The health care system in the United States is under immense pressure due to a large and rapidly aging patient population, as well as their complex medical conditions.
The healthcare industry is experiencing rapid growth as a result of advancements in research and innovation. This expansion is driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic illnesses and disabilities that necessitate community-based healthcare. Nurses, comprising the largest segment of healthcare professionals with around three million individuals, play a crucial role in revolutionizing both hospital and community healthcare.
The IOM report and its recommendations on nursing education and roles within the healthcare industry are crucial in effectively addressing the challenges of healthcare delivery. This is because the current and future healthcare demand is undergoing demographic changes, which necessitates careful consideration of the future of nurses.
The IOM report outlined a plan to improve nursing’s role in healthcare by suggesting reforms and emphasizing the significance of nursing education. It recommended changes to enhance patient safety and recognized the need for adjustments in current educational structures. These adjustments would enable nurses to obtain higher levels of education and prepare for complex healthcare roles, which are increasingly necessary due to changing demographics. To tackle the challenges posed by the rapid growth of the healthcare industry and evolving patient populations, it is crucial to have a well-educated nursing workforce.
The IOM report proposed increasing the proportion of baccalaureate degree nurses in the U.S to 80% by 2020. It emphasized the importance of nurses engaging in continuous education to enhance their expertise and knowledge, even after obtaining their nursing license. This indicates that nurses should demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning beyond completing a single nursing program. The report also advises individuals with an associate degree in nursing to aspire for a baccalaureate degree, while those with a baccalaureate degree should contemplate pursuing master’s and doctorate degrees.
In order to improve the quality of care and patient safety, it is crucial for the Government to provide incentives to nurses for their ongoing education. According to the IOM report, nursing organizations, federal government, and other nursing agencies should work together in supporting nursing residency programs that are comparable to those completed by physicians. These institutions should offer residency programs once nurses have gained proficiency in a new clinical field.
The committee acknowledges that it will require a significant amount of time to establish the required educational capacity. Nonetheless, they emphasize that expanding the skills of nurses to encompass various areas such as community and public health, leadership, systems improvement and change, research, and health policy is a crucial and ambitious objective. This data is derived from the 2010 IOM report which has had a considerable impact on nursing practice, especially in primary care.
Various nursing associations are crusading for nurses to enhance their education in response to the challenges outlined in the IOM report. The 2010 IOM report on the future of nursing highlights the importance of nurses in healthcare delivery and emphasizes the need for them to play a crucial role in improving quality care and patient safety. This report also encourages nurses to move away from the traditional perception of being satisfied with a practice license and working solely at the bedside throughout their careers.
Over the past decade, nurses have seen continuing education as a challenge to improve their practice and provide better patient care. However, this report has given us nurses an opportunity to use it as a way to advance our education and enhance our nursing practice for improved patient care quality and effectiveness. According to the Institute of Medicine’s report, there is now a goal for 80% of practicing nurses to obtain a baccalaureate degree by 2020. As a result, enrollment in baccalaureate programs has increased nationwide.
The main goal of baccalaureate programs is to improve nurses’ readiness for the constantly evolving healthcare system, which is impacted by changes in population demographics. BSN program graduates are more capable of adapting to these changes as they acquire knowledge, skills, and competencies through these programs. The baccalaureate program emphasizes critical thinking, leadership abilities, and the capacity to deliver diverse care in different healthcare settings.
The nursing role has been greatly influenced by the IOM report, which has inspired nurses to understand the importance of taking on leadership roles in healthcare and extending their responsibilities beyond traditional bedside tasks. Nurses have been redefining their role as collaborators in healthcare delivery, working alongside clinicians, physician assistants, and other healthcare professionals. The 2010 IOM report on the future of nursing emphasizes this change.
Over the past century, nurses have broadened their roles to encompass nursing research and teaching positions. They are actively assuming policy-making responsibilities in order to gain recognition for their viewpoints. The IOM report details multiple leadership programs available to nurses and emphasizes the significance of their participation in policy-making as a means of shaping the future of nursing.
Across the country, there is a growing enrollment in associate degree to BSN programs. These programs have the goal of expanding nurses’ knowledge and preparing them for leadership positions, as well as improving their ability to handle complex medical issues. Furthermore, these programs assist nursing students in aligning their practices with the objectives outlined in the IOM report. Nursing stands apart from other healthcare professions by providing a distinctive educational pathway that offers outstanding opportunities for students and members to achieve their educational goals.
In the United States, there are various educational pathways available for nursing education that all lead to a Registered Nurse license. These options include baccalaureate degree, associate degree, and diploma programs. Additionally, associate degree nurses have the opportunity to pursue BSN programs and earn a BSN degree. Individuals with a BSN degree can further their education by enrolling in masters and doctorate programs to meet the recommendations of the IOM report.
This innovative path has proven to be highly appealing and prosperous for male and minority nurses, as exemplified by my own personal journey. During my nursing studies, I chose to pursue an ADN in nursing at a community college instead of enrolling in a four-year college program for a BSN. The decision was motivated by the 2010 IOM report on the future of nursing, which emphasized the longer time required to obtain an RN license through the latter option. Furthermore, factors such as familial responsibilities and financial limitations played a significant role in influencing my choice.
I earned my ADN degree in three and a half years while working and earning a good income. Currently, I am enrolled in Grand Canyon University to obtain my BSN degree in order to fulfill my goal of becoming a nurse. This aligns with the recommendations outlined in the IOM report (http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/The-future-of-Nursing-Leading-cha…). According to an article by Pauline W. Chen, MD published on November 18, 2010, in The New York Times (The New York Times November 18, 2010 by Pauline W. Chen, MD).
