NRS 430 Assignment: Professional Development of Nursing Professionals
Assignment: Professional Development of Nursing Professionals
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) addresses in an illustration of the changes in education, roles and responsibilities of nurses. The variations in nursing practice are attributed to the increasing number of the ageing population, evolving system of health care and the changes in patterns of disease occurrences (Prybil, 2016). A number of efforts have been made in a bid to respond to the dynamics in the field of medicine. These include alterations in the nursing practice as well as nursing education together with the development of nursing staff. Nonetheless, different personalities have also been in the forefront to initiate policies for the improvement of IOM to lay a foundation for nursing development. The contributions made by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has provided highlights on how IOM reports can be used for the development of future nursing (Altman, Butler & Shern, 2016). However, the way in which Johnson’s foundation promotes o the development of nursing field remain unclear. Besides, the contributions of state-based coalitions as explained by Johnson in the future roles of nursing practice is worth exploring.
The present article is based on an analysis of IOM and its importance in the development of future nursing. Moreover, a brief description of state-based action coalitions and the findings of IOM report will form part of this discussion to analyze the goals required in future nursing.
Works outlined by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The RWJF provides vital components in the advancement of the nursing profession. The foundation advocates for the changes in the nursing practice to conform to the dynamics of diseases presented by patients (Spetz, Cimiotti & Brunell, 2016). In essence, the changes in health care delivery need to match the changing demands of healthcare. Ideally, the report by the RWJF committee suggests that the health needs of patients continue to change with the rate of technological development. This means that a health facility that aims to optimize quality of care outcomes to patients need to remain abreast with the latest technological development in delivery of services (Prybil, 2016).
However, other than adopting new technology, nurses in these care settings must also be educated about the new technology and the principles in which these advancements in health sector can yield remarkable outcomes in improving patient care. In the report by RWJF, nurses need an induction about the current approaches in health care for them to remain relevant in the delivery of services to patients. The foundation has also been crucial in detecting in the analysis of the nursing workforce based on the capacity of health facilities. This entails an assessment of the available workforce in a health setting and comparing the outcome with the recommended number of staffs as per the state standards (Altman, Butler & Shern, 2016). In other words, the RWJF has led to identification of potential loopholes related to nursing workforce, particularly in the detection of unsafe high nurse-to-patient ratios. Through this, a recommendation on nursing staff recruitment has been proposed by RWJF in the event of deficits to prevent further alterations in quality care.
The work of RWJF cannot be underestimated especially in the wake of current health care practices that emphasizes on evidence-based practice. The foundation emphasizes on the quality training of nurses by utilizing the current curriculum on patient care. Quality learning and implementation in nursing practice motivates the professionals to utilize their maximum potential in patient care. In essence, nurses will develop a perception of further learning considering that the quality learning they achieved will not be underutilized. Guided by this premise, nurses can acquire further education so that they specialize in specific aspects of patient care. Furthermore, the RWJF advocates for the collaboration among nurses with other professionals to deliver a coordinated care to patients.
Importance of IOM in Future Nursing
The contribution of the institute is based on promotion of education to nurses especially by formulating curriculums that corresponds to the current demands of patient care. IOM analyzes the evolving systems of healthcare and provide changes the meet the needs of patients. Basically, the institute is considered as the critical intersection point by bridging the gap between health needs of clients across the entire lifespan and the readiness of the facility based on nursing workforce integral in address the demands. The recommendations proposed by IOM improves the contribution of nurses towards the delivery of optimal care.
Role of State-based Action Coalitions
State initiatives aim at improving care to patients by addressing the nursing workforce. For instance, in New York, action coalitions emphasizes on building a healthy nation. Campaigns are organized at the local, regional as well as state level to build healthier populations in different communities through nursing (Spetz, Cimiotti & Brunell, 2016). This entails training of nurses on health approaches and patterns of care represented by patients. The future of action coalitions is based on a focus of how nurses can reduce health disparity and improve health of the American population in the next decade.
The state-based action coalitions focus on the scope of nursing practice as defined by advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). The premise mainly emphasizes on laws to define the scope of nursing practice. Most importantly, improving access to patient care is another fundamental role of the state-based action coalitions (Prybil, 2016). The latter formulate the procedures for modernized care practices to develop goals for future nursing practice. In other words, the coalition deliberates in the legislative battles on patient care developed by a state and recommends evidence-based strategies that conforms to the patterns of diseases in New York. Through this premise, nurses will be well-versed with the standard operating procedures in nursing care developed by the state to correspond to the laws on scope of practice to optimize quality outcomes to patients. Action coalitions in a state supports the latest practice of care and enhances the sharing of the methods in health service delivery. The approach allows nurses to debate about the need for a change by advocating for work patterns that transform health care provision (Altman, Butler & Shern, 2016). However, the state-action coalitions must incorporate other professionals in a bid to improve the changes proposed in provision of healthcare. It means that wider consultations must be made and this implies that the implementation of change might take longer periods.
