Student Confusion of Different Levels of Nursing Essay

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

A number of emotions were felt during this experience, in regards to transitioning from a student nurse to the registered nurse role. Primarily, the transition in role from student nurse to registered nurse was similar to any clinical experience I have had at Midlands Technical College. I was placed in a medical-surgical rotation. I felt slighted that not only were we required to complete a data tool but we also participated in the teamwork model demonstrated in prior semesters. Personally, I did not feel a transition during this particular clinical experience.

There are different types of knowledge and different ways of knowing. Four fundamental concepts of knowing in nursing highlighted by Caper (1978) are empirical, personal, ethical and aesthetic. He divided knowledge into two forms which are tacit and explicit. Tacit is insights and based on experience and not easily visible and expressible, difficult to share and communicate with others which is highly personal. Empirical sources of knowledge depend upon an individual’s manner of observing and responding to events in the outside world (Higgs et al, 2004). Whereas explicit is formal and based on rationality and easily can be expressed, shared, communicate which are highly universal principles. Rationalism comes from within the individual and

ADN/Diploma nursing programs meet the minimal educational standard to become eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The minimal education time for eligibility for the NCLEX is at least two years of academic course work in the discipline of nursing. With successful completion of an ADN/Diploma program and passing of the NCLEX-RN allows graduates to gain eligibility of an entry-level nursing position. According to recent analysis of the nursing job market, ADN/Diploma nurses qualify for 58% of nursing related jobs. Statistics from the United States Department of Labor (2012) shows the median income for a RN is

Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine

There are many different pathways a registered nurse can follow. Education requirements are anywhere from a diploma to bachelor’s degree. Diploma programs last three years. Associate’s degree takes two maybe three years depending if one is a full time student. One can obtain an associate’s degree at a community college. Diploma programs and associate degree programs provide graduates with the knowledge for and entry-level nursing position. Nurses that only have a diploma or associates degree will later get their bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree is a four to five year program and is offered at colleges and universities. Nurses with a bachelor’s degree will do broader work. To become a military nurse you must have a bachelor’s degree.

A registered nurse (RN) is a graduate of a four-year nursing program from a college or university. RNs usually finish an associate degree that takes two years before continuing to a Bachelor’s Degree which will then take another two years. On the other hand, a licensed practical nurse or LPN is a graduate of a one-year practical nursing program. Both of the degrees are focused on the study of nursing arts and sciences with backgrounds on humanities and other areas of science. However, since RN’s spend more time studying the different topics that are required for their job, they are more knowledgeable on physiology and pharmacology, clinical practice, management of resources, delivery systems, utilization of research and functioning appropriately with a team. Both RN’s and LPN’s are expected to maintain physical and psychological competence so that they can continue with their jobs but for registered nurses,

In the Certified Nurses Assistant or CNA services, you have to be trained. The training for being a CNA you need to have basic nursing principles and do clinical work while being supervised. You also have to be qualified to be one. You need to have your High School diploma or GED, nursing assistant training, which is about 6-12 weeks, basic training skills, Anatomy/physiology credit, and infection control.

You must also have completed classes getting you ready for the work place environment. You will also have to do 40 hours of clinicals at the nursing home in order to take state board. Becoming a CNA can be become stressful form all of the studying you have to do. You will also have to be certified in nursing to work at a nursing home and to operate the lift at the nursing home.

“Advanced nursing practice is the deliberative diagnosis and treatment of a full range of human responses to actual or potential health problems.” (Calkin, 1984). Advanced nurse practitioners attempt to maximize the use of knowledge and skills and improve the delivery of nursing and health care services. The field of advanced nursing practice differs from basic practice as the former requires clinical specialization at the master’s level. At this level, nurses become expert practitioners whose work includes direct and indirect patient care. Direct patient care involves caring for patients and their families; this is the focus of my section on nurse clinicians. Indirect patient care includes work as an educator, researcher, and a

Baccalaureate nursing programs in the very early years were extremely slow at gaining acceptance because they were five years long and the only difference identified between diploma programs was that public health was part of the curriculum. This program now requires 125 credits and takes four years to complete. Baccalaureate nursing programs cover all work taught in an associate and diploma program. Physical and social sciences are studied more in depth. Course curriculum also includes nursing research, humanities, public and community health, and nursing management. “The additional course work enhances the student’s professional development, prepares the new nurse for a broader scope of practice and provides the nurse with a better understanding of the cultural, political, economic, and social issues that affect patients and influence health care delivery”. ("Impact of Education on Nursing Practice," 2014)

In order to acquire a degree in nursing, the steps required are having a high school diploma and some form of formal education post high school. There are three different paths available: a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN), an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), or a hospital diploma of nursing (Krannich 72). A BSN program includes four years in college with the curriculum consisting of “assessment, disease management, decision making, health promotion and prevention, health care technology and policy, research, quality assurance, leadership, and management.” (Gregory 5). You are also required to complete clinical training, meaning working in a hospital for experience in the field with real people and situations. The ADN program only requires two to three years of education (Gregory 5). However, the ADN program had the most educational opportunities, or universities offering the program. The hospital diploma career path is not offered by every hospital, but only by seventy. The ADN programs available in

The standards of practice describe a competent level of nursing care as exhibited by the critical thinking model known as the nursing process. This practice includes the areas of assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The nursing process includes significant actions taken by registered nurses (RN) and forms the foundation of the nurse’s decision-making (“American Nurses Association,” 2010).

With a consistent change in modernizing medicine, along with the continuing advancement in technology, continuing education in nursing is essential for a variety of reasons. The nurse’s main concern is providing safe, efficient, and effective patient care with positive patient outcomes. This paper will examine the differences in competencies between nurses prepared at an associate-degree level versus a baccalaureate-degree level, in order to provide an evidenced-based understanding of the variation in the educational preparation of nurses.

This assignment will present a nursing care study of a patient on a cardiac ward. The patient will be referred to as Ann to maintain confidentiality (NMC, 2008). Ann’s consent was gained prior to starting this care study. The care study will be developed using the Nursing process and the Roper, Logan and Tierney model. These will both be outlined. The assignment will focus on the assessment process and one problem identified during the assessment and the nursing care which followed this.