ISSUES IN PROFESSIONAL NURSING PRACTICE - Term Paper Example

Issues in Professional Nursing Practice The essay aims to address a two-fold objective to wit to identify studies of contemporary nursing education strategy; and (2) to summarize the findings of the study and reflect on the findings.Issues in Professional Nursing Practice Contemporary nursing education strategies such as distance education and learning have caught the attention of the higher education (nursing educators or general educators), nurses, and the profession of nursing as advancement made in technology faces the issue of ending the traditional campuses or representing a significant addition to the dynamic changes in nursing education and patient care (Carlton, Siktberg, Flowers & Scheibel, 2003, p. 165). With distance education, a nurse does not only have to quit a job and reduce workload hours to earn an education degree but also can adjust complex work hours to desired time of studying.

From the different social reforms to organization of nursing programs, technology has taken the larger proportion of social changes in nursing (American Nurses Association, 2010, p. 130). According to the study, distance education is the answer to the nursing shortage being experienced in the United States in a way that students see distance education learning system associated with flexibility of learning in terms of time and place, access to more resources, more and varied teaching and learning strategies and individuation of learning (Carlton, Siktberg, Flowers & Scheibel, 2003).

However, studies also find out that level of satisfaction was not as high compared to students who are involved in active learning and discussion. Other participants of the study even believed that learnings acquired through distance education are of poor quality and little educational value as there is laxity of human interaction or contact. Meanwhile, distance education also affects patient care and safety. Distance education has broadened the number of patients who will received medical and nursing care.

Distance education can offer nursing care in the underserved population, who because of geographical, employment, and family responsibilities, cannot avail health services offered in the rural area. Patient’s safety in traveling to the healthcare areas is preserved as people have no longer have to go in far away areas. Economic crisis in U.S. began in 1990s and more women intend to enter a workforce capable of supporting the cost of living with fewer days of work but more money generated (Cherry & Jacob, 2011, p. 21). Shortage of nurses are experienced and advancement made in technology has increased health care costs.

Thus, the professional nursing organization has the responsibility to uplift the standards of nursing profession and addressed the nursing shortage despite economic crisis. Likewise, it is also the professional organization’s responsibility to ensure the delivery of a quality, affordable, and accessible care by using modern technology (American Nurses Association, 2010, p. 1). The U.S. government continues to emphasize the importance of health care. I agree with the distance education technology for the reason that it could deliver health care needs to a larger part of the population without sacrificing either the health professional’s or patient’s safety in going to hospitals.

For as long as distance education has met all six areas of health care such as organization, delivery, and financing of health care, provision for the public’s health, expansion of nursing healthcare knowledge and appropriate technology, expansion of health care resources and health policy, definitive planning for health policy and regulation, and duties under extreme conditions (American Nurses Association, 2010, p. 4-5), I would put my all-out support in advocating for distance education as a tool that will address not only the nursing shortage but the greater goods for the greater number of individuals as well.

ReferencesAmerican Nurses Association. (2010). Scope of Nursing Practice. Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice (2nd ed.) (p. 1-29). Maryland: Nursesbooks.org.American Nurses Association. (2010). Social Context of Nursing. Nursings Social Policy Statement: The Essence of the Profession (3rd ed.) (p. 3-7). Maryland: Nursesbooks.org.American Nurses Association. (2010). Provision 9. Guide to the Code of Ethics for Nurses: Interpretation and Application (p. 121-136). Maryland: Nursesbooks.org.Carlton, K.E., Siktberg, L.L., Flowers, J.

& Scheibel, P. (2003). Overview of Distance Education in Nursing: Where Are We Now and Where Are We Going? In M. H. Oermann, & K. T. Heinrich, Annual Review of Nursing Education Vol. 1 (pp. 165-190). New York: Springer Publishing Company, Inc.Cherry, B. & Jacob, R. (2011). The Evolution of Professional Nursing. Contemporary Nursing; Issues, Trends, and Management (5th ed.) (p. 1-25). Missouri: Mosby, Inc.