The Importance Of Going Back To School

In 2008 the National League of Nursing (NLN) conducted a survey of students enrolled in nursing schools across the United States. Fifty three percent of students were enrolled in ADN programs, forty three percent were in BSN, while the remaining four percent were in a Diploma of Nursing program (National League of Nursing Data Review 2010). The rate of completion of the ADN nurse has exceeded that of the BSN, creating a deficit in higher educated

“Programs provide a solid liberal education and substantive upper division nursing major. Both components are combined in ways that prepare a nurse generalist who is able to provide professional nursing services in beginning leadership positions in a variety of settings” (Friberg, 2011, p. 87-88). Obtaining a BSN can open up more job opportunities for a person and in most cases makes you more desirable to employers. Many nurses get burnt out from being floor nurses so if you have your BSN you have the option to move into management or many other areas like insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, research jobs or even a clinical instructor. “Research shows they use evidence based practice for better patient outcomes.” (Moore, n.d.) “ As also stated in the same article “numerous research studies have demonstrated that the ADN and BSN nurses are not different in skill competency when they graduate, but within a year, the BSN nurses show greater critical thinking skills better problem solving, and the development of clinical judgment; three skills of increasing importance for the increase in acuity of patients in hospitals and other health care settings.” (Moore, n.d.)

A growing number of employers prefer BSN nurses to ADN nurses according to recent reports (Spetz and Bates, 2013). This indicates that hospitals consider nurses with a BSN to be more professional than nurses with an ADN. According to Spetz, there has been a

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.

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).

There is also an increased advantage to having a BSN when attempting to move beyond a staff nurse position. A study conducted by Kearney (1994), on academic advising of RN to BSN students, found that one of the main motivations for returning to school for RNs was the gained potential for promotion. BSN programs will provide more course work focusing on leadership and communication skills, which are essential for advancement within the workforce. Based on the findings by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2004, BSN prepared nurses only accounted for approximately 30 percent of the workforce, with the majority of practicing registered nurses only holding associate degrees. It’s easy to see how it would significantly improve one’s advantage for promotion by acquiring a BSN, due to the significantly low number of BSNs in comparison to ADNs within the workforce. The BSN might be the only difference to give that slight edge needed for

I'm a new grad who has been on the floor for only 3 months, so this transition is not bad for me at all, but I have seen from the intro videos that some of you have been nurses for years without being "BSN prepared". This fact actually brings me to my next con; RNs with ten plus years of experience are being mandated to continue their education, when in actuality they are sometimes more clinically prepared than the BSN nurse. In my opinion, there are just some situations that can not be mastered by just having BSN behind your name. The ADN nurse can be just as knowledgeable simply through time on the floor and what they learned at community college, and speaking of community college, the cost compared to a four year university is incomparable. I grew up in a lower middle class household, so I knew that going away to a 4 year college wasn't going to be an option. Delaware Tech gave me the opportunity to become an RN without the post college debt that comes with it. With BSN being the proposed minimal requirement, I

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

Krystel in regards to your posting on some of the barriers in the United States to making the BSN and entry level into nursing, I also feel that we are years away from making that change. Since working on the floor fresh out of nursing school I have noticed that there are many experienced nurses who still do not have their BSN and if it ever comes to the point that it changes it will force them to either get it or find a job. Like your post mentioned with the ADN it makes it easier to hire nurses to replace the shortage then it is to wait for nurses to finish their BSN.

If a nurse wants to expand their employment horizons, this can be accomplished by obtaining their BSN. It provides various options available not only in the clinical but management setting of nursing. According to Wagner, there will be “greater opportunity for career advancement, improved prospects for job mobility and security and higher potential earning” (as cited in American Sentinel, 2013, para 2). Wagner also believes “there is no way that nurses can get all of the needed knowledge with only an ADN degree” (as cited in American Sentinel, 2013, “Greater Opportunities”, para 3). Furthering your nursing education, will provide more opportunities to serve your community and patient. Also, this will help

I first attended Olympic college as a running start student in 2011, and while I’ve never been the best student was determined to succeed in getting my associates by 2013. I met my goal, and after graduation I transferred to Montana State University in Bozeman. Before I arrived in Bozeman though my health had begun to deteriorate. By december of that year I ended up in the city's hospital, much to my misfortune, on finals week. The transition to college, on top of dealing with chronic depression, and having come out as transgender (and having begun that transition) weighed on me to where I could no longer handle it, and I tried to end my own life.

The battle between Associate vs. Bachelors have been raging over years. The debate seems to be heavily to receive in BSN and or higher education. The American Nurses Association (ANA), American Association of College of Nursing and Institute of Medicine (IOM) have published many articles, facts and book about the important of a nurse to become BSN or higher educations. Just by researching between the ADN and BSN the developments and growth are very different. Using the description from Grand Canyon University College of Nursing Philosophy, “Baccalaureate nursing practice incorporates

There is increased evidence that there are differences in the competencies between ADN and BSN. While entry into nursing practice may find all

Pamela, I enjoyed your post. You mentioned how Magnet hospitals are trying to achieve their nurses to have BSN degrees and the managers to all hold at least an MSN degree. I believe as a whole, the nursing profession is expected to be more educated which is a good thing. We have a Nurse Residency Program where I work and the program only accepts BSN applicants. The institution is steering away from ADN nurses. As you look at the different programs ADN, BSN, MSN, and DNP, you can see several skills added and each level. This does not mean that an ADN nurse is not a leader; however, the program does not incorporate core theory and analytical classes where as the DNP does. According to the Michigan Health Council (2016), the DNP degree prepares

What motivates me to go back to school is my kids; because they are my motivation on doing everything good with my life. You will never know when the time is too late for anything and having a degree in things with good things behind your name is wonderful now and days. I will never again give up on school I have to tell my kids the good things I did before they get old enough to remember things. School is the best thing for anyone to do with their time because education is the best thing going.