Nursing care of ADN vs BSN

allnurses Guide · Apr 24, 2015

Hi everyone! This is my first post and I have question I need help with. I am currently obtaining my BSN, however, have been working as a home care nurse and don't have a lot of experience with the following scenario. Your experiences are greatly appreciated!
Identify a patient care situation in which you describe how nursing care or approaches to decision-making may differ based upon the educational preparation of the nurse (BSN versus a diploma or ADN degree).

Thanks much!

Are all your classmates RNs in a bridge program? If so, what specialties do they have experience in that would rule out their need to ask people on a message board for answers?

Just trying to put on that critical thinking cap for a moment, I believe home care provides more opportunities to exercise your advanced education in decision-making, because you're out in the field alone with no back-up but 911.

Because otherwise I don't get why your only nursing experience being in home care has anything to do with your hypothetical situation.

Providing that AACN link as your "evidence" is like asking MacDonalds if Big Macs are good.

AJJKRN · Apr 24, 2015

the difference is that the ADN will say " I do this because of my experience as a nurse" and the BSN "I do this because of the evidence-based clinical information" that is just the beginning you have to go deeper in research and don't forget your APA references very important. Practically, there are few dofferences because usually they are the same person at different stages in life LOL!! That is why no one can give you factual differences. The ADN that goes into BSN does not change much.....

Tell that to the droves of new grad BSN's in my area that don't know the difference between sterile, aseptic, and clean techniques but they know APA (as I learned APA as well doing EBP research papers during my ASN. Made it easier when bridging to my BSN) :barf02: :facepalm:

allnurses Guide · Apr 24, 2015

I agree with you! It's a shame we're not all united in our front. :) Here's a link to share some of the statistics: American Association of Colleges of Nursing | Creating a More Highly Qualified Nursing Workforce.

This is completely disconnected from your original post What statistics are you sharing that have anything to do with asking people for experiences and insight?

Since your post morphed from seeking to promoting an opinion, you must have compared one thing to another and found one of them lacking. What are you comparing and why does one have merit over the other?

eroc · Apr 24, 2015

No difference, except I have approx. $7,000 less in my bank accountâ€¦.but I do have a piece of paper in my closet to prove I spent the money.

elkpark · Apr 24, 2015

Nowadays, students in ADN and diploma programs are taught to do more than to just robotically follow orders and standard practices.

30 years ago, I was taught to do more than follow orders and standard practices in my hospital-based diploma program ... :)

julee1414 · Apr 24, 2015

Ummmm.....not sure where the poster lives that stated that ADN's work in long term care while BSN's work in acute care BUT, this is NOT true where I live. There is essentially NO difference, nor does anyone particularly care.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Apr 24, 2015

Where I live, hospitals do not hire ADNs, and haven't for a while.

lovinglife2015 · Apr 24, 2015

Where I live, hospitals do not hire ADNs, and haven't for a while.

Where would that be?

Angeljho, MSN, NP · Apr 24, 2015

There is a difference. While it's not a huge difference, BSN programs prepare nurses to be managers of care. ADN programs DO NOT go too far in-depth on role development of the nurse or quality improvement; and yes, quality improvement can positively affect patient care. I am not saying associate level nurses are inferior, because they're not. But there is a difference.

allnurses Guide · Apr 24, 2015

The difference between ADN and BSN can be debated all day. I am currently and ADN starting a BSN program because the current trend in hospitals here in California is to hire BSNs (ADNs need not apply). I don't think it will make me a better nurse than an ADN. Clearly I will have a lot more theory tucked in my back pocket but in reality the BSN is a necessary step to achieve my MSN in in complementary and alternative nursing.

I find it rather sad that so many nurses look down on those of us who work in LTC. Like it or not everyone gets old and will need care at some point. This is not Europe where families traditionally care for their elders at home so chances are most of us will see the inside of a nursing home at some point.

While the stereotype of the burned out slacker RN sitting at the nursing home desk ordering CNAs and LPNs around continues we do no service to each other with all this infighting. Every nurse I know in every discipline works very hard in their own way and in my experience doing acute care, L&D, Psych and now LTC I have found that the units that have a cohesive team approach which includes the talents of CNA, LPN, and RN give the best care and have the best patient outcomes and satisfaction surveys.

Hppy

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2015

the difference is that the ADN will say " I do this because of my experience as a nurse" and the BSN "I do this because of the evidence-based clinical information"

Except that no ADN I know has been taught to "do things the way they've always been done." My instructors always stressed the importance of EBP. I know for sure that when I was a brand new RN, I had no "experience as a nurse" to base my practice on, nor do I now practice on the basis of what I've always done.

nrsang97, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2015

In my ADN program we were strongly taught ebp. We were also taught to know why we were doing an intervention, no just because the doctor ordered one.