Running head: THE DIFFERENCES IN COMPETENCIES BETWEEN ADN AND BS

The Differences in Competencies between ADN and BSN prepared Nurses
Grand Canyon University

The Differences in Competencies between ADN and BSN prepared Nurses

There are three routes to entry level nursing, and two of these routes are at a collegiate level. Both of these collegiate level programs provide enough information for the graduate to take and pass the NCLEX-RN exam. However, there are critical differences between both programs that researchers have discovered eventually affect nursing care and outcomes of patients.
Baccalaureate nursing (BSN) programs educate graduates that are prepared to obtain beginning leadership positions in various healthcare
Stephanie Farley Pardue, EdD, RN conducted a research study that found that, “there was a significant difference in critical thinking ability among associate degree, diploma, baccalaureate, and master's-prepared nurses. Baccalaureate degree and master's-prepared nurses had the highest mean scores in critical thinking ability.” (Pardue, 1987, p. 359)
This higher level of critical thinking can be seen in many different patient care scenarios. One such witnessed scenario involves a patient reporting to a care facility in need of a hip replacement. Preoperatively it is noticed that this patient has a higher than normal blood glucose. Further testing is performed, and it is determined that this patient has all the signs of Type 2 diabetes; however, the doctors neglect to address these findings with the patient. An ADN prepared nurse is assigned to provide her nursing care for all three days of her inpatient postoperative recovery. This ADN nurse provides education related to caring for her new hip and recovering from her procedure. The ADN nurse ensures that the patient receives exercises to perform at home that will lead to the most positive outcome the patient can receive from her procedure. The patient is then sent home with her post-operative instructions detailing her exercise plan and follow ups with her orthopedic surgeon. A few weeks later, the patient is