DIFFERENCE IN COMPETENCIES BETWEEN ADN AND BSN 2 A Registered nurse is a healthcare professional who has received extensive training in order to render treatment for the sick and to assist in their holistic recovery. Nurses have many roles in the promotion of a patient’s healthcare and recovery. Among many of their functions, nurses perform a range of clinical purposes towards the promotion of health, prevention of illness, patient advocacy, public health and education. There are two different types of categories of nurses based on educational level. One is an Associate Degree Nurse (ADN), a two year program and other a Baccalaureate Degree Nurse (BSN), a four year program. This paper will show the differences in the competencies between nurses prepared at the associate degree and baccalaureate of science level. The initial course work for ADN and BSN nurses are very similar. Both types of nurse’s take the same prerequisites, depending on the requirements of the nursing school. An Associate degree in nursing primarily focuses on the clinal skills and responsibilities. Baccalaureate degree nurse continue their education focusing on nursing theories, community health and leadership skills. ADN and BSN nurses are both allowed to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) upon completion of their specific program. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), graduates of entry level nursing programs (BSN and ADN) pass the NCLEX at the same ratio. Once the examination is passed by the nurses, both nurses are able to work in various settings as Registered Nurse’s (RN’S). Both types of nurse’s obtain the necessary skills to function independently as RN’s. They are qualified to perform head-to-toe assessments, dispense medication, start IV’s assist medical providers in various settings, and are able to work in any area of the hospital or clinic setting.

The core of the nursing program is the same no matter which path one proceeds and the knowledge of every prospective nurse is being tested by the NCLEX test. The added education that BSN nurse receives allows them to have a broader knowledge of professional development and also provides a better comprehension of all aspects of nursing, including culture, economic, and social issues, in comparison to their associate degree counterparts. Baccalaureate nursing curriculum integrates the roles of assessing, critical thinking, communicating, teaching, and nursing management and leadership skills. According to the Grand Canyon University College of Nursing Philosophy, this curriculum is designed to facilitate the students abilities to creativity respond to continuously changing health care systems.
Baccalaureate degree nurses are referred to as professional nurses, while Associate nurses are considered technical nurses or hands on nurses. A Baccalaureate nurse is focused on the nursing process, using nursing