Conclusion
The scope as well as the level of nursing practice determine quality outcomes to patients. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation launched IOM to define the future role of nurses in line with the patient care due to changes in need of health services. The foundation emphasizes on the need for advanced nursing education and compliance with laws as defined by a given state. However, the quality of services delivered by nurses will depend on the extent of innovative solutions guided by evidence and which they are willing to provide to patients.
References
Altman, S. H., Butler, A. S., & Shern, L. (Eds.). (2016). Assessing progress on the Institute of Medicine report The Future of Nursing. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
Prybil, L. D. (2016). Nursing engagement in governing health care organizations: Past, present, and future. Journal of nursing care quality, 31(4), 299-303. DOI: 10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000182.
Spetz, J., Cimiotti, J. P., & Brunell, M. L. (2016). Improving collection and use of interprofessional health workforce data: Progress and peril. Nursing outlook, 64(4), 377-384. DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2016.03.001.
3. The impact of the IOM report on the nurse’s role as a leader.
The nursing profession makes up the largest segment of the healthcare system. The profession has been continuously changing and evolving over the years to meet the increasing consumer demand, while at
the same time improve the quality of care provided. On the other hand, nursing professional development is used to refer to the process of improving the quality of service delivery through continuous education and training. Through professional development, nurses can advance their careers and remain updated on the latest technology, techniques, and different ways of practice (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, & Institute of Medicine, 2010). This paper will focus on discussing the Institution of Medicine’s (IOM) report that was published in 2010, and its impact on nursing practice.
IOM Summary of Four Messages and Significance to Nursing Practice
The IOM 2010 report, acknowledges the fact that the United States has all it takes to advance the healthcare system by providing quality services which are seamless and relies on evidence, leading to improved care outcome. Four messages are put across in this report, which includes, (a) ensuring that nurses exploit their full educational and training potential when providing care services, (b) advancing nursing education and training by improving the education system, (c) preparing nurses to become full partners with other healthcare professionals hence having the opportunity in redesigning and improving the current healthcare system; and lastly, (d) improving the process of data collection which is essential in better planning and policy making (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, & Institute of Medicine, 2010).
This report helps in revolutionizing nursing practice in several aspects. For instance, allowing nurses to exploit their full potentials helps in broadening the current limiting nurses’ scope of practice, hence the healthcare system can reap full benefits as a result of nursing training knowledge and skills inpatient care. Consequently, improving nursing education will help in attracting more students to take interest in the nursing profession, increasing overall the number of nurses in the United States (Kearney, 2019). Graduates will also yearn for more educations which will in turn increase the number of nursing specialists, improving the quality of care provision. The full partnership will help in enhancing teamwork in the healthcare system, while an improved data collection process will help in saving time and enhance the efficiency of patient care.
Influence of IOM on Education, Leadership, Benefits, and Opportunities for BSN-Prepared Nurses
With the aging American population, the healthcare system is likely to face a high shortage of qualified nurses in the future. Consequently, the need to hire more nurses has been acknowledged over the years. However, this has not been able to take place due to the few numbers of professional nursing instructors. As such, the IOM reports the advancement of the education system, which will increase the number of bachelors of science in nursing (BSN) graduates. BSN graduates are more responsible, with better supervisory roles, hence making good leaders revolutionize the healthcare system. (Whitehead, Dittman, & McNulty, 2017) They will even enjoy several benefits such as more job opportunities and higher salaries. Lastly, BSN will also create room for achieving a higher level of education and professionalism at masters and doctoral levels, which are required for nurses to serve as primary healthcare providers, researchers, and nurse faculty.
Importance of the Evolution of the Education and Role of the Nurse to Meet the Needs of an Aging and Diverse Population
Advanced aging and the diverse American population require a high level of expertise in patient care. Most of the aged patients suffer from chronic illnesses which require high-quality skills and knowledge for better care outcome. Consequently, the diverse population requires nurses with adequate knowledge and skills, such as better communication and a better understanding of different cultural norms and beliefs. As such, registered nurses, and nursing associates do not have the necessary qualifications in providing better care services for this population (Kearney, 2019). Hence the need for better education to increase the number of BSN who have the right competencies and qualifications to take care of this delicate population. Further educational advancement also gives room for specialist nurses who are needed to take care of patients with critical illnesses.
