recent research has shown that hospitals and health care organizations that employ a higher number of bachelors prepared nurses see better patient outcomes as a result of the nurse having a greater capacity to practice (Impact of Education, n.d.). Studies have shown that bachelors prepared nurses practice more confidently and as a result can react faster to patient situations resulting in better outcomes (Impact of Education, n.d.). Also a bachelor’s prepared nurse is trained more extensively in “clinical, scientific, decision making, and humanistic skills, including preparation in community health, patient education, and nursing management and leadership” (Baccalaureate Degree, 2001) The education that patients get in how to care for themselves after leaving the hospital leads to better outcomes once they are gone and less recurrence of

I believe that higher education in nursing, in terms of obtaining a bachelor’s degree or higher, does have a positive effect on patient care. I think that an advanced degree would provide nurses with added communication skills that could be used to facilitate more effective work interactions and thereby increasing patient safety. Another benefit of an advanced degree could also be learning additional critical thinking techniques that could help nurses anticipate and plan for the needs of their patients earlier, as well as improving their ability to make appropriate diagnoses.

Although, obtaining a bachelor’s degree is more time consuming, and more expensive; it also leads to greater opportunities, job advancement, better paying jobs, and the ability to obtain an entry level management position ("Different Paths to Becoming a Nurse," 2015).

I am striving to achieve professionalism and growth in roles and values while going through the bachelor’s degree in nursing program. I plan on taking each class one at a time, try to do my best, and gain the knowledge needed to grow in the nursing profession. By October 2010, I should obtain my bachelor’s degree in nursing, which will provide new opportunities, such as management, and educator positions. A bachelor’s degree in nursing will provide the opportunity to further my education to a master’s degree level.