Bachelor Degree Nursing Competency

Competencies Between Associates Degree Nursing and Bachelor Degree Nursing
Grand Canyon University: NRS 430 Professional Dynamics
Dana Noe
September 7, 2014

Competencies Between Associate Degrees
Nursing and Bachelor Degree Nursing
In this era there are many different kinds of registered nurses: diploma, associate degree (ADN) and baccalaureate degree (BSN). A diploma nurse will obtain schooling through a hospital-based program. An ADN is usually done in two years or less and is usually more affordable and without long waiting lists. The BSN is a four-year degree, more costly and is done at a university. After completing any of these three, the applicant will sit for National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
This paper will also explore a patient care situation where nursing care may be different based on educational background (AND or BSN).
Education
Mildred Montag developed the ADN in 1952 and in 1958 the program was trialed in four different states with an outpour of people who had a desire to be a nurse. These programs multiplied in community colleges and also began to appear at 4-year colleges and universities. “By 1973 approximately 600 associate degree programs existed in the United States (Cresia & Frieberg, 2010, pg27).” According to Montag’s plan, ADN nurses were suppose to work under BSN nurses, but thanks to role confusion both types of nurses sat for the same licensure test and it never happened. An ADN degree is focused more on being at the bedside and lacks learning a lot of the history behind nursing. BSN programs began in 1909, and took five years to complete, two years education and three years nursing (Cresia & Frieberg, 2010). “Baccalaureate nursing programs encompass all of the course work taught in associate degree and diploma programs plus a more in-depth treatment of the physical and social sciences,
He was transported from a local hospital to my facility for difficulty breathing. Upon admission, he was short of breath, very confused and very lethargic. His vitals were stable upon admission and as the day continued I noted that he had a lot of urine in his collection bag, and that it had filled up pretty quickly. The doctor made his rounds, and we began to look through to see what the hospital had been given him so that the physician could order meds, and our patient could be more comfortable. The previous doctors history and physical report stated that the cancer had spread throughout the entire two left lobes and there was no oxygen exchange heard during physical. The patient received several liters of fluid before admission to hospice and he had told an ER nurse that his breathing felt worse. Going through this patient’s medicine use history showed that a rather large dose of Lasix was given and he was discharged right after. The patient was admitted to hospice at 1130am and passed away at four pm. With a BSN maybe I would have been better at assessing the patient and able to reverse some of the damage that had been done. A BSN may have given me those critical thinking skills so that he could’ve had more time with his wife and children instead of dying so soon.
Conclusion
Even though Registered Nurses complete the same tasks, some do carry more education then others. Does holding