Discuss current research that links patient safety outcomes to ADN and BSN nurses. Based on some real-life experiences, do you agree or disagree with this research?
A study done in 2011 by Aiken and colleagues revealed that increasing the number of the registered nurses in hospitals is not only the solution to reducing patients’ mortality rate, but rather increasing number of nurses who have a higher educational, and a positive work environment, positively decrease the mortality rate in the hospitals (Cherry & Jacob, 2017). It interesting to know that every 10% increase in number of BSN nurses, decreases the mortality rate to 4% (Cherry & Jacob, 2017) even though 4% seems small, but it is still a great impact to life-saving effort.
There is no doubt that knowledge is the key, just like we all are getting our bachelors in nursing, there is a huge difference in the knowledge acquired. I personally have grown in confidence and knowledge through the course of this study and I am excited to be a better nurse clinically and in the community.
Recently, hospital position openings are BSN preferred, based on the reports like that of Institute of Medicine which support that nurses who are BSN possess the skills and knowledge needed to produce a better or positive patient outcome (Sherman, 2012). Last year, I attended a job-fair organized my Methodist hospital, and it was an instant offer for the positions available, everyone was qualified except me because I didn’t have a BSN, so that was my instant driving force to enroll in BSN program.
Based on my experience, I have worked with nurses who have years of work experiences without BSN and Nurses who have BSN but no experience. I personally think that having years’ experience is a big plus in terms of practical nursing. For example, an LPNs/LVNs took me on floor orientation in Nursing home after I was hired, even though she is an LVN, there are things she taught me that I didn’t know as an RN, obviously because she has years of experience, but not a higher education. I strongly believe also that having a higher education in nursing, prepares nurses to assume leadership roles, and exposes nurses to skills and knowledge needed to deliver a high-quality nursing care.
I agree with the aspect of BSN being prepared to assume leadership roles, but I do not believe that ADN nurses contribute to higher mortality role, because all nurses are exposed to the same clinical training in the hospitals. I believe that having a positive work environment, increasing the number of nurses, and a better communication with other health care teams improve a better patient outcome.
If I am in a hiring position, I would refer to hire a registered nurse with ADN who have years of experience over a BSN nurse who has no experience based on the type of position available, leadership positions would go for BSN, while floor position goes to ADN with a higher years of work experience.
References
Cherry, B. & Jacob. S. (2017) Contemporary nursing, issues, trends, & management. St. Louis: Elsevier. Six editions. Retrieved from https://pageburstls.elsevier.com/#/books/978-0-323-101097/cfi/6/8!/4/2/14/4@0:10
Sherman. R (2012) An 80% BSN Prepared Nursing Workforce by 2020? Emerging RN Leader. Retrieved on September 18th. From http://www.emergingrnleader.com/80bsnworkforce2020/