There are fundamentals differences between ADN prepared nurse, versus BSN prepared nurse. They include critical thinking, clinical skilled, leadership, and management. Even though both ADN and BSN graduates to become a nurse after passing NCLEX RN exam, sometimes it is easy to get confused as to which option to pursue. But in a nutshell BSN classes include all the classes rendered on ADN program, and additional classes that are only offer at universities.
The main objective of BSN programs is for student to broaden their thinking in nursing practice, and also lead them in many direction in the nursing field, where as an Associate Degree in Nursing is a great start to our career, because it is less expensive, and also less time consuming, and a stepping stone to BSN program. BSN is a 4 years college degree program offer at universities, were as the ADN is a two year associate or diploma program offer mostly at colleges, and few universities. In one study Kovner and Colleagues (2014) ADN prepared RN seem to be experiencing differences in the labor market, as compare to BSN prepared RN, especially in hospital setting. Employer in hospital prefer employing nurses with BSN degree because of their higher educational level, and if ADN RN nurse is employed in hospital, a time frame is given to them to pursue their BSN, they are even given reimbursement as sign of encouragement, so they can go to universities an achieve their degree. Even though there has been a rapid increase in the ADN educational program over the past ten years. (Buerhaus et al; 2014), the are still having challenges with BSN RN nurses in the working force, but there is one good news for them , they are needed in long term care facility, and also may be helpful to fill the vacant space the potential baby boomer RN are leaving due to their retirement age.
In detail, Friberg & Creasia (2016, p. 13) explained “the severity of the nursing shortage in the postwar years encouraged faculty to develop new entry-level nursing programs. In 1951 nurse educator Mildred Montag proposed an innovative program to prepare nurse technicians in 2-year associate degree (AD) in community colleges.” The nurses in these programs were observed to possess sufficient competency to pass state exams while demonstrating skill in the workplace, and have since been considered desirable as somewhat developed medical professionals. On the other hand ( ANA) has be expressing their view for it will be better for all RN be required to have BSN, On the believe that the nursing job has become more complex due to the advance in technology and organizational changes, thus it required a higher level of education, by doing that the status of the profession would increase, and alleviate nursing shortage, that will encourage individuals who don’t want to affiliate in the program excited because of the higher level of education, when comparing nursing to other field of studies like engineering, and cyber technology program. At GCU (n.d.) specifically, all programs are designed to educate student how to be professional in doing their work, to work with one another as a team member, rely on evidence based practiced protocol during patient care.
For the last 10 years American Association of colleges in nursing having being studying on nursing related to higher education, they come with conclusion that patient in the care of a BSN nurse have better outcome including mortality rates, therefore higher education make a difference in the quality of clinical practice. In my experience in patient care as an ADN nurse, I am not claiming that we offer less care than nurses with BSN education, but I believed they are better trained and ready to handle critical situation more effectively due to their educational experience, there elaborated curriculum and clinical experience give them the edge on how to deliver safe and effective patient care. A nurses with BSN degree tend to earn more and have better patient outcomes, make clinical diagnoses and quality nursing intervention this has been in line with the nature of trends presented by Rosseter (n.d.), because most of them work in the hospital, were everything is fast pace, and you are always learning new thing related to disease process, were as most nurse with ADN find them self-working in the nursing home taking care of resident who are stable, after being care for in hospital, therefore if you are not working in a place where every day you learn new things, you skilled become limited. The nurse with BSN has many advantages, these include career pathway that are only open to BSN nurses, such as administrative position, and also most hospital prefer BSN nurses to work for them because of their higher level of education. Due to the increasing percentage of ADN prepared RNs employed in nonhospital setting appear to be increasing, is a topic also for discussion (Spetz, 2014).
Most of the studies of patient care outcome have focus on hospital setting, there is no evidence to suggest any quality differences in nonhospital setting.
