Future of Nursing
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The work of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Committee Initiative on the Future of Nursing and the Institute of Medicine research that led to the IOM report, “Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.”
According to the recommendations and findings of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Committee Initiative on the Future of Nursing and the Institute of Medicine research, The institute of Medicine released a report that called on America`s nurses to play a greater role in the health care system that exhibits increased complexity. The release of this report was welcomed by The American Nurses Association (ANA) which highlighted the need for nurses to take leadership roles and to address the increasing demands of the American health care system. The Robert Wood Foundation significantly developed a vision for the health care system(Lindeman, 2000). It enlightened on the need for a transformation to match the complexities. It outlines how a future reliable, accessible, quality and affordable health system can be achieved based on the initiative of nurses. The committee in its report advocates for inter-professional coordination and collaboration as an essential practice. It provides for mechanisms towards realizing reduced expenditures towards achieving a health care system that patient-oriented.
Importance of the IOM “Future of Nursing” Report Related to Nursing Practice
The report is a comprehensive examination and analysis of the nursing fraternity. The report has recommendations that are based on critical evaluation of relationships between the diversified health needs, rising patient populations and the operations of the nurses in America. The recommendations of the reported purpose to give support to the nurses` efforts in trying to improve and achieve better health for the entire American population through their professional contributions. This report offers recommendations anchored on these major concerns:
a. Increasing diversity in nursing. Nurses should use their training and education comprehensively to meet the rising challenges in the health care system. The diversities in cultures, religion, economies and priorities pose various challenges. Through their education and training, they should be able to deal with these diversities. The existence of these diversities in nurses will ensure diversity of services provided and patient satisfaction. The legislations and policies have been noticed to hinder nurses from full contribution to the system. As a result campaigns for change have been initiated to provide conducive working environments for these nurses.
b. Achievement of higher levels of education and training to cope up with the demands. Nurses ought to realize the need to build their knowledge and sharpen their skills to meet the growing health needs. It is upon the education system to provide an environment for this process through enabling their studies without having to stop working. The bachelor’s degree is observed to be the expected standard of professions, and so nurses should ensure that’s their minimum working academic qualification. The increased level of education will enable them to cope with the complexities presented and comfortably handle the technological challenges.
c. Full partnerships with other health professionals. These professionals could be within or out of the healthcare system. A good healthcare demands a strong working relationship with other professionals such as physicians, pharmacists, and researchers. The coordination and communication should be smooth with other sectors such as education, transportation, and community development. Pulling the community efforts together creates an incentive to health care providers to improve their services creating healthy living options for every person
d. Promoting nursing leadership. Nurses have an advantage in the knowledge of the health care demands and how they can be met(Porter-O’Grady, 2011). Other stakeholders need to appreciate the need for nurses to occupy leadership positions. Nurses themselves should embrace a leadership attitude to help shape the health sector to match its demands.
The report is aimed as a guide to the reformations in the healthcare system and nursing profession. It recommends for solutions that are nurse-oriented which are directed to other stakeholders in the health care system such as the government and researchers(Lindeman, 2000).
Role of State-Based Action Coalitions and How They Advance Goals of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action
The government of Arizona has significantly worked towards this initiative through taking various measures and steps. The governor of Arizona created a task force to deal with infectious diseases. The Council on Infectious Diseases Preparedness and Responses were created during the span of Ebola outbreak in West Africa. To show support to the above report in improving health care system in the state, the governor appointed Robin Schaeffer to the council. Robin was the current co-leader of the Arizona Action Coalition and the director of the Association of Nurses of Arizona. This is an act of empowering nurses to leadership positions, an issue raised by the report(Fineberg and Lavizzo-Mourey, 2013). The governor of Arizona also appointed 20 other members from various organizations to be on the council. One of the concerns of the report was action by facilitating inter-professional coordination and profession. Appointing representatives from 20 different organizations is a clear indication that the council is composed of various professionals. Pulling together in Arizona will, therefore, will ensure the anticipated achievements regarding preparation and response to infectious diseases will be achieved.
Nurses` involvement in leadership and policy-making of any healthcare system has positive Impacts. Despite knowledge of this fact by many, it has never been easy for nurses to ascend to the influential positions of management and policy making of the health sector. The level of education of the nurses is a barrier towards these advancements. Most nurses in the state have not attained a bachelor degree in their field. Those considered to have advanced much concerning academic achievements have associate degrees. The level of education unjustifiably gives the executive and the electorates a reason to discriminate against them in matters of leadership and policy making(Porter-O’Grady, 2011). Coordination and collaboration have hindered mostly within their working environments. Most professionals working in the health sector are better remunerated and educated than nurses. The traditionally defined roles of nurses being assistants to the likes of physicians and surgeons create even a bolder barrier towards collaboration and coordination of the activities. The process of collaboration and coordination for a better health care system entails sharing of opinions by the health professionals. Most of the other high profiles feel they should not be advised by nurses who they see as juniors. The advocates for this action should enlighten every stakeholder on the importance of nurses playing greater roles in the health sector and the need for pulling together. The advocates should encourage the progression of nurses through better training and education to facilitate their advancement to leadership positions.
References
Lindeman, C. A. (2000). The future of nursing education. Journal of Nursing Education, 39(1),
5-12.
Fineberg, H. V., &Lavizzo-Mourey, R. (2013). The future of nursing: A look back at the landmark IOM report.
Porter-O’Grady, T. (2011). Leadership at all levels. Nursing management, 42(5), 32-37.
