Differences in competencies between the ADN versus the BSN nurse

While some might argue that there’s no real difference when it comes to a nurse prepared at the associate-degree (ADN) level versus the baccalaureate-degree (BSN) level, this is actually not as accurate as some would have you believe. Some people argue that for a nurse, the most important thing is years of education under their belt, and that as long as they have a basic education, that’s all that matters. Experience is crucial to excellence in any profession, particularly in the field of medicine and professional healthcare. However, there are still some rather stark differences between a nurse with an ADN versus a BSN.
All nursing programs prepare the students to offer real care within a clinical setting. Most healthcare professionals would agree that both types of nurses are competent enough to offer care that conforms to the overall accepted standards of excellence. Many job positions focus on just hiring BSN degree holders simply because they’ve had a more rigorous level of education. “BSN programs place a greater emphasis on topics like research and informatics. They include clinical rotations in community and public health settings. A BSN typically does not get more clinical experience carrying out assessments and procedures in an acute care setting. Students will likely exit no more adept at wielding needles and tubes, but be better prepared for hospital employment nonetheless” (Nursinglicensure.org). As a result of the fact that the BSN nurse is more prepared with clinical experience, this graduate might have an easier time adjusting to employment as an actual nurse, as the high stakes and ultra fast-paced world of nursing is something that is not foreign to him/her. Thus, the real-life learning curve will be smaller. This is a competency that so many people overlook when making the distinction between ADN and BSN. The reason that it is overlooked is because it’s not something formally taught; rather, clinical experience/familiarity is something that is absorbed by the student.
More and more hospitals are stating in their job descriptions or opening for nurses that they prefer nurses with BSN or that the position is only open to nurses with such credentials. Magnet hospitals around the nation, which are hospitals that have major recognition for their overall excellence, their excellence in nursing and their positive patient outcomes, have made BSN degrees a priority and a requirement. These hospitals “..have moved to require all nurse managers and nurse leaders to hold a baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing by 2013. Settings applying for Magnet designation must also show what plans are in place to achieve the IOM recommendation of having an 80% baccalaureate prepared RN workforce by 2020” (Aacnursing.org). While traditionalists might not consider this a “competency” in the real world, it is. A nursing competency can encompass how likely it is that one will be competent enough to get a job upon the completion of one’s degree program.
Essentially, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, standard BSN programs encompass all the coursework taught within ADN programs, as well as more intense courses in a range of subjects. These subjects include, public health issues and crises, management, community health needs and practices, management practices and more in-depth professional development classes. This training will ensure one has a more comprehensive view of all the interlocking factors of the economy, the culture and pervasive social issues that impact health on the micro and macro level.


Patient care situation: Difference in Approach of ADN versus BSN

A patient care situation that two nurses might handle differently based on the type of degrees that they have would be what to do with the umbilical cord stump of a newborn infant. A BSN nurse will have had the superior education that is more in-depth and will be more likely to have engaged in rigorous research and study outside of class and outside of her clinical setting. This means that she will be more likely aware of how serious it is to care for the umbilical cord stump effectively in order to prevent infection. “After birth, the devitalized umbilical cord often proves to be an ideal substrate for bacterial growth and also provides direct access to the bloodstream of the neonate. Bacterial colonization of the cord not infrequently leads to omphalitis and associated thrombophlebitis, cellulitis, or necrotizing fasciitis” (Stewart & Benitz, 2016). Hence, treating this area effectively and swiftly is crucial as infection must be avoided at all costs. Infections impede the development of the infant, and there’s always the danger that the infection could spread and get out of hand. Thus, while some might argue that a wealth of research asserts that treating the stump with a range of antiseptics is fine, the most recent findings are more precise than that. There have actually been divergent recommendations for cord care put forth by the World Health Organization (WHO), based primarily on the setting where this takes place. The WHO “…advocates dry cord care for infants born in a hospital or in settings of low neonatal mortality and application of chlorhexidine solution or gel for infants born at home or in settings of high neonatal mortality” (Stewart & Benitz, 2016). This is because in settings where neonatality is high, there needs to be a stronger substance used in order to offer the child a higher level of protection of preventative care. Dry-based antiseptics offer their own advantages and can be used in first-world countries and comparable places where neo-natality is not as big a concern. This is a clear case of where the educational preparation of the nurse would have a direct impact on the patient care received.



















References
Aacnnursing.org. (n.d.). American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) > News & Information > Fact Sheets > Creating a More Highly Qualified Nursing Workforce. Retrieved from http://www.aacnnursing.org/News-Information/Fact-Sheets/Nursing-Workforce
Aacnnursing.org. (n.d.). American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) > News & Information > Fact Sheets > Impact of Education on Nursing Practice. Retrieved from http://www.aacnnursing.org/News-Information/Fact-Sheets/Impact-of-Education
Nursinglicensure.org. (n.d.). ADN vs BSN | The Difference Between the ADN and BSN. Retrieved from https://www.nursinglicensure.org/articles/adn-vs-bsn.html
Stewart, D., & Benitz, W. (2016). Umbilical Cord Care in the Newborn Infant. PEDIATRICS, 138(3), e20162149-e20162149. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-2149