Grand Canyon University There are many routes lead to the nursing profession. Both associate degree and baccalaureate degree nursing programs provide nursing education to qualify an individual to becoming a registered nurse (RN) once the graduate passes the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The curriculum of an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) program focuses on the fundamentals of the nursing profession at an entry level, mostly requires two to three years of commitment. It includes but is not limited to the areas of adult nursing, surgical nursing, maternal nursing, mental health nursing, etc, to train prospective nurses to perform nursing tasks in clinical or hospital settings.
“Baccalaureate nursing programs encompass all of the course work taught in associate degree and diploma programs plus a more in-depth treatment of the physical and social sciences, nursing research, public and community health, nursing management, and the humanities. The additional course work enhances the student’s professional development, prepares the new nurse for a broader scope of practice, and provides the nurse with a better understanding of the cultural, political, economic, and social issues that affect patients and influence health care delivery” (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2015). Published in The Lancet in May 2014, authors of the study titled “Nurse Staffing and Education and Hospital Mortality in Nine European Countries: A Retrospective Observational Study” found that patients experiencing complications after surgery are more likely to live if treated in hospitals with adequate nurse staffing levels and higher numbers of BSN nurses. …show more content…
Following a review of more than 420,000 patient records in 300 hospitals spanning nine European countries, findings show that a 10% increase in the proportion of nurses holding a bachelor’s degree in an acute care setting is associated with a 7% decrease in the risk of death in discharged patients following common surgeries (Grand Canyon University, 2015). In the situation at my work, status post surgical patients require close monitoring in manifestations of vital signs checking, surgical or wound sites assessments, drainage measurements if applicable, and any other signs and symptoms of infections or complications. …show more content…
Usually, as a standard post-op order set, surgeons would include diet, incision site dressing care, medications, and Foley catheter removal time. One day morning, a two- day post-op patient was running a fever with an oral temperature of 101.2. The primary nurse was an ADN new graduate; she immediately responded with checking the medication orders and administering the patient a Tylenol 500 mg tablet as indicated. When she rechecked the temperature one hour later, the oral temperature was 100.8. Then, she lowered the room temperature and applied some ice packs. Later, the CNA rechecked the temperature at noon and the fever went up to 102.1 orally. After she learned that, she reported to the charge nurse who was a BSN with two years experience that she was unable to give the next dose of Tylenol due to the indication stated every six hours as needed for fever and it was only four hours from the first one applied. The charge nurse followed the ADN back to reassess the patient from head to toe, including a thorough observation of the incision, drainage, IV access site, antibiotics hanging on the IV pole, and recent post-op activities. With all of the findings within normality, she soon noticed that the patient’s urine in Foley catheter was cloudy with segments. Afterwards, she checked