Safe Practice Tied to BSN

A new study finds BSN-prepared RNs have less safety and educational gaps when compared to associate degree nurses, lending new support to the longstanding debate on whether a BSN should be required for entry to practice.

Djukic et al compared the number of quality and safety educational gaps, such as patient-centered and evidence-based care, between bachelor’s and associate degree nurse graduates and found that these gaps more than doubled in the associate degree nurses over eight years, according to study findings reported in The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety.

From these findings and the fact that half of new RNs enter practice with an associate degree according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Djukic et al concluded that “half of the new RN workforce is likely underprepared to provide safe, high-quality health care to the public as the United States is struggling to close persisting quality and safety deficiencies.”

Education: The Foundation for Perioperative Nursing Practice

From her frontline perspective as a perioperative clinical educator at WellStar Health System in Atlanta, Ga., AORN Vice President Holly Ervine, MSN, RN-BC, CNOR, believes education is at the foundation of practice, competence, and career advancement for every perioperative nurse. She calls upon Maslow’s hierarchy—a concept she learned in her baccalaureate nursing education program—to consider the educational journey of a well-prepared perioperative nurse.

From the bottom of the hierarchy, the basic physiological needs have to be met before moving up the hierarchy of psychological needs, and those psychological needs must be met before a person can achieve their full potential in self-actualization, Ervine explains.

In applying this hierarchy to patient care she says that the foundational education a nurse experiences as a new nurse, combined with didactic education and clinical experience as a nurse provides the knowledge and skill set to be able to demonstrate competence.

“Finally, that education, clinical experience and competence propels the perioperative nurse toward career advancement,” Ervine notes, whether a nurse remains at the bedside or becomes an educator, clinical nurse leader, clinical nurse specialist, manager, or director.

She stresses, “whichever course the nurse chooses to find full potential and self-actualization, education must be central to his or her journey.”

Workforce Succession Planning

It is estimated that the RN workforce will grow to 3.2 million over the next five years, a 16% increase, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment Projections 2014-2024. As the wave of perioperative nurse retirements continue across the country, the importance of replacing this knowledge gap with well-prepared and competent nurses is critical.

AORN supports the lifelong education of every perioperative nurse and encourages members to consider how they will advance their own education and support education advancement of their colleagues in 2019.

Looking for ways to learn in the new year. Check out these learning opportunities from AORN:

• Periop 101 and Periop 202
• Periop Mastery Program
• Perioperative Online Education
• Free Continuing Education Credits
• Global Surgical Conference & Expo
• AORN Foundation Scholarship and Grants

FREE RESOURCES FOR MEMBERS

Periop Perks: advance your education with 10% off Chamberlain College of Nursing degree options, such as RN to BSN, Master of Science in Nursing, and DNP.

AORN Journal CNE Articles: maintain your licensure and stay ahead with access to more than 200 FREE CNE contact hours and more than 160 CNE articles.

Guideline Essentials: easily learn and implement evidence-based practices with online resources and tools, such as quick instructional videos, implementation steps, case studies and clinical FAQs, key takeaways from guidelines, and more.