Impact of the IOM Report on Nursing - Essay Example

Impact of the IOM Report on Nursing Introduction With recent changes in the health sector, it is expected that the healthcare sector in the United States is increasingly becoming complex. As a result, extensive lobbying within the field of nursing regarding the quality of services offered has taken the center stage. The institute of medicine produces reliable information and updates regarding the nursing field in the country. The IOM report of 2010 outlines the needs of the current and the future nursing environments. It considers factors such as nursing education, nursing practice and leadership in nursing. If the recommendations of the report are implemented, the impact will be wide-reaching benefits as far as healthcare is concerned. The report stipulates that the number of students joining primary care is decreasing. On the contrary, the number of nurse practitioners is reducing. The impact of this trend is an increase in hospital admissions. Impact of the IOM Report on Nursing Practice The IOM report suggests that nurses should be allowed to practice their full extent in delivering adequate care to the patients. The IOM report has triggered notable changes in the nursing scope to increase the quality of primary care. The report suggests that there is acute shortage of nurses in the country and the gap need to be filed since the demand for health is increasing rapidly. Today, primary care is offered by nurse practitioners, assistant physicians and physicians (IOM 2010, p.88). Adequate number of registered nurses (RNs) is important in decreasing the number of patients in emergency room and admissions. If nurses can attend to patients when the need arises, the health condition of the patients can greatly improve thus eliminating the need for admissions. The report further suggests that patients seeking health should be accorded the services they need and deserve rather than being offered the most convenient or the most affordable alternatives. The current changes in the healthcare sector in the country are making huge demands for nurses. One such change is Affordable Care Act of 2010 that paved way for more access to subsidized healthcare (Kline & Walthall 2010). The impact of the act is to increase demand for healthcare in public facilities. As such, primary care will be vital in ensuring that more patients can be served professionally without overwhelming the medical facilities. The IOM report recommends that more nurses be hired to facilitate primary care in the country. Impact of the IOM report on nursing education The report points out that education is key in delivering quality care in the ever changing environment. The report stipulates that nurses should have ‘seamless academic progression’ (IOM 2010, p. 163). Nursing colleges are advised to enroll more in BSN programs. The report further recommends that nurses should enroll for master’s degree within 5 years of registration. This will be beneficial in instilling extra skills to address the increasing needs. The progression in education is advised by the changes in complexity of health care, emerging health issues and also new discoveries. The need for education is advised by the changing demographics and health needs of the country. The education curriculum thus needs to be changed to address the health issues. Moreover, elaborate training of nurses on medical technologies and adaptive that match the changing needs of patients is key in improving the nursing profession in the US. Impact of the IOM report on nursing leadership role Nurses with a BSN training and above are equipped with extra knowledge to deal with emerging situations. However, the report suggests that nurses lack capacity to engage in leadership in various fields of health. As such, capacitation of nurses to participate in health leadership can go a long way in ensuring that the health sector delivers evidence based health solutions as expected (Kelly & Tazbir 2013, p. 6). In this effect, the IOM recommends that educational programs include leadership courses that enhance the capability of nurses in conduction research and development in the medical sector. The leadership capability of nurses can be inculcated by ensuring that they are encouraged to enroll to masters and doctorate programs that enhance research. By being conversant with research skills, nurses can then lead in medical researches and thus participate in finding solutions. A good example where nurses can be useful in leading research on new processes that can enhance care (Kelly & Tazbir 2013, p.151). Changing My Practice to Meet the Goals of IOM Report The IoM report is biased towards affording the patients high quality care. The report emphasizes on evidence based care to the emerging conditions. I will align myself with the recommendations by ensuring that I offer high quality care based on the nursing doctrine of safe care. In accordance with the IOM recommendation of enabling nurses to perform to their full extent of their education (IOM 2010, p. 96), I will utilize all my skills in giving care to patients to the level of my ability. This implies that I will utilize my nursing skills to the latter to benefit the patients. Another IOM recommendation for the nursing practice is that nurses should continually progress in their training. As an ADN nurse, I will endeavor to continue with training in order to attain a BSN status. As documented, a BSN level will enhance my skills such as leadership, research and also improve my approach to various situations (Sizemore, Robbins, Hoke, & Billings 2007, p. 1). My eagerness to advance will be in the interest of finding better alternatives to existing practices or new practices for emerging conditions. All these can happen through adequate measures to facilitate further education for nurses. By 2020, I aspire to have a doctorate degree in nursing so as to empower the recommendations of the IOM. The doctorate degree will open avenues for me to contribute to the nursing filed through extensive research skills. In a nutshell, the IOM report outlines some of the important issues that needed redress in the health sector. The report acknowledges the usefulness of nursing and how improvements in the field implies better health services in the country. As such, improving the status of nurses can be a good step towards managing the demand for healthcare in the country in the 21st century. References Institute of Medicine. (2010). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. pp 96, 163. Retrieved from http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/The-Future-of-Nursing-Leading-Change-Advancing-Health Kelly, P., & Tazbir, J. (2013). Essentials of nursing leadership & management. Cengage Learning. Pp 5, 151 Kline, J. A., & Walthall, J. D. (2010). Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010: Summary, Analysis, and Opportunities for Advocacy for the Academic Emergency Physician: HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2010. Academic Emergency Medicine. E69-e74doi:10.1111/j.1553-2712.2010.00802.x Sizemore, M. H., Robbins, L. K., Hoke, M. M., & Billings, D. M. (2007). Outcomes of ADN-BSN Partnerships to Increase Baccalaureate Prepared Nurses. International journal of nursing education scholarship, 4(1). 1-18. Read More