What Are the Benefits of a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing?
According to the National League for Nursing (NLN), 60.2 percent of nurses graduating in 2007 were from Associate Degree programs (ADN). What these nurses might be missing is the extremely high pressure exerted on hospitals to hire Bachelor's Degree nurses (BSN). More hospitals than ever are striving for Magnet distinction, which is essentially an award bestowed upon hospitals that have achieved nursing excellence. RN education level is one of the factors assessed in the Magnet application process. To get Magnet status, many hospitals are not accepting applications from ADN graduates.
History
The ADN degree has been in existence in the U.S. for 51 years. It was originally created as a way to alleviate the nursing shortage created by WWII by having technical nurses (ADN) assisting professional nurses (BSN). Even today, it remains a quicker way to become an RN as evidenced by the percentages of new RN grads. A common perception has been that "the only difference between an ADN and a BSN is two more years in school." To be fair, merit could be given to that sentiment because there certainly is not a noticeable salary difference between the two. Despite practice being essentially the same for the ADN and the BSN nurse, the profession of nursing has historically continued to sanction the BSN as the standard, not the ADN.
Why BSN?
Despite the fact that salaries between ADN's and BSN's are negligible, there is an inherent difference in the two degrees. If you have a BSN in the new millennium, you have greater job security. As education level becomes an increased focus for employers in all sectors, the person armed with a higher degree will have the advantage. Additionally, many ADN nurses may find it difficult to obtain positions in hospitals, especially those in urban areas, without their BSN. With a large pool of applicants, many employers will seek those with a more impressive (BSN) resume.
Significance
A number of former graduates of ADN programs are returning to further their education and complete their BSN. It can be a difficult step for those who must work while attending classes toward a future degree, but many health care settings recognize this, often providing the educational funds and scheduling compromises required. By returning to school, these people get a stronger foothold in their profession and acquire a stronger skill set to care for patients.
Benefits
Apart from personal satisfaction at having achieved the next educational milestone, a BSN is a perfect stepping stone to career development. Many nurses are apprehensive that a BSN will take them away from bedside nursing, pushing them behind a desk. This is not true; a BSN nurse can pursue new avenues of practice. Graduates of a BSN program can branch into teaching positions, administrative roles and state and federal jobs. In the military, for example, an ADN, although an RN in civilian life, would be classified as an LPN and, therefore, enlisted personnel. On the other hand, a BSN nurse can enter the military as an RN and an officer.
Expert Insight
Every accredited nursing program has its advantages. The ADN is a short road to a limited, but quite lucrative career, in some cases. For a number of nurses, usually older ones, this might be the plateau where they are content to stop. A younger nurse, however, may find that a BSN makes sense in our education-hungry workplace. Requirements in the workplace only tend to increase over time, rarely stagnant. With governing bodies actively legislating to improve standards of care, the BSN degree is a logical goal for any nurse who sees herself in the career for the long term.
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