Significance of Professional Development, Lifelong Learning, in Relation to Diverse Populations Across the Life Span and Health-Illness Continuum
The nursing profession is very challenging due to the continuous changes in information and ways of providing care. To keep up with the changes, there is a need to adopt a lifelong learning attitude for better professional development and improve the quality of care provided. Consequently, nurses encounter patients from different cultural backgrounds, different age groups, and diverse illnesses (Whitehead, Dittman, & McNulty, 2017). As such it becomes very hard to take care of such patients while relying primarily on the education that was gained before in graduate school. However, lifelong learning will help in keeping up with the3 current information and technology required in taking care of this diverse population.
Effectiveness of Nurses Managing Patient Care Within an Evolving Health Care System
In the current healthcare system, nurses play a new role in care coordination from numerous providers, managing caseloads of individuals with intense healthcare needs, and helping patients transition to other healthcare settings or into their homes. Additionally, the evolving healthcare system has allowed nurses to work as “health coaches” with effective results both in illness prevention and health promotion (Famure et al., 2020). Lastly, new paths have been established for nurses in emerging fields such as informatics, telehealth, scientists, leaders, and genetics and genomics, which have improved the quality and efficiency of healthcare provision.
Re: Topic 4 DQ 1
Standards of nursing practice developed by the American Nurses’ Association (ANA) provide guidelines for nursing performance. The Nurse Practice Act is determined by the Board of Nursing in each state but commonly require standards for nursing educational programs, types of and requirements for nursing licenses, and grounds for disciplinary actions (Green, 2018 p). The statues are further refined by a board of nursing assigned by the governor that develop administrative rules and regulations and then turned into laws. Then the NPA established The Board of Nursing (BON) which is state specific and was developed to clarify or make the laws more specific. The laws must be consistent with NPA and cannot go beyond it (Russell, 2017). The BON then reports to National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) to enforce the laws to maintain the balance between nursing rights to practice and protection of public health when cared by a licensed nurse.
Having a current nursing license in the state of California, as a pediatric nurse I must be certified in Pediatric Advance Life Support (PALS) and Acute Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and needs re-certification every 2 years. PNCB’s Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) is another credential to show specialty in Pediatrics and must be renewed every year. The Nursing Practice Act in California, starting in section 2725 states nursing is “a dynamic field, constantly evolving to include more sophisticated patient care activities. A broad all-inclusive definition states that the practice of nursing means those functions, including basic health care, which help people cope with difficulties in daily living which are associated with their actual or potential health or illness problems, or the treatment thereof, which require a substantial amount of scientific knowledge or technical skill”(BRN, 2011para 3). The standard of practice guide helps me stay accountable and competent with in my scope of practice and up to date with changes in nursing practice.
References
American Nurse Association. (n.d.) Scope of Practice. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/scope-of-practice/
Green, S. Z. (2018). Advancing professional standards. In Grand Canyon University (Eds.), Dynamics in Nursing: Art and Science of Professional Practice. https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs430v/dynamics-in-nursing-art-and-science-of-professional-practice/v1.1/#/chapter/4
Nursing, California Board of Registered. (n.d.). Nursing Practice Act. https:// www.rn.ca.gov/practice/npa.shtml.
Russell, K. A. (2017). Nurse Practice Acts Guide and Govern: Update 2017. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 8(3), 18–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2155-8256(17)30156-4
RESPOND
Claudia, indeed the standards of nursing practice can be developed by the American Nurses’ Association (ANA) and they are purposed to create directives for nursing performance. However, for the ANA creates the general nursing standards that applies to every nurse in America. Therefore, it is upon the states and specialties to align with the broad concepts developed by the ANA by creating and revising the standards to fit into the needs of a given state or specialty. Therefore, the guideline on standards of nursing that operates in each state is determined by the NPA through the Board of Nursing in every state. While considering the standards of nursing practice in California, it is worth determining how the standards will influence the specialty, which is pediatric nursing. The purpose of the standard is to regulate practice and protect the health and wellbeing of the children and families. Therefore, the influence of standards of pediatric nursing practice is to promote, direct, and guide the professional practice of pediatric nursing experts.
