NUR 3825 – Professional Socialization Nursing Issue Paper

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Nursing degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing VS Associate of Science in Nursing

Nicole Leftenant

College of Central Florida

September 06, 2020

Nursing degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing VS Associate of Science in Nursing

The journey of a future nurse begins before attending nursing school. There are many decisions to be made; not only deciding which school would be the best to attend but also which degree program to begin with. When making these decisions, there are a plethora of factors to take into consideration. Cost of the program, financial aid opportunities, degree type, length of the program, accreditation of the program, etc. With that, it is imperative to decide which degree program to begin with, as the different degree levels have very different outcomes career-wise after nursing school.

Comparison of Entry-Level Degrees in the Nursing Profession

There are several different program options that students can choose from when entering a nursing program. There is an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program that is approximately a two to a three-year program in which students graduate with their ADN and can begin working with an RN designation. This program will allow nursing students to build a nursing foundation and develop clinical as well as critical thinking skills (Nurse Journal,2020). Additionally, there is a baccalaureate program that takes approximately three to four years to complete, and students will graduate with their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The BSN degree will also entail developing clinical and critical thinking skills, with the addition of leadership and management skills. Additionally, those who obtain their BSN will have the opportunity to pursue more education with a Master of Science in nursing (MSN) or doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree, and the ability to choose from a full array of high-paying and high-demand nursing jobs (Nurse Journal,2020). Furthermore, numerous programs offer accelerated options for those students that can dedicate more time to their studies to complete their program at a faster pace.

Personal Overview of Entry-Level Degrees

The entry-level degree that I believe should be required for the nursing profession is the ADN degree. Ultimately, nurses must continue their education and move forward to at least a BSN degree if not further within a reasonable period. However, entering into the nursing profession with an ADN degree will allow the newly Registered Nurse to continue to develop critical thinking skills and practice the skills already learned to safely care for patients. Additionally, nurses can develop themselves in their new roles while having the opportunity to afford to enter into a BSN program that can be as accelerated as nine months and is offered online from most institutions. In research from Zittel et al. (2016), Registered Nurses have documented for many years that time and cost are two major barriers to continuing their education to the BSN level, as well as the inflexibility of scheduling.

Current research from Potera (n.d.) suggests that a nurse with a baccalaureate earns only about $5,000 more per year than one with an associate degree. The lack of financial incentives may also discourage nurses from pursuing further education. Clinically, there is little difference in the role of the Registered Nurse, whether they hold an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree.

Many professional nurses and others outside of the profession believe that nursing is a mobile occupation: A nurse should be able to move through a career from unlicensed assistive personnel to LPN or LVN to associate, baccalaureate, and even master's and doctoral degrees, building at each point in the education chain with the right to stop at any point (Clarke, 2017, p. 6). Ongoing education is inevitable as a nurse professional; however, it should be an option as to whether a nurse wants to build upon their education, and when they choose to do so.

For a large number of students going to a four-year university to obtain there, BSN is not an option. Tuition for a four-year program is not something that they may be able to afford (Inside Higher Ed, 2017). By allowing students to attend a nursing program at the community college level, a two-year ADN degree will allow them to build a solid nursing foundation, obtain licensure, begin working in their role as a Registered Nurse, and then move forward to a BSN degree when it is feasible for them. According to research done in 2020, over one million baby boomer nursing professionals will be retiring over the next two decades increasing the need to train new nurses to replace them (CEW Georgetown, 2020). The demand for nursing professionals is increasing daily, especially with the current pandemic. It is not about whether or not a nurse has an ADN degree or a BSN degree, it is the fact that their clinical skills to care for patients and potentially save lives is vital to our health care system. “We project the nursing workforce will be facing a shortfall of roughly 200,000 nursing professionals by 2020” (CEW Georgetown, 2020). Rather than discouraging an associate degree in nursing, encouraging potential nursing students to move forward into the nursing profession regardless of the degree type is imperative for health care.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs are a tremendous commitment if you are not already a Registered Nurse. Not only is the BSN program for four years, but it may be difficult to balance work, family, and life in general with such a lengthy program. Also, the cost of the program may add up between tuition, fees, uniforms, etc. It is fantastic to have the option of beginning with a shorter two-year associate degree program while still having the same benefit of building a strong nursing foundation. Moreover, there is plenty of institutions that offer a BSN program at an affordable rate with great flexibility for already licensed Registered Nurses with an ADN degree. Great opportunities exist in many forms for nurses to further their education. Continuing to allow the associate degree to be the entry-level degree for the nursing profession can significantly reduce the risk of the predicted nursing shortage.

