The Future of Nursing
Being a registered nurse affords one the option of working in many diverse healthcare settings. In any practice setting the climate of health care change is evident. There are diverse entities involved in the implementation and recommendation of these practice changes. These are led by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the Institute of Medicine (IOM), nursing campaign for action initiatives, as well as individual state-based action coalitions. Nurses need to be prepared and cognizant of the transformations occurring in health care settings as well as the plans that put them at the forefront of the future.
Committee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Several years ago in 2008 the RWJF and the IOM collaborated for two years to discern the future needs of the nursing profession. Most importantly, the objective was to outline the critical actions needed to ensure nursing was ready to seamlessly move towards the future. This was no easy task as nurses work in such diverse settings such as outpatient areas, acute care settings, the community, and long term settings to name a few. Couple this with the fact that nurses have a variety of educational avenues such as the associates, diploma, or bachelor’s degree open to them to achieve the status of registered nurse (Institute of Medicine, 2010). All of this considered, the committee did design four key messages regarding the future of nursing as key in the transformation of health care as evidenced in their "Future of Nursing" report.
To briefly summarize, the report acts to identify nurses as an important faction in enabling access to high quality, affordable health care. This was supported by the development of four fundamental recommend...
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Hansen, J. (2013a, July 13). Wisconsin continues to prepare nursing leaders!. Retrieved from http://campaignforaction.org/news/wisconsin-continues-prepare-nursing-leaders
Hansen, J. (2013b, September 13). New! uw-milwaukee college of nursing rn to bsn flex option. Retrieved from http://campaignforaction.org/news/new-uw-milwaukee-college-nursing-rn-bsn-flex-option
Institute of Medicine. (October, 2010). The future of nursing leading change, advancing health.
Retrieved from http://thefutureofnursing.org/sites/default/files/FutureofNursing2010ReportBrief.pdf
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (n.d.a). Future of nursing: Campaign for action. Retrieved from http://www.rwjf.org/en/topics/rwjf-topic-areas/nursing/action-coalitions.html
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (n.d.b). Inititiave on the future of nursing. Retrieved from http://thefutureofnursing.org/about
The IOM report had four key messages needed for advancing the future of nursing. “Nurses should practice to the full extent of their education and training; achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression; be full partners, with physicians and other health care professionals, …and; effective workforce planning and policy making require better data collection and an improved information infrastructure” (Institute of Medicine, 2011). The report also included eight recommendations needed to facilitate the necessary changes to in the nursing profession so meet to demands of the healthcare reform.
Spencer, J. (2008). Increasing RN-BSN enrollments: facilitating articulation through curriculum reform. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 39(7), 307-313. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
Megginson, L. (2008). RN-BSN education: 21st century barriers and incentives. Journal Of Nursing Management, 16(1), 47-55.
Institute of Medicine (2010). The future of nursing: Leading change advancing health Retrieved from http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12956&page+R1
This paper focuses on providing a summary of the efforts of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Committee Initiative on the Future of Nursing and the Institute of Medicine research which influenced the IOM report, “Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.” The importance of the IOM “Future of Nursing” report related to the nursing practice, nursing education and nursing workforce development will be stated. The role of state-based action coalitions and how they advance goals of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action will be described. A summary on will be provided of two (2) initiatives that are spearheaded by Florida state’s Action Coalition with an explanation of ways in which the initiatives advance the nursing profession. Existing barriers to advancement currently in Florida and ways in which nursing advocates may overcome these barriers will be discussed.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine Testimony Submitted by The Joint Commission, Cong. 1 (2010) (testimony of ).
Current literature continues to reiterate the indicators of a major shortage of registered nurses (RNs) in the United States. The total RN population has been increasing since 1980, which means that we have more RNs in this country than ever before (Nursing Shortage). Even though the RN population is increasing, it is growing at a much slower rate then when compared to the rate of growth of the U.S. population (Nursing Shortage). We are seeing less skilled nurses “at a time of an increasingly aging population with complex care needs and an increasingly complex technological care environment” (Mion). According to recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Department of Health and Human Services, it is estimated that “more than a million new and replacement nurses will be needed over the next decade” (Diagnosis: Critical).
Typically NP’s provide health services in rural areas where they are the only source of medical services and this had n...
There is a shortage of all health care professions throughout the United States. One shortage in particular that society should be very concerned about is the shortage of Registered Nurses. Registered Nurses make up the single largest healthcare profession in the United States. A registered nurse is a vital healthcare professional that has earned a two or four year degree and has the upper-most responsibility in providing direct patient care and staff management in a hospital or other treatment facilities (Registered Nurse (RN) Degree and Career Overview., 2009). This shortage issue is imperative because RN's affect everyone sometime in their lifetime. Nurses serve groups, families and individuals to foster health and prevent disease.
American Nurses Association (2010). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.). Silver Spring, Md: American Nurses Association.
Healthcare is a continuous emerging industry across the world. With our ever changing life styles and the increased levels of pollution across the world more and more people are suffering from various health issues. Nursing is an extremely diverse profession and among the highest educated with several levels ranging from a licensed practical nurse (LPN) to a registered nurse (RN) on up to a Doctorate in Nursing. Diane Viens (2003) states that ‘The NP is a critical member of the workforce to assume the leadership roles within practice, education, research, health systems, and health policy’.
Zerwekh, J., Claborn, J. (2006). Nursing today: Transitions and trends (pp. 343-346). St. Louis, Missouri:
Since the 1990’s, the interest in nursing and the profession as a whole has decreased dramatically and is still expected to do so over the next 10-15 years according to some researchers. With this nursing shortage, many factors are affected. Organizations have to face challenges of low staffing, higher costs for resources, recruiting and reserving of registered nurses, among liability issues as well. Some of the main issues arising from this nurse shortage are the impact of quality and continuity of care, organizational costs, the effect it has on nursing staff, and etc. However, this not only affects an organization and community, but affects the nurses the same. Nurses are becoming overwhelmed and are questioning the quality of care that each patient deserves. This shortage is not an issue that is to be taken lightly. The repercussions that are faced by both nurses and the organization are critical. Therefore, state funding should be implemented to private hospitals in order to resolve the shortage of nurses. State funds will therefore, relieve the overwhelming burdens on the staff, provide a safe and stress free environment for the patient, and allow appropriate funds needed to keep the facility and organization operational.
What led me to nursing in the beginning was having a passion for people. I love the holistic approach and level of care that nurses bring to the literal bedside table. I knew throughout nursing school that I wanted to advance my education further than bedside nursing. I debated on whether to pursue a master’s degree in nursing and just become a nurse practitioner, but ultimately, I knew I wanted to advance my education even further to help make and promote changes in healthcare. By choosing to become a doctorally prepared nurse practitioner, I hope to change the stigma that is attached with being “just a nurse” and show that nurses play a vital role in redesigning
The Institute of Medicine has released a report that discusses the future in nursing. The IOM has developed four key messages that outline the barriers that need to be overcome, so that nurses can work effectively and to their fullest ability.