BSN vs ADN Educational Preparation
Introduction
It is the objective of nursing programs in educational institutions to let their graduates acquire the necessary skills, behavior and mindset to deliver high quality health care. Two of the nursing programs available to those who are aspiring to get into the field of nursing are the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). These nursing courses are focused on the acquisition of necessary skills to work as a registered nurse. Health care professional who wanted to get into the nursing career can opt for either of ADN or BSN. Nevertheless, while both of these courses can be taken as steps towards becoming a registered nurse, there are considerable differences between these two.
a. Length of Time to Take the Course
The key difference between BSN and ADN program is the time spent as well as the credits needed for course completion. It typically requires two years to become an ADN, while the BSN course generally requires four years for one to graduate. Moreover, those who have already taken other Bachelor’s degree can opt for the accelerated BSN course that will take a shorter time to complete.
The length of time spent in acquiring the needed education hugely impacts the skills training. For example, the BSN course allows the aspiring nursing professionals to gain more access to trainings in “critical thinking, leadership, case management and health promotion” (Rosseter, 2014). The ADN offer skills training and liberal education are also included in its program, however, the BSN course offers a more comprehensive educational base. This is important because the nursing field is constantly changing, and health care professionals must be adequately prepared to deal with possible changes in the future.
b. Difference in Competencies
Research revealed that education has a significant impact in gaining professional expertise “by providing a theoretical and practical knowledge base that can be tested and refined in actual situations” (qtd in McHugh and Lake, 2010). Thus, many medical institutions are requiring their nurses to complete a higher level of nursing education in order to prepare them to deal with complex patient cases. As noted, nurse leaders are suggesting that people in the nursing field must pursue BSN because of the academic training that hone their mindset, behavior and attitude towards providing quality health care.
Specifically, the BSN’s are considered to have a better exposure to a wide-ranging concepts which turned them into better-rounded individuals. While ADN program takers can complete the course within a shorter period time, the course only allowed them to take basic science courses. The shorter period allotted for learning gets the ADN trainees immediately into the skills needed and clinical aspect of the nursing profession. However, a large number of medical institutions and nursing leaders favor the acceleration of learning towards a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Nurses who have higher levels of education are more emotionally and mentally prepared to handle complex medical cases.
As pointed out in McHugh and Lake (2010), the educational level has an impact on both the individual and the medical institution where they belong. Reports indicated that nurses who hold a BSN degree, demonstrated a higher level of expertise. Moreover, it was also found that a sound educational foundation such as those that are gained through the BSN program “expedites the acquisition of skills through experience” (qtd in McHugh and Lake, 2010). The theories and principles gained from longer academic exposure allows the nurses to hone their critical thinking abilities which are needed in dealing with patients.
The nursing profession is evolving, and nurses are not only expected to follow the doctor’s orders. There are instances when they must deal with complex situations where they are required to make a critical decision. In addition to that, as the primary care givers in the hospitals, they may know more about their patients and they are in the position to question inappropriate orders from the doctor. Nurses may also take roles such as helping patients come up with life-changing choices. While the ADN programs recognized these educational needs of their trainees, the liberal arts offered in the BSN program are more comprehensive.
One critical role where the ADN and BSN trained nurses may differ is in the process of educating patients on health care. It is important that patients are well-informed and educated about their well-being in order to expedite their recovery and prevent possible relapse of illnesses. Researched showed that patients who are more knowledgeable about their health conditions have a better patient outcome. Consequently, the number years in nursing education are a crucial factor in the ability of nurses to convey important information, and the BSN trained nurses are likely to be equipped with the skills needed to communicate effectively. This is because the BSN program provides a deeper discussion and exposure to physical and social sciences, research, communication and leadership as well as public health nursing. The wider and in-depth education helps enhance the trainees' personal and professional development allowing the graduate to gain better understanding of the diverse social, cultural, and economic aspects that have an impact on the patients. Several research supports the theory that higher nursing education enhances patient outcomes, and this is largely because of the ability of the nurse to apply the knowledge gained through extensive training in health care.
References
McHugh, M., & Lake, E. (2010). Understanding clinical expertise: Nurse education, experience, and the hospital context. Research in Nursing Health, 33(4). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2998339/
Rosseter, R. (2014). The impact of education on nursing practice. American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/EdImpact.pdf
