Professional Development of Nursing Professionals.
Introduction.
The report issued in 2010 by the Institute of medicine that aimed at changing nursing practice and making them better. The report was a detailed document that focused on the future of nursing by noting the key role of nurses in the provision of nursing care and the vision to be agents of change in getting the healthcare system better than the then situation. It recognized the potential of nurses in leading the innovations that would impact the healthcare system(National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2016). This article provides, provides summary and information relating to the impacts that the report by the Institute of medicine made to the nursing profession.
The report impacted greatly on nursing education by the fact that it recommended achievement of higher levels of education and training by nurses, this has been achieved via the enhanced education system that has paved the way for academic progression by the nurses. Since then, there exist various avenues unto which one can get to be registered and practice as a nurse. These ways range from the hospital-based diploma in nursing, associate’s degree program, and the baccalaureate degree program.
It recognized that there exist great changes in the healthcare system that led to need for higher levels of education by nurses to ensure they cope with the changes. This has also led to the minimum requirement of bachelor’s degree for entry into nursing practice that can provide a greatly uniform foundation and raised the level of the new standards of care that have followed the nursing reforms.
In transforming the nursing education, the report aimed at increasing the holders of bachelor’s degree in nursing to 80% by the year 2020, encouraged nurses in the lower cadres to enter the bachelors programs and offering them the tuition reimbursement and creating a culture favoring further education (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2016). They have enabled regular updating of the nursing curriculum to allow changes where there are needs. Besides, the report has enabled diversification of the nursing workforce by embracing increasing the numbers to consider race, gender, and various ethnic groups.
All the above impacts are attributed to various reasons including expansion of the competencies that are needed in the nursing practice such as knowledge on evidence-based practices, research, health policy as well as public health. The hospital care has also changed with nurses need to make critical decisions hence knowledge via training is essential. There has also been the need to use complex information management system that comes with the great need to be skilled in analyzing to improve quality and this needed competence that could only be achieved by improving the nursing education.
The report also impacted nursing practice averting the health care provision particularly the primary health care. Nursing has turned to be essential service forming part of the healthcare system and improving day by day over the past decades. With the report advocating for 80% holders of the nursing team, patients have been receiving high-quality care from the primary nurses that are caring for them. Even with the use of expertise and improved training, primary care has incorporated the use of evidence-based practices that have seen best practices being put into consideration while giving care.
Regarding nursing practice especially the primary and the nearest care a patient can receive, the report has impacted to work on the barriers that had always prevented nurses from providing various services that have always turned to be primarily essential but not within the nursing scope (Pittman et al., 2015). This has explicitly occurred with the regulatory and policy barriers. It has enabled nurses in some states to be able to operate independently without the physician supervision. This so because according to the report, the physician supervision was more of politics rather than the nurse’s ability or training or even the need for patient safety. I am certain that to meet the goals of this report, I would be vigilant in assessing the needs of my patient and offering all that the patients’ needs according to my assessment and not relying on any person supervision provided it lies within my scope of practice.
Concerning nurses’ roles as leaders, the report empowered nurses to enable them to be the agents of change in the healthcare system. It required nurses to go along with the physicians in full partnership in redesigning the healthcare in the United States. This leadership has even moved over the past years to see nurses spearheading implementation and evaluation of the various reforms in the healthcare system. With the report calling for a style of leadership that is collaborative and inclusive, nurses have worked together with other healthcare professionals with mutual respect to raise the outcome of the patient care (Grossman &Valiga, 2016). This style of leadership has seen better patient outcomes, reduced number of the medical errors and the general satisfaction of the healthcare team.
Apart from the historical view that nurses carried out duties delegated by the physicians, the nurse has been empowered to be4 effective leaders and full partners in the patient care. This has been enhanced with imparting them with knowledge on processes improvement, ethics, cost management, patient safety, policy-making and care delivery models. This has seen them making informed decisions and acting independently to delivery their care services.
Moreover, the report has enhanced the leadership training which has enhanced the mentorship programs to enable the transformation of the healthcare system. It has influenced the assumption of leadership positions across various levels that have seen the nurses to place their nursing agenda in multiple fields, for instance, competing and winning various political seats in the states and other governmental healthcare setups.
Conclusion.
The institute of medicine report has transformed the nursing practice significantly with various changes being directed in the nursing education, primary healthcare and leadership roles in the nursing.It has further enable the consistent review and changes which has enabled the nursing profession to grow greatly.
References:
Grossman, S., &Valiga, T. M. (2016). The new leadership challenge: Creating the future of
nursing. FA Davis.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2016). Assessing progress on the
Institute of Medicine report The Future of Nursing. National Academies Press.
Pittman, P., Bass, E., Hargraves, J., Herrera, C., & Thompson, P. (2015). The future of nursing:
Monitoring the progress of recommended change in hospitals, nurse-led clinics, and
home health and hospice agencies. Journal of Nursing Administration, 45(2), 93-99.
