Professional Development of Nursing Professionals

Review the Institute of Medicine’s 2010 report “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.” Write a 750‐1,000 word paper discussing the influence of the IOM report on nursing practice. Include the following:

Summarize the four messages outlined in the IOM report and explain why these are significant to nursing practice.
Discuss the direct influence the IOM report has on nursing education and nursing leadership. Describe the benefits and opportunities for BSN‐prepared nurses.
Explain why it is important that a nurse’s role and education evolve to meet the needs of an aging and increasingly diverse population.
Discuss the significance of professional development, or lifelong learning, and its relevance in caring for diverse populations across the life span and within the health‐illness continuum.
Discuss how nurses can assist in effectively managing patient care within an evolving health care system.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

ANSWER

Professional Development of Nursing Professionals

IOM Report Key Messages

The IOM nursing report provides a quality foundation for nurses to sharpen and boost their professional skills and knowledge. It encompasses four key messages that possess the capacity to advance their skills. One of these messages is to transform practice where “nurses should practice to the full extent of their education and training” (Institute of Medicine, 2011). Nurses should maximize their unique contribution to ensure that all American have access to health care services. Thus, federal and state agencies should update regulations to advance nursing professionals’ capacity and education. The second message is the need to transform education where “nurses are expected to achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression” (Institute of Medicine, 2011). Institutions must provide nurses with appropriate tools that enable them to deliver care services during and after training. Also, reforming the healthcare sector through the removal of regulatory and financial barriers will promote patient care.

The third message revolves around leadership transformation where “nurses should be full partners, with physicians and other care providers actively taking part in redesigning health care in the US” (Institute of Medicine, 2011). Here, nurses and other service providers should have the appropriate knowledge base and experience to develop and implement quality health care systems. Lastly, the need for better data on the health care workforce is a central message incorporated in the report. It calls for “effective workforce planning and policymaking that require better data collection and improved information infrastructural system” (Institute of Medicine, 2011). Adequate planning is needed to ensure that the systems in place guarantee quality service delivery.

These messages help nurses develop their commitment to delivering efficient and effective services and appropriate response to prevailing challenges.  They seek and undertake educational opportunities that enable them to advance their skills. They also ensure that health care stakeholders adjust processes to suit care needs. The government and other stakeholders put in place viable mechanisms that allow nurses to deliver quality care services to patients, their families, and the community.

Influence of IOM Report on Nursing Education and Leadership

The IOM report shapes nurses into better service providers in the care setting. It exposes them to advanced educational training which enables them to handle greater challenges and responsibilities. Notably, the report allows nurses to familiarize themselves with the increased complexity of the care system. The report acts as a framework where nurses are called to become change agents in their profession. They are motivated to advance their studies to deliver optimal services to patients, their families, and the community. The report also builds nurses to become future leaders. Taking part in decision-making processes allows them to learn vital insights that they can utilize in leadership positions in the future. BSN-prepared nurses stand to gain from increased educational learning opportunities. They have viable and numerous opportunities for boosting their intellectual capacity, leadership skills, and health promotion.

Nursing Role and Education to Meet Evolving Needs of Aging and Increasingly Diverse Populations

Nurses should improve their skills and knowledge by advancing their studies over time. The healthcare industry is always evolving every day, presenting new challenges for nurses. The aging population and increased diversity are vital elements that expose nurses to advanced learning. Nurses must be prepared to meet the needs of the aging population in a changing environment. In today’s setting, people live longer than before, and the span is expected to increase exponentially in the coming years (Grady, 2011). This demographic change is leading to vast challenges. Nurses should be exposed to strategies that enable them to ensure that the aging population live long while meeting their care needs and overall well-being. Also, increasing diversity is a key aspect that calls for advanced nursing education and training to ensure that they develop culturally competent care. Cultural groups have distinct health care issues, needs, experiences, and expectations which nurses are expected to meet. Thus, there is a dire need for them to improve their roles and education to meet the industry’s varying care needs.

The Rationale for Professional Development in Life Span and Health-illness Continuum

Lifelong learning helps health care professionals to keep their knowledge and