I am taking a class in nursing school called Professional Roles and Issues. We have to do a debate and my groups topic is: In the future nurses will be required to have BSN's or higher.
Apparently some nurses in the field feel that we should do away with ADN degrees, I have not ever heard of this issue before today so I would really like to hear some other nurses ide on this subject! What do you guys think? I would appreciate views on both sides as it is required for my debate!
One of the problems that I would forsee with doing away with ADN's is that for many people nursing is there second career choice. Many people are going back to school for nursing and already have a family. So dedicating two years to your life is much more beneficial than four years. If they are still interested than they have the option to get their BSN through online programs. So I would think that to do away with ADN programs would cause a lot of those people to look towards different working goals because sometimes it may be too long of a program to go through. The cons of a BSN program would be that all nurses would have all leadership type classes (I'm not sure what to call them) out of the way and would head out into the nursing world without having to worry about going back into school unless they were interested in progressing farther into school. But then again, that could be the same case for someone who is happy with stopping at ADN. There is no gaurentee that they would want to continue with their BSN in nursing. They may decide to transfer into something else down the line. Sorry wrote so much. I hope this is kind of what you were looking for. If someone already said it. OOOps.
thanks so much! actually no one had mentioned that one yet and that IS a good one!! we really would lose quite a few great nurses...just in my short time as a nursing student I have met sooo many future nurses that nursing is their second career choice...i think that is so great:) it sure broadens our career field to have such a wide variety of people in our profession...diversity is such a great thing:) I think if we did not have ADN degrees we would lose quite a bit of our diversity...wow see!! thanks! off of what you said i found another point for my debate! yay.
Q. What are the differences between a BSN and an ADN program, other than length?
A. There are three big differences:
General education courses. BSN programs contain considerably more liberal arts
classes - history, economics, foreign language, etc. - than ADN programs. On the
other hand, ADN programs usually include more total clinical time.
How quickly you start nursing. BSN programs typically don't start you in nursing
classes or nursing clinicals until the third year. ADN programs include clinical courses
and patient assignments in the first semester.
University atmosphere. The BSN is often offered at larger colleges. So if the big
school atmosphere is important to you, then a BSN program may be right for you.
carolinas.org/education/
Fact Sheet:
The Impact of Education on Nursing Practice
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the national voice for baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs, believes that education has a significant impact on the knowledge and competencies of the nurse clinician, as it does for all health care providers. Nurses with Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees are well-prepared to meet the demands placed on today's nurse. BSN nurses are prized for their skills in critical thinking, leadership, case management, and health promotion, and for their ability to practice across a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. Nurse executives, federal agencies, the military, leading nursing organizations, health care foundations, magnet hospitals, and minority nurse advocacy groups all recognize the unique value that baccalaureate-prepared nurses bring to the practice setting.
Q. What are the differences between a BSN and an ADN program, other than length?
A. There are three big differences:
General education courses. BSN programs contain considerably more liberal arts
classes - history, economics, foreign language, etc. - than ADN programs. On the
other hand, ADN programs usually include more total clinical time.
How quickly you start nursing. BSN programs typically don't start you in nursing
classes or nursing clinicals until the third year. ADN programs include clinical courses
and patient assignments in the first semester.
University atmosphere. The BSN is often offered at larger colleges. So if the big
school atmosphere is important to you, then a BSN program may be right for you.
carolinas.org/education/
Fact Sheet:
The Impact of Education on Nursing Practice
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the national voice for baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs, believes that education has a significant impact on the knowledge and competencies of the nurse clinician, as it does for all health care providers. Nurses with Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees are well-prepared to meet the demands placed on today's nurse. BSN nurses are prized for their skills in critical thinking, leadership, case management, and health promotion, and for their ability to practice across a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. Nurse executives, federal agencies, the military, leading nursing organizations, health care foundations, magnet hospitals, and minority nurse advocacy groups all recognize the unique value that baccalaureate-prepared nurses bring to the practice setting.
Okay - you might also utilize your nursing school library and use Ovid for a search.
wow you certainly are a wealth of knowledge! lol...i am not sure i have heard of OVID? is that kind of like psychresearch? a data base for journal articles? I think that our instructors mentioned that, i will be going to the lib/campus tomm so ill have to look into that...the only bad thing is since im attending a very small school and this is their summer semsester the library is only open a few hours here and there...my nursing cohort are the only students on campus this summer alll 31 of us....lol...even the school nurse is gone! boo...thanks so much for the resources...do you teach??
I think ADNs are great because it's a quicker, infinitely more cost effective way to get your RN. At my community college, my tuition was free because I met income guidelines. I have graduated with no student loan debt and that's great. Requiring BSNs for all will not help with the nursing shortage because it will eliminate a lot of nursing schools right there, also many cannot afford a 4 yr school.
That said, a BSN is a goal most should strive for as that 4 year degree makes you "officially" a professional and a college graduate, and opens up opportunities for advancement that you won't get with an ADN.
Melissa
Hi!
