Why Choose a Bachelor of Nursing Degree Program?
Nearly a century ago, a report was published (Goldmark Report in 1923) recommending that the minimum level of education necessary for a practicing registered nurse should be a bachelor of science in nursing, or a BSN. There was much discussion and debate about this report when it first appeared and that debate remains a popular and heated discussion topic today.
Practice Makes Perfect
Ask any diploma or ADN registered nurse how they compare to one that is obtained bachelor’s degree and they will vehemently and passionately tell you that they can run circles around any BSN graduate when it comes to delivery of practical and high-quality patient care. Their explanation dwells upon a stated fact that they have a far more actual clinical experience in patient care know how existing in their little pinky finger than any newbie BSN grad could ever hope to display. The pure and unadulterated truth about this statement is that it’s absolutely true. RNs who have obtained a position through an ADN course of study or through career and vocational schools receive so much clinical and hands-on education by the time they graduated that even many doctors cannot hold a candle to what they were capable for accomplishing. Apparently, the emphasis placed upon practical application and hands-on study during an ADN or diploma course of study for a registered nurse prepare these individuals for life and the world will nursing much better than the classroom-based study leading to a BSN
Debate Has Quelled In Recent Years
Necessity has been the guiding force when it comes to individuals obtaining either an ADN or BSN degree in nursing. The demand for nurses throughout the past century has led to creation of accelerated courses in order to populate the field with qualified individuals. Yet, changing times in the past 25 years are placing more demands upon RNs to obtaining expanding clinical knowledge as well as acquiring specific healthcare skills placing greater emphasis on educational preparation to prepare students for a complexities in the diversified responsibilities now required of them in an ever-changing field of healthcare.
A Shift in Health Care Delivery Philosophy
The delivery of health care has shifted from the traditional hospital-based, in patient care system to one that is dealing with both primary and preventive care throughout the nation. Today’s healthcare delivery system requires RNs capable for practicing across a broad multiple setting that reaches well beyond that typically found in a hospital environment. RNs today are called upon to function in ever increasing independence making their own clinical decisions, conducting case management for patient care that is gone well beyond a bedside application. The increase of an army of unlicensed aides and other support personnel has also placed upon the typical RN to need to be a mentoring guide ensuring that patient care is delivered at the highest level possible. Furthermore, direct involvement with patients and their families in personal healthcare has led the RN to also become an educator dispensing not only medical treatment but medical information that will help improve an individual’s healthy lifestyle. Today’s preparation of any entry-level professional nurse requires a greater emphasis placed upon community-based primary care delivery services that include more emphasis upon health promotion and maintenance in order to develop the most cost-effective and coordinated health care possible.
Staying Current with Increasing Health Care Complexity
There is no denying that nursing is a dynamic profession requiring constant education and training. Not only is it important for all present day registered nurses to keep up to date with today’s current health care demands, but in emphasis has to be placed upon a nod toward all future demands as well. The needs of patients in today’s healthcare industry are constantly changing so the training and skill requirements for today’s registered nurses must do so as well. This is where today’s BSN course of study comes into the limelight helping prepare students to meet these specific ever-changing patient needs.
A BSN Course of Study Adds Additional Education
The specific difference between the ADN course of study and a BSN program can be found in the emphasis placed for additional education in areas of leadership and management as well as in community nursing and wellness. A BSN educated nurse typically possesses a greater deal of knowledge when it comes to health promotion, risk reduction, illness and disease management as well as disease prevention. They are preferred to assist communities groups and individuals in the prevention of disease in order to achieve maximum levels for physical wellness. The expanding role of nurses moving more and deeper into the community providing primary health care delivery makes the need for BSN prepared students much more viable.
A BSN Degree Provides Greater Career Opportunities
The increasing demand for the delivery of primary care on the front lines in today’s healthcare industry coupled with the accelerating the need for managed care that is both preventative and cost-efficient is driving the country’s need for qualified nurses. These would be individuals effectively prepared to practice and deliver health-care services in many non-traditional, non-structured settings atypical of what has always been conducted in a hospital environment. Individuals are needed to interact directly with the healthcare public providing not only reactive treatments but becoming involved in highly sought after wellness and prevention services requiring a greater degree of medical knowledge only found through a BSN courses study. Although the need for RNs with an ADN prepared background are still constantly sought, the changing focus on how primary care is delivered those require a greater amount of education making employment opportunities for medical professionals with a BSN quite favorable.
Should Every RN Become A BSN?
The short and emphatic answer to this question is “NO.” The 10 remaining individual choice based solely upon individual needs and desires. Initially, at least, there is very little benefit if any in salary differences between an RN with a BSN or an ADN. And, in fact, increased education always leads to increased responsibility which always leads to increased stress as well as increased time spent on the job. The greater difference strictly reveals itself in the fact that BSN nurses have many more career options in front of them than an individual obtaining either an ADN or diploma. It is within these increased opportunities for specialization within the nursing field that RNs will find greater salary differences. Additionally, since it is the understanding that a BSN degree helps to prepare RNs for a wider range of responsibility, many states have begun to require this as a prerequisite for becoming licensed. Even the Department of Veterans Affairs began requiring all new hires as of 2005 to possess a BSN degree. What the future holds in store concerning the need for a BSN degree can b? e anybody’s question
The Fundamental Facts about Obtaining A BSN Degree
The primary and fundamental fact about obtaining a BSN degree is that it allows the individual to great deal more flexibility when it comes to employment. Yes, individuals obtaining a greater degree of education usually find themselves put upon with a greater amount of responsibility. However, individuals accepting said responsibility and displaying the skills to execute in order to meet this responsibility always typically are compensated far greater rate than subordinates. Additionally, obtaining a BSN degree opens the door for a far more flexible range of employment were specialized certification opens the doors for RNs to many different leadership and management roles. An important fact to consider is that today’s working RN usually can obtain a BSN degree without sacrificing either a prison job or income through participating in an accredited online learning program. There are many opportunities available that offer a choice from LPN to RN BSN degree programs, RN to BSN and even RNs already obtaining a BSN seeking to pursue a master’s degree course of study. There are even some that can lead to a PhD in nursing. Many employers offer their RNs benefits to cover the expense for furthering an individual education since the goal is to increase one’s skill and knowledge in order to benefit said employer.
Since the world of health care is always changing, it is important for nursing individuals to realize in order to meet these changes additional education is going to be the key solution.