Discuss the merits and/or drawbacks of mandatory CE from the viewpoint of nurses.
Locate one external (outside the course) source that provides evidence that supports your answer.
Synthesize information you read about in this module to write a 1 page answer to the chosen question. Remember to consider how external influences (societal, political, economic) impact the education and scope of practice of nurses.
By the end of the module, students will be able to:
Differentiate between associate degree and bachelor’s degree education.
Identify external influences (societal, political, economic) that impact trends in nursing education today.
Overview: This week, our focus is on the level of education required to enter into different roles of nursing. We will also look at continuing education requirements for maintaining an active nursing license.
The BSN is increasing relative to the ADN, in part due to a strong call for action by the Institute of Medicine. The ADN is not fading out, though: not yet, not everywhere. What is the difference in the degrees? ADN and BSN undergraduate degrees prepare nurses to provide patients care that meets accepted standards for entry-level nursing but here’s the fundamental distinction:
Associate degree programs emphasize clinical skills, with lab training and core nursing coursework
Bachelor’s degree programs similarly build clinical skills, with additional training in research, management, and leadership to provide a broad, holistic, and reality-based understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a professional nurse
An ADN program is designed to prepare nurses for entry-level roles as an RN, while a BSN program establishes the same foundation and expands upon it to cover advanced practice.
Guidelines: In the module assignment, you will discuss one of the following topics. As you review the posted materials and assigned readings, be looking for evidence and logic to support your ideas.
Consider the challenge that states face in determining whether a BSN should be the educational degree for entry into practice.
If you could create a curriculum for nursing school, what would you include and why?
Discuss the merits and/or drawbacks of mandatory CE from the viewpoint of nurses.
Readings:
Black, B.P. (2020). Professional nursing: Concepts & challenges, 9th ed. St. Louis, MO:Elsevier., Chapter 4, pages 73-93
A Policy Perspective on the entry into Practice Issue.htm : This reading walks through the progressive changes involved in educational requirements to enter into nursing practice over the years.
Aiken study.pdf : This 2011 study explores the “failure to rescue” and mortality rates of surgical patients related to the educational level of the nurse (BSN v. ADN).
Book Highlights from Educating Nurses.doc: This excerpt is taken from Pat Benner’s Book titled: Educating Nurses: A Call for Radical Transformation and discusses the changes required in nursing education today due to changes in practice that nurses are engaged in.
Mortality and Failure to Rescue.pdf : This study investigates the impact of nursing educational level (BSN v. ADN) and nursing specialty certification on surgical patient outcomes.
Tanner November2011.pdf : This paper discusses the educational changes needed for the nursing workforce today due to the increased complexity of the current healthcare environment that nurse’s are engaged in.
Academic Progression in Nursing: Moving Together Toward a Highly Educated Nursing Workforce. This is AACN’s position statement on Progression in Nursing.
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