Reflection (IOM Future of Nursing Recommendation)
The future of nursing practice promises to have a major growth of opportunities for nurses. That is the case given the expected renaissance of the profession, which will see an expansion of the roles played by nurses across all settings. As such, nurses need to be ready for the same if they are to remain fit and functional in the future days. Of the essence to the preparation of nurses for the assumption of the future expanded roles is the advancement of the nursing educational status. As reported by Altman, Butler, and Shern, (2016), the IOM Future of Nursing has made several recommendations concerning an increase in educational attainment for nurses so that they can remain productive in the days ahead. A case in point is the recommendation that the nursing profession should increase its least minimum requirement for educational levels of nurses to be a Baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN). Notwithstanding, it goes on to make a suggestion targeting an increase in the number of nurses with BSN and doctorate qualifications in nursing as well as committed to lifelong learning by the year 2020. Given these recommendations, a self-assessment of how I aim to fit in the nursing profession in days ahead is of utmost importance to this discussion.
Primarily, determination of the current job options available for my nursing practice in consideration of the current educational attainment level is significant in the realization of an effective career plan. That said, upon entry into the job market, my competencies would match those of a Registered Nurse (RN) at the entry level. Competencies of an RN across all healthcare settings include educating, provision and coordination of care as well as serving as a member of the medical team (Pozgar, 2012). As such, upon completion of my current nursing education training, my job description will be similar to that of an RN.
In consideration of the IOM’s increasing nursing education recommendation, I am of the opinion that it will improve my job competitive edginess in the days to come. Central to this belief is the fact that an increased level of education presents more opportunities for attaining more nursing competencies that were unachievable with the basic level of nursing education. For instance, an increase of my educational attainment status to a doctorate level will empower me with more knowledge and skills that are necessary for a narrow and specific field of interest in the nursing profession. Additionally, Garmise, (2015) notes that employers are devoid of choice in the extremely flooded job market except for hiring persons with unique skill-set that will come in handy in the attainment of the institutional goals. Therefore, with an increased competency level that is attainable through the advancement of the nursing education, I can stand out from other interviewees with low educational qualifications that are in pursuit for the same job. With such illustrations, it is beyond doubt that advancement of the level of education status will improve my competitive advantage in the already flooded job market.
Finally, a higher level of educational attainment status also presents opportunities for newly expanded nursing roles in the future of nursing that are worth noting. Befitting examples of such roles are the nursing researcher, practitioner and educator roles, which are achievable for persons with a doctorate in nursing (Altman, Butler & Shern, 2016). However, with a basic BSN qualification, one is only able to have a command as a nurse manager in any healthcare setting. Based on these examples, it is apparent that a higher level of nursing education presents nurses with new roles, which they can assume in the days ahead.
In closure, this paper focused on determining personal opinions about the IOM’s future of nursing recommendations. An implication drawn from the discussion is that the future of the nursing profession is solely reliant on the achievement of a higher nursing education status. As such, going forward, nurses have the responsibility of advancing their level of education if they are to remain productive in the days ahead.
References
Altman, S., Butler, A., & Shern, L. (2016). Assessing progress on the Institute of Medicine report The future of nursing (1st ed.).
Garmise, S. (2015). People and the competitive advantage of place (1st ed.). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
Pozgar, G. D. (2012). Legal aspects of health care administration. Sudbury, Mass: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
