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A equivalence of Nurses EssayA Comparison of Nurses Educated at the Associate-Degree Level versus the bachelors head-Degree Level A career in nursing has many possibilities and depending on whither one is employed on that point may be different educational requirements. There are many nurses in the workforce with only their associates degree in nursing, but as time passes it seems that the baccalaureate degree is becoming more of an expectation. This brings up the question- is there a contrariety in the competency of the associate- direct nurse from the baccalaureate-level nurse? Studies are showing that there is a difference and persevering outcomes are affected by this difference. Differences between the Associate Degree in breast feeding and the Baccalaureate Degree in treat In order to compare the competencies between nurses prepared at the associate-degree level versus the baccalaureate-degree level, one must first compare the requirements to obtain these degrees. The Associates Degree in Nursing, foreshorten ADN, is a two-year degree usually earned through a community college. It requires 60 acknowledgement hours to complete and upon completion the graduate can apply for licensure through the state in which they leave practice. The Bachelors of scientific discipline in Nursing, also called BSN, is a four-year degree obtained at a university.It includes the same areas of study and has the same liberty upon completion of the NCLEX as the ADN nurse, but delves further into nursing theory as well as pathophysiology and skillful skills. Many employers require the bachelors degree for higher positions in nursing such as clinical managers and nurse specialists. Differences in competencies between nurses prepared at the associate-degree level versus the baccalaureate-degree level As explained preceding(prenominal) the bachelors degree in nursing requires two more years of education and a such(prenominal) deeper study of nursing theory and patho physiology than the associates degree.The question is does this extra education and counsel on nursing theory make a BSN nurse more competent than an ADN nurse. Research suggests there is a significant effect of nurse experience and a significant effect of the percentage of BSN nurses in each hospital (Kendall-Gallagher, Aiken, Sloane Cimiotti, 2011) in regards to better patient outcomes. To understand the difference one must explore at the basic nursing answer and how knowledge of nursing theory and pathophysiology affects it. The basic process taught in nursing school in providing patient care is prizement, contrive, intervention and military rating.Assessment is one the first things a nursing student learns. The associate-level and bachelor-level nurse will both sacrifice learned this skill in the actually first days of nursing school. Both nurses will also be competent with the last step, evaluation of the interventions. The advantage a BSN nurse will have lies in the mid dle two steps- plan and intervention. The plan and interventions a nurse provides is affected by their decision-making skills and this is based on their education. Plan and Intervention.To determine a patients plan of care, one looks at the abnormal assessments and then uses their knowledge of pathophysiology to determine the plan of care. maculation the BSN nurse will not necessarily have more clinical hours in assessing the patient, they will have taken more classes in pathophysiology than the ADN nurse and therefore may notice a disease process more readily than the ADN nurse. This is where the interventions will occur. Interventions are determined by the nurse based on their decision-making skills. Decision-Making SkillsNursing is a field in which one is given a great amount of autonomy. Therefore much of a patients care is affected by a nurses decision-making skills. 1s ability to make decisions is affected by many things including past experiences, environment and education. The focus here is education and how the additional study for the BSN affects nurses decision-making skills. The BSN nurse will have studied pathophysiology and nursing theory in greater depth than the ADN nurse. This extra knowledge is then applied to the decisions a nurse makes for their patient.These decisions have a great impact on patient outcomes and recent studies have indicated that there is decreased morbidity, mortality, and failure-to-rescue rates in hospitals that employ larger percentages of baccalaureate prepared nurses (Altman, 2011). Effect of baccalaureate-degree level nurses on patient outcomes In the incisive situation the BSN nurse can use their knowledge of pathophysiology in addition to their decision-making skills to decrease morbidity and mortality. taking into account the greater picture, a more holistic approach based on the BSN nurses familiarity with nursing theory, will improve patient outcomes.For example lets look at a hospital admission for a conges tive heart failure exacerbation. Both the ADN and BSN nurse will assess the patient and notice classic signs like shortness of breath and edema. Both nurses will plan on diuresis and paying close attention to respiratory status. The difference will come with the holistic approach that a BSN nurse is more likely to take. The emphasis on the nursing theories that a BSN nurse has studied will allow them to look at the patient as a whole, rather than dealing with only stabilisation of symptoms.The knowledge of nursing theory the BSN nurse has will allow them to delve further into why this patient admitted and what they can do to prevent a readmission. The BSN nurse asks questions as to what caused the exacerbation. It may be that the patient take more teaching on diet and medication compliance. They will ask the patient about their menage situation. Its possible the patient is having financial burdens that have kept them from filling their prescriptions. The BSN nurse is more likely to look at the home situation. The patient may have depression with the diagnosis and need both(prenominal) resources for social support.In regards to Kings theory, nursings central goal is to help individuals observe their health so that they can function in their roles (Creasia, 180). By helping the patient function in their role, the nurse empowers the patient to lead a healthier life. The patient is sent home educated with the resources undeniable to lead a healthy life and therefore reduces unnecessary hospital admissions. This in turn allows the pose available for hospital admissions that are necessary and leads to a healthier community. REFERENCES Altmann, Tanya K. (2011).Registered nurses returning to school for abachelors degree in nursing Issues emerging from a meta-analysis of the research. Contemporary Nurse A Journal for the Australian Nursing Profession, 39, (2) 256-72. Creasia, J Friberg, E. (2011). Conceptual Foundations The Bridge to Professional Nursing Practic e. (5th Edition). St. Louis, Missouri Mosby, Inc. , an affiliate of Elsevier Inc. Kendall-Gallagher, Deborah Aiken, Linda H. Sloane, Douglas M. Cimiotti, Jeannie P. (2011). Nurse Specialty Certification, inpatient Mortality, and Failure to Rescue. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 43, 188-94.