Trends Affecting the Nurse as Educator - Research Paper Example

? Trends Affecting the Nurse as Educator 02/02 Trends Affecting the Nurse as Educator Nowadays health care climate are changing on account of political as well as policy implications, specific development in education of nursing are usually surfacing. These alterations do not only affect the core curriculum taught to student and the professionals, but it also affects the method in which the material is actually delivered. Since health care continues experiencing its advancement, fueled through such factors because economy and also policies set forth by legislators, nursing jobs education is affected and also some trends appear (Zerwekh, 2011). The millennium has turn out to be the symbol for the extraordinary problems and opportunities available for this nursing profession and also to those educational institutions in charge of the preparation of the future nurses. Change is everywhere, defining not just only what we all teach, but in addition to this how we all teach our students. Transformations occurring in nursing as well as nursing education are simply driven by some socioeconomic variables, developments in health care deliveries and also professional problems unique to the nursing profession (Cerf, 1976). Shifts in the population of the United States have greatly affected the health care priorities and the practice regarding nursing. As a result of progress in public clinical and health care, the average life span is growing rapidly. It has been estimated that by the year 2020, around 20 percent of the population will have grown 65 or older. Greater life-span of people with chronic and also acute ailments will challenge medical care system's power to give useful and powerful care. High growth rate in the diversity of population affect the nature and occurrence of the illnesses and diseases that require alteration in practices which depicts diverse beliefs and attitudes. Discrepancy in mortality, morbidity, and access to care among population have improved, even when the socioeconomic and other relating factors have caused growth in violence and the drug abuse. Nursing practice, training, and study must take hold of and cater these changing demographics, and healthcare professionals must emphasize on spiritual well being, as well as the psychosocial and the physical health of the entire population (Zerwekh, 2011). The demographics of the students have also changed. Diversity of race and ethnicity in the health care and nursing schools have emerged drastically, providing a healthy and rich environment for the students to learn. Students nowadays enter nursing schools at older ages bringing with them various college and work experiences. They are either full-time workers or some of them are raising their families which limits their academic experience and requires flexibility while scheduling (Zerwekh, 2011). The radical change in the information technology has already brought about a drastic change on the education of the nurses and the delivery of the health care. Development in the technological sector has enhanced the usage of telemedicine and telehealth that brings together the provider and the patient without the need of physical presence. The nurses of the current era should be proficient in computer technology. Easy and flexible access to the data now has an affect on how nursing research should be conducted (Zerwekh, 2011). Globalization has been caused by advancement in the commerce and international travelling, information technology and expansion of the multinational sectors. Along with the possibility of fast disease spread, there is also a possibility for drastic improvement of health because of share of knowledge between the health care systems and cultures. Science of nursing should have power to deal with medical problems like the emerging infections. Education and research of nursing should be more internationally focused now to get benefit from multicultural exposure (Zerwekh, 2011). This century patients are well informed who tends to take part in decisions that affect their personal as well as family heath and medical care. The information that was previously unavailable is now publically available because of internet and media. Customers have become concerned and informed about the health promotions and the prevention of diseases. Nurses must also be informed of the changes in this relationship and must be trained to help the patients and their families to deal well with their health (Cowen, 2011). Increasing cost and diversified and aging population nowadays requires nurses to have understanding to adopt methods that enhance the quality, act in response to the clinical complications and lower the cost. Providing such services requires knowledge and skill in biostatistics, behavioral science and clinical epidemiology. Nurses must show proficiency at both managerial as well as patient care level. These theories must be included in the nursing syllabus (Cowen, 2011). The budget of the health care has been of major concern to the government for last 30 years. The health care cost in the United States has reached to 15 percent of the total GNP( Gross National Product). Though 40 million Americans still does not have health care insurance but still the total spending on the health care of this country out do any of the other developed countries. Cost related concerns are found everywhere in nursing practice. It affects the management of work, treatment plan, the perception of patient and their participation in the health care. In addition to this, there are increased concern about the pharmaceutical cost and the development of new drugs (Cowen, 2011). The effect of state and federal health policy and its regulation on the nursing practice can never be ignored. Problem regarding health care are often critical, linking the filed of economics and medicine and affecting the rights of the individual and access to health care. Consumers are very concerned regarding the quality whereas corporations are concerned regarding the economic survival (Cowen, 2011). Two very important trends will have an affect on the health care delivery. Firstly there will be an enhancement in the federal and state regulations as the cost continues to rise whereas the manage care continues to increase. In addition to regulations, attempts will be made towards less expensive settings and to apply the market forces to hold back the cost. Secondly that the state must clearly define, evaluate and assess quality and act as contractor for the business entities and in addition to that enforce accountability of managed care institutions. Influence of nursing on the regulations and policies have been suspiciously small in relation to the wideness of the nursing practice as well as the importance of health care delivery system. Nursing professional, schools, and scholars should more actively take part in the growth and expansion of the health regulations and policies. Nursing students must be well prepared for an effective role in the political ground (Roberts, 1990) There is a dire need of skills and knowledge to efficiently supervise the wide-ranging requirements of the patients and populations. the future medical and health care system will heavily rely on nurses, medical doctors, dentists, practitioners, pharmacists and social workers to work in collaboration in each other (Cowen, 2011). In collaborative and interdisciplinary practices nurses must exhibit competence and leadership for quality improvement on continuous basis. Such interdisciplinary and team based practices depicts improved clinical results and reduced costs. Teaching techniques that integrate chances for collaborative practices and interdisciplinary education are necessary to train nurses for their distinctive professional responsibility and to realize the function of all other disciplines in the care of the patients (Sullivan). Nursing research is an essential element of the methodical venture of civilizing the nation's health. The rising body of nursing research gives a scientific foundation for patient care and should be used on regular basis by the nation's 2.5 million nurses. Researches are carried out to improve the outcome of the patients and support the well-being and health of society (Sullivan). Bibliography Zerwekh, J. A. G., & Garneau, A. Z. (2011). Nursing today: Transition and trends. St. Louis: Saunders. Sullivan, M. A., Southern Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing., & Southern Regional Education Board. (1994). A Changing health care system: How will it affect advanced nursing education and practice. Atlanta: Southern Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing in affiliation with the Southern Regional Education Board. Cowen, P. S., & Moorhead, S. (2011). Current issues in nursing. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby Elsevier. Cerf, C., Aspen Systems Corp., Germantown, MD., & Cambridge Research Inst., Inc., MA. (1976). Trends Affecting the U.S. Health Care System. Health Planning Information Series. Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. 20402 (Stock Number 017-022-00483-6, $5.60. Roberts, K. L., & Northern Territory Univ., Casuarina (Australia). (1990). Clinical Influences on Nurse-Academics' Instructional Planning Decisions in the Implementation of Basic Nursing Curricula in Colleges of Advanced Education in New South Wales. Read More