1. ADN vs. BSN: Why the BSN is More Beneficial
Chelsea Dick
Ferris State University
NURS 450

2. Objectives Demonstrate understanding of 2020 BSN initiative
Recognize the relationship between nursing education and patient outcomes
Identify benefits of BSN degree

3. Introduction… BSN vs. ADN Controversy in nursing Benefits of a BSN
Time and Money
Same recognition?
Controversy in nursing
“Institute of Medicine (IOM) calls for increasing the proportion of baccalaureate-educated (BSN) nurses in the workforce to 80% by 2020”
(Yakusheva, Lindrooth, & Weiss, 2014)
80:20 by 2020 Initiative
Benefits of a BSN
Reduction of mortality rates in patients
Magnet status hospitals hire a higher percentage of BSN nurses
Stronger professional level skills
(American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2014)

4. Theory Intellectual Capital in Nursing Theory
Self Determination Theory
Analyzes the sources of nursing knowledge available within an organization and describes its relationship to patient and organizational outcomes
(Covell & Sidani, 2013)
A theory of motivation and personality that addresses three universal, innate, and psychological needs: competence, autonomy, and psychological relatedness
(Self Determination Theory, 2015)

5. Interdisciplinary Perspective
Integrate clinical knowledge with community resources
Broader and stronger scientific knowledge to address complex healthcare needs
Work with colleagues educated at masters degree or higher level

6. Assessment of Health Care Environment
Policy
Directly and indirectly affects nursing practice
All professional nurses have the responsibility of participating in the process of policy development
BSN nurses more familiar with EBP process
ADN nurses have less leadership/policy development education
(Mailloux, 2011)

7. Assessment of the Health Care Environment Cont’d.
Resources
Quality & Safety
“The means that are available to a health care system for delivering services to a population” (Sleeth, 2012)
BSN nurses aware of available resources and access to intra- and inter- professional resources
ADN nurses have a more “skills-focused” degree
BSN nurses report feeling better prepared than ADN counterparts in EBP, research skills, quality improvement, and applying tools and methods
BSN nurses receive 2-3 times more clinical training
Hospitals with a higher percentage of RNs with baccalaureate or higher degrees had lower mortality and morbidity rates among patients
(Blegen, Goode, Park, Vaughn, & Spetz, 2013)

8. Underlying Assumptions
BSN
ADN
More opportunities for advancement (manager, educator)
More expensive and time consuming program
More desirable to employers
BSNs make more money
(Beth-El College of Nursing & Health Sciences, 2013)
Less expensive program
Less time consuming
Lower NCLEX pass rates
(National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), 2015)
Still considered an RN
Tend to work at bedside in hospitals and in skilled and long-term care nursing facilities
(Robin, 2015)

9. Root Cause Analysis:
Pressure ulcers can happen under the care of any nurse (any experience level)
Research shows higher percentage of pressure ulcers/skin breakdown injuries occur under the care of an ADN nurse
EBP and emphasis on safety and quality of care beneficial to BSN nurse
(Blegen, Goode, Park, Vaughn, & Spetz, 2013)

10. Inferences
BSNs are more likely to have extended available resources, familiarity with EBP, better research skills, more clinical experience, and lower mortality and morbidity rates
ADNs are not as extensively prepared concerning resources, quality and safety, and less leadership/policy education

11. Implications/Consequences
Lack of BSN nurses could increase morbidity and mortality rates
With increased negative patient outcomes, job satisfaction decreases
Increased amount of lawsuits if serious negative patient outcome occurs
Less competent nursing workforce

12. Recommendations Pursuing BSN degree is recommended
Research supports better patient outcomes with higher education
Research bridge programs if already have an ADN
Online RN-BSN programs exist if attending on campus is not an option
Heavily consider the benefits of attaining a BSN when trying to decide on a nursing program to attend

13. QSEN Competencies
Patient centered carehttps:// M
Teamwork and collaboration
EBP
Quality Improvement
Safety
Informatics

14. ANA Standards Standard 8: Education Standard 9: EBP and Research
Standard 12: Leadership
Standard 13: Collaboration
All of these standards are met through obtaining a BSN degree
These concepts are incorporated throughout various courses in the BSN program

15. Benefits of BSN degree over ADN degree…
Decrease in morbidity and mortality rates
Stronger professional skills & easier to advance career
More desirable to employers
Stronger scientific knowledge base
Higher job satisfaction scores
Many more!

16. Why did you pursue a BSN degree?
Why Chief Nursing Officers prefer BSNs:
Better critical thinking skills
Better patient outcomes
Increased patient safety & quality of care
Recognize distinct differences in competencies based on education
Stronger communication and problem solving skills (nursing diagnosis, etc)
(American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2014)

17. References
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2014). Creating a more highly qualified nursing workforce [Fact sheet]. Retrieved from Beth-El College of Nursing & Health Sciences. (2013). Why should I get my B.S. degree in nursing? University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Retrieved from RN_BSN_DUAL/RNBSNDual_WhyBSN_ pdf Blegen, M. Goode, C., Park, S., Vaughn, T., & Spetz, J. (2013). Baccalaureate education in nursing and patient outcomes. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 43(2), Covell, C., & Sidani, S. (2013). Nursing intellectual capital theory: Implications for research and practice. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 18(2), 2. Fagin, C., & Milbank Memorial Fund. (2001). When care becomes a burden diminishing access to adequate nursing. New York, NY: Milbank Memorial Fund

18. References cont’d.
Mailloux, C. (2011). Using the essentials of baccalaureate education for professional nursing practice (2008) as a framework for curriculum revision. Journal of Professional Nursing, 27(6), National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). (2015). NCLEX statistics from NCBSN. National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Retrieved from Robin, Suzanne. (2015). The types of jobs i can get with an associates in nursing. In Chron. Retrieved from types-jobs-can-associates-nursing-9742.html Self Determination Theory. (2015). In Self Determination Theory. Retrieved from domains/education Sleeth, J. (2012). Health Systems resources and resource constraints. In Global Health Education Consortium. Retrieved from resources-and-resource-constraints Yakusheva, O., Lindrooth, R., & Weiss, M. (2014). Nurse value-added and patient outcomes in acute care. Health Services Research, 49(6), 1767.