Conclusion

Overall, nursing is a profession that should not be defined by degree type. Rather, it should be defined based on patient outcomes, and the quality of care in our health care system. I feel that an associate degree in nursing should remain the entry-level degree for the nursing profession and is a great starting point for new nurses. Education is imperative for nurses but should be offered and completed at their convenience. With a health care system that is facing the potential of an extreme decline in the nursing profession, it is beneficial to have licensed Registered Nurses regardless of their degree type.

References

Clarke, S. P. (2017). The BSN Entry into Practice Debate, 15(1), 6–8. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nme.0000508544.59940.19

Inside Higher Ed. (2017, December 22). The battle over entry-level degree for nursing continues. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/12/22/battle-over-entry-level-degree-nursing-continues

CEW Georgetown. Nursing: Supply and Demand through 2020. (n.d.). https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/nursingprojections/

Potera, C. (n.d.). Bachelor’s Degrees Not Only Save Lives, They Save Hospitals. The American Journal of Nursing. https://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/fulltext/2015/02000/bachelor_s_degrees_not_only_save_lives,_they_save.8.aspx

NurseJournal. What's the Difference between an RN and a BSN Degree? (2020, September 4). https://nursejournal.org/bsn-degree/bsn-degree-rn-differences/

Zittel, B., Moss, E., O’Sullivan, A., & Siek, T. (2016, September). Registered Nurses as Professionals: Accountability for Education and Practice. Nursing World.Org. http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-21-2016/No3-Sept-2016/Registered-Nurses-as-Professionals.html

