ASN vs BSN

ASN vs BSN

  • Submitted By: levisuzi
  • Date Submitted: 04/23/2016 6:34 PM
  • Category: Science
  • Words: 1320
  • Page: 6








Nursing Competencies: ADN versus BSN
Nursing Competencies: ADN versus BSN
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), nursing is “the largest health care profession, with 3.1 million registered nationwide.” The AACN states on their website, in 1980, 22 percent held the bachelor’s degree and 18 percent held an associate’s degree (American Associate of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2015). By the 2008, the number holding bachelor’s degree increased to 36.8 percent and the number for an associate’s degree increased to 36.1 (AACN, 2015). In the paper, I will discuss what it takes to obtain both degrees, the advantages, disadvantages and the different competencies of the Associates Degree in Nurse (ADN) and the Baccalaureate Degree Nurse (BSN).
In the last few years, the hospital I have worked for has really encouraged those with an ADN degree to obtain their BSN. Representatives from different colleges have made visits to the hospital to get nurses to enroll in their ADN to BSN online programs. Our hospital, like many other across the nation, suffer from a nursing shortage. There are 2 universities within an hour in driving distance with BSN programs. Where I live, we are very fortunate to have an ADN program at our local community college, which is right across the street from the only hospital in town.
When thinking about becoming a nurse, the prospective student may ask, “What is the difference between an ADN and a BSN?” To begin, there’s a difference in how long it takes to obtain both degrees. Typically, it takes 2 years for the ADN program and 4 years for the BSN program. Both programs have adult health, maternal and newborn health, pediatrics, geriatrics, and mental health as part of their curriculum. The ADN was intended to prepare nurses for more hands-on clinical duties, not management or leadership (Burgess, 1997-2012), while the BSN is more in depth and more technical in their fundamentals (Burgess,...

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