I am taking a class in nursing school called Professional Roles and Issues. We have to do a debate and my groups topic is: In the future nurses will be required to have BSN's or higher.
Apparently some nurses in the field feel that we should do away with ADN degrees, I have not ever heard of this issue before today so I would really like to hear some other nurses ide on this subject! What do you guys think? I would appreciate views on both sides as it is required for my debate!
Hey ELKMN, here is another perspective....mine... Let us not forget about the hard working LVN/LPNs, whom, I would argue IS the entry point for licensed nursing. Then...a lot of these nurses further their education and choose ASN or BSN pathways. An "ADN" IS a degree...albeit...less than BSN but suffice to qualify as a professional. Here are some comparable "professionals with AS degrees".... Commercial Airline Pilot, Air traffic controller, A& P mechanics, computer engineers, art designers, paramedics, regestered respiratory therapist, dental hygentist....just a few, but these guys are "professional". Some of the best nurses I know are a mix of adn, bsn BUT most were CNA, LVN and worked their way up! Most of my nursing instructors were Old School Diploma nurses who knew their stuff. There are simply not enough BSN programs in the country to accomadate the demand. Community Colleges do such a wonderful job of preparing RNs for their local community.
I think the current 2 and 4 year teir IS A GOOD THING. It leaves the decision to us as to what career plans and options we want to pursue. Economics and family dynamics are big factors here. Plus qualifying to get into a BSN university versus the local community college is an issue.
How about the actual education experience? Let's say you are in Microbiology at the community college....22 students in your class with the professor versus a lecture hall at most major universities with 400 students and two TA's hosting the class. Who will learn more? That is where it comes down to the individual in the class and their learning style or modality.
The movers and shakers of nursing are always pushing the bar to better the profession...such as the latest....required NPs to have doctoral. Wow....what if they don't want a terminal degree, if they wanted to be a "Dr" go to med school.
They also have said for years and years LPNs were going away....never did.
So good luck on your paper and your nursing future...do what is right for you and remember it is never too late to "go back to school".
Hey ELKMN, here is another perspective....mine... Let us not forget about the hard working LVN/LPNs, whom, I would argue IS the entry point for licensed nursing. Then...a lot of these nurses further their education and choose ASN or BSN pathways. An "ADN" IS a degree...albeit...less than BSN but suffice to qualify as a professional. Here are some comparable "professionals with AS degrees".... Commercial Airline Pilot, Air traffic controller, A& P mechanics, computer engineers, art designers, paramedics, regestered respiratory therapist, dental hygentist....just a few, but these guys are "professional". Some of the best nurses I know are a mix of adn, bsn BUT most were CNA, LVN and worked their way up! Most of my nursing instructors were Old School Diploma nurses who knew their stuff. There are simply not enough BSN programs in the country to accomadate the demand. Community Colleges do such a wonderful job of preparing RNs for their local community.
I think the current 2 and 4 year teir IS A GOOD THING. It leaves the decision to us as to what career plans and options we want to pursue. Economics and family dynamics are big factors here. Plus qualifying to get into a BSN university versus the local community college is an issue.
How about the actual education experience? Let's say you are in Microbiology at the community college....22 students in your class with the professor versus a lecture hall at most major universities with 400 students and two TA's hosting the class. Who will learn more? That is where it comes down to the individual in the class and their learning style or modality.
The movers and shakers of nursing are always pushing the bar to better the profession...such as the latest....required NPs to have doctoral. Wow....what if they don't want a terminal degree, if they wanted to be a "Dr" go to med school.
They also have said for years and years LPNs were going away....never did.
So good luck on your paper and your nursing future...do what is right for you and remember it is never too late to "go back to school".
Chuck...RN (ASN by choice)
good point chuck, i admit i didnt even think of LPN/LVN! Although I go to a Univ. and my classes are ab out 8-12 ppl, but I do know what you mean bc I did grad from Ohio State lol..so I have seen those HUGE lectures although I must say those large lec were usually the 100 level classes...all of my upper level classes were no larger than 25 ppl, hard to believe from a school like OSU:) I think all in all I only had 3 HUGE classes, psyc100, econ100 and soc100. Oh yeah I took chemistry at a school of 2100 students total and my chem class was over 150...lol i guess it was the entire freshman class then....
anyway..sorry getting off topic lol...thanks for the great ideas guys...also has anyone ever given a real debate, i mean like one that meets the prof. guidelines? anyone on the debate team in hs?> do they still have debate teams in hs...i dont think mine did....i get really nervous in front of a group....
GrnHonu99, RN
1,459 Posts
thanks so much! actually no one had mentioned that one yet and that IS a good one!! we really would lose quite a few great nurses...just in my short time as a nursing student I have met sooo many future nurses that nursing is their second career choice...i think that is so great:) it sure broadens our career field to have such a wide variety of people in our profession...diversity is such a great thing:) I think if we did not have ADN degrees we would lose quite a bit of our diversity...wow see!! thanks! off of what you said i found another point for my debate! yay.