Differentiated Practice for AD- and BSN-Prepared Nurses

AD-Prepared Nurses BSN-Prepared Nurses

Provide direct care to individual
clients with common, well-defined
nursing diagnoses while considering
clients' familial relationships.
Provide direct care to clients with many different
nursing diagnoses using nursing process to
define individualized and complex interactive
nursing diagnoses while considering the client
relationships within a family and community.

Practice within a structured setting that is a Practice within structured or non-structured

geographic or situated environment where settings for families, groups, aggregates, and
policies, procedures, and protocols provide communities. The lack of formalized policies
provisions for health care. and protocols necessitates the use of
independent nursing decisions.
Use basic therapeutic communication skills Use complex communication skills with clients,
with a focal client group and coordinate collaborate with other health team members,
efforts with other health team members to and assume an accountable charge role for
meet client-focused needs. client care in a variety of settings.
Recognize the focal client's need for Assess client information needs and design
information and modify standardized
teaching plans. individualized client teaching plans.
Acknowledge that nursing research Collaborate with nursing researchers to
influences incorporate

nursing practice and assist in standardized nursing research findings into nursing practice.
data collection procedures.
Develop research-based nursing protocols.
Organize client care aspects for which the Manage-comprehensive client care for clients
nurse is responsible. for whom the charge nurse is responsible.
Maintain accountability for own practice and Maintain accountability for own practice and
aspects of care delegated to peers, licensed aspects of care delegated to other nursing
practical (vocational) nurses, and personnel consistent with their levels of
unlicensed assistive personnel. education, licensure, and expertise.
Plan and implement nursing care consistent Plan nursing care on identified needs of clients
with the overall admission to post-discharge from admission until after discharge.
plan within a specified work period.

Practice within the legal and ethical Practice within the legal and ethical parameters
parameters of nursing. of nursing.
Cont. Differentiated Practice for AD- and BSN-Prepared Nurses

Professional How Nursing Meets the Criteria or Characteristic

Characteristic
Authority to control its Nurses work for physicians or health care agencies unless
own work
engaged in private advanced nursing practice.
Exclusive body of Nursing pulls from a variety of fields to provide holistic nursing care.
specialized Nursing research generates new scientific knowledge for practice.

knowledge
Extensive period of Currently, there are three levels of education entry into
formal education and
training professional nursing practice: associate degree, diploma, and

baccalaureate nursing -programs.

Specialized competence Nurses demonstrate assessment skills; possess an understanding of
pharmacology, various branches of physical sciences, patho-
physiology, diagnostic tests, surgical procedures; and have skills to
manage the technical equipment used in client care. Many nurses
hold certification in specialized areas of nursing practice.
Control over work Nurses make independent judgments based on client situations
performance
and area of practice. Some nurses work in organizations that use
shared governance-and quality magement frameworks.
Service to society Nursing care focuses on the client system. Caring for others serves
as a major theme for most nursing theories. Nurses receive middle-
income pay for taking care of others.
Self-regulation Nurses. abide by the Nurse Practice Act of the state in which they
practice. Individual. ~ate boards of nursing regulate nursing practice.

Credentialing systems to Nurses take the National Certification Licensing Exam developed by
certify competence nurses which measures minimum competence for safe. nursing
practice. Nurses obtain certification in specialized areas of nursing
practice from nurse specialty organizations. Some states require
continuing education for continued-licensure.
Legal reinforcement of All nurses are held liable for their actions based on what the usual
professional standards and prudent nurse would do in a given client care situation. Individual
state boards of nursing have the power to restrict the practice of
nursing within a state.
Ethical practice The American Nurses' Association has published The Nurses'

Code of Ethics, last updated in 1985.

Intrinsic rewards Professional nursing organizations offer networking opportunities
Shared governance and clinical practice partnership models enhance
collegiality among staff nurses and nursing administration.
Public acceptance Many nurses derive a deep personal satisfaction from making a
difference in the lives of clients and families one person at a time.
Some nurses view the profession as an opportunity to practice
religious beliefs on a daily basis.
Creation of a collegial Nursing was ranked in the top 10 most respected professions (ANA;
subculture 2001).