Nursing itself, is a very broad term. One could be a cardiac nurse, a pediatric nurse, a home healthcare nurse, or even a hospice nurse. The possibilities and specialties in the field of nursing are endless. One can even obtain numerous types of degrees in nursing; an associates degree in nursing (ADN), a bachelors degree in nursing (BSN), a masters degree in nursing (MSN), or even a doctorate in nursing (DNP). The possibilities are almost endless. However, each degree comes with its own level of educational development and preparation as a nurse. This paper will focus on the differences between the ADN and the BSN. In 1946, Congress passed the GI Bill of Rights, allowing veterans to obtain training or a college education. The opportunity was a huge success, and many veterans enrolled in college programs and earned degrees in nursing education and administration. By the 1950's, entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs were open to high school graduates throughout the nation and became extremely popular. (Friberg & Creasia, 2011. p. 13-14) In 1951, due to a nursing shortage, Mildred Montag, a nurse educator, created a program to prepare nurse technicians in a 2-year associate degree program. The program was successful, and between 1952 to 1974, the number of associate degree programs double every four years. (Friberg & Creasia, 2011. p. 14-15) From here, other degrees and programs were built, and the ability to be come educated in the field of nursing became wide-spread. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, “quality patient care hinges on having a well educated nursing workforce”. Since the BSN programs offer more education for students, several hospitals are pushing for nurses to have their BSN. Research has shown that lower mortality rates and fewer medical errors can be linked to nurses who have obtained their bachelors degree in nursing. (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2014). In a study published in October of 2014, researcher Olga Yakusheva and her colleagues found that increasing the amount of nurses with their BSN by 10%, was associated with lowering the odds of patient morality by 10.9%. The same study also found that increasing the amount of care given to patients by nurses with their BSN would result in a much lower rate of re-admissions to the hospital and would shorten patients lengths of stay. (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2014). This would greatly reduce costs for the hospital and patients alike. Another study, published by the Lancet in May 2014, found that patients experiencing complications after surgical procedures are more likely to survive if treated in hospitals that have an adequate nursing staff of mostly BSN nurses. Following a review of over 420,000 patient records in 300 hospitals, findings show that a 10% increase in the amount of nurses holding a BSN degree in an acute care setting is associated with a 7% decrease in the risk of death in discharged patients who underwent common surgical procedures. (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2014). There are several other studies out that show large decreases in patient mortality when the majority of nursing staff has the baccalaureate degree in nursing vs their associates degree in nursing. While I believe that having an associates degree in no way makes a person an incompetent nurse, I do feel that furthering your education for a bachelors degree can expand nursing knowledge and thus make you better prepared. Patient care situations may differ between a nurse who has their associates degree and a nurse that has her bachelors degree. Since most BSN programs offer more in-depth teaching critical thinking and utilization of nursing interventions, a nurse with a BSN may take the time to figure out the “why” in the situation verses jumping in to fix the problem immediately. For instance, if a patient