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[{:section_type=>"rich_text", :content=>"Nursing degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing VS Associate of Science in Nursing\nNicole Leftenant\nCollege of Central Florida\nSeptember 06, 2020\n \nNursing degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing VS Associate of Science in Nursing \nThe journey of a future nurse begins before attending nursing school. There are many decisions to be made; not only deciding which school would be the best to attend but also which degree program to begin with. When making these decisions, there are a plethora of factors to take into consideration. Cost of the program, financial aid opportunities, degree type, length of the program, accreditation of the program, etc. With that, it is imperative to decide which degree program to begin with, as the different degree levels have very different outcomes career-wise after nursing school.\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Comparison of Entry-Level Degrees in the Nursing Profession</h1>\nThere are several different program options that students can choose from when entering a nursing program. There is an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program that is approximately a two to a three-year program in which students graduate with their ADN and can begin working with an RN designation. This program will allow nursing students to build a nursing foundation and develop clinical as well as critical thinking skills (Nurse Journal,2020). Additionally, there is a baccalaureate program that takes approximately three to four years to complete, and students will graduate with their Bachelor of Science in Nursing  (BSN) degree. The BSN degree will also entail developing clinical and critical thinking skills, with the addition of leadership and management skills.  Additionally, those who obtain their BSN will have the opportunity to pursue more education with a Master of Science in nursing (MSN) or doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree, and the ability to choose from a full array of high-paying and high-demand nursing jobs (Nurse Journal,2020).  Furthermore, numerous programs offer accelerated options for those students that can dedicate more time to their studies to complete their program at a faster pace.\n \nPersonal Overview of Entry-Level Degrees\nThe entry-level degree that I believe should be required for the nursing profession is the ADN degree. Ultimately, nurses must continue their education and move forward to at least a BSN degree if not further within a reasonable period. However, entering into the nursing profession with an ADN degree will allow the newly Registered Nurse to continue to develop critical thinking skills and practice the skills already learned to safely care for patients. Additionally, nurses can develop themselves in their new roles while having the opportunity to afford to enter into a BSN program that can be as accelerated as nine months and is offered online from most institutions. In research from Zittel et al. (2016), Registered Nurses have documented for many years that time and cost are two major barriers to continuing their education to the BSN level, as well as the inflexibility of scheduling.\nCurrent research from Potera (n.d.) suggests that a nurse with a baccalaureate earns only about $5,000 more per year than one with an associate degree. The lack of financial incentives may also discourage nurses from pursuing further education. Clinically, there is little difference in the role of the Registered Nurse, whether they hold an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree.\nMany professional nurses and others outside of the profession believe that nursing is a mobile occupation: A nurse should be able to move through a career from unlicensed assistive personnel to LPN or LVN to associate, baccalaureate, and even master's and doctoral degrees, building at each point in the education chain with the right to stop at any point (Clarke, 2017, p. 6). Ongoing education is inevitable as a nurse professional; however, it should be an option as to whether a nurse wants to build upon their education, and when they choose to do so.\nFor a large number of students going to a four-year university to obtain there, BSN is not an option. Tuition for a four-year program is not something that they may be able to afford (Inside Higher Ed, 2017). By allowing students to attend a nursing program at the community college level, a two-year ADN degree will allow them to build a solid nursing foundation, obtain licensure, begin working in their role as a Registered Nurse, and then move forward to a BSN degree when it is feasible for them. According to research done in 2020, over one million baby boomer nursing professionals will be retiring over the next two decades increasing the need to train new nurses to replace them (CEW Georgetown, 2020). The demand for nursing professionals is increasing daily, especially with the current pandemic. It is not about whether or not a nurse has an ADN degree or a BSN degree, it is the fact that their clinical skills to care for patients and potentially save lives is vital to our health care system. “We project the nursing workforce will be facing a shortfall of roughly 200,000 nursing professionals by 2020” (CEW Georgetown, 2020). Rather than discouraging an associate degree in nursing, encouraging potential nursing students to move forward into the nursing profession regardless of the degree type is imperative for health care.\nBachelor of Science in Nursing programs are a tremendous commitment if you are not already a Registered Nurse. Not only is the BSN program for four years, but it may be difficult to balance work, family, and life in general with such a lengthy program. Also, the cost of the program may add up between tuition, fees, uniforms, etc. It is fantastic to have the option of beginning with a shorter two-year associate degree program while still having the same benefit of building a strong nursing foundation. Moreover, there is plenty of institutions that offer a BSN program at an affordable rate with great flexibility for already licensed Registered Nurses with an ADN degree. Great opportunities exist in many forms for nurses to further their education. Continuing to allow the associate degree to be the entry-level degree for the nursing profession can significantly reduce the risk of the predicted nursing shortage.  \n \nConclusion\nOverall, nursing is a profession that should not be defined by degree type. Rather, it should be defined based on patient outcomes, and the quality of care in our health care system. I feel that an associate degree in nursing should remain the entry-level degree for the nursing profession and is a great starting point for new nurses. Education is imperative for nurses but should be offered and completed at their convenience. With a health care system that is facing the potential of an extreme decline in the nursing profession, it is beneficial to have licensed Registered Nurses regardless of their degree type.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nReferences\n Clarke, S. P. (2017). The BSN Entry into Practice Debate, 15(1), 6–8. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nme.0000508544.59940.19\nInside Higher Ed. (2017, December 22). The battle over entry-level degree for nursing continues. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/12/22/battle-over-entry-level-degree-nursing-continues\nCEW Georgetown. Nursing: Supply and Demand through 2020. (n.d.). https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/nursingprojections/\nPotera, C. (n.d.). Bachelor’s Degrees Not Only Save Lives, They Save Hospitals. The American Journal of Nursing. https://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/fulltext/2015/02000/bachelor_s_degrees_not_only_save_lives,_they_save.8.aspx\nNurseJournal. What's the Difference between an RN and a BSN Degree? (2020, September 4). https://nursejournal.org/bsn-degree/bsn-degree-rn-differences/\nZittel, B., Moss, E., O’Sullivan, A., &amp; Siek, T. (2016, September). Registered Nurses as Professionals: Accountability for Education and Practice. Nursing World.Org. http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-21-2016/No3-Sept-2016/Registered-Nurses-as-Professionals.html"}]

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