Mary Khristeen Isidro
Professional Dynamics
NRS-430V
Mrs. Marion Marino-Meyash
Associate-degree level versus the Baccalaureate-degree level in Nursing
Nurses are an imperative part of the health care team. Working concurrently with doctors, nurses ensure that patients obtain the highest quality of care and execute many of the routine functions of patient treatment. Associate degree nursing (ADN) education developed from Mildred Montag 's research and differentiated practice vision in 1952. From the first set of graduates, Montag 's differentiated practice vision did not take hold. Lack of differentiation of nurses ' role and functions in practice based on education preparation continues today (Mathias, 2009). An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) emphases on the technical standpoints of nursing, rather than the theoretical and academic aspects of nursing usually covered in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. ADN students will have to accomplish some fundamental prerequisites before taking nursing curriculum, such as courses in writing, social science, history, etc. Nursing-specific module will likely enfold such topics as anatomy and physiology, chemistry, biology, family health, pediatric and geriatric medicine, pharmacology, psychology and mental health. State Boards of Nursing in each state regulate which programs are customary for that state. Upon achievement of a state certified curriculum of study, the nursing candidate will need to pass the NCLEX, or the National Council Licensure Examination. Fortuitously, most of the two-year courses for an ADN are geared en route for helping graduates to pass the NCLEX. With the existing high exigency for nurses, employment for someone with an associate degree in nursing and a bona fide nursing license is virtually guaranteed. The nurse may also choose to work in a specialized medical field, such as pediatrics, geriatrics,
References: Mathias, A. D. (2009). The intersection of the history of associate degree nursing and “BSN in 10”: Three visible paths. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 5(1):39-43(539-43). http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.teln.2009.08.006 Sportsman, S., & Allen, P. (2011). Transitioning associate degree in nursing students to the Bachelor of Science in nursing and beyond: A mandate for academic partnerships. Journal Of Professional Nursing, 27(6), e20-e27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2011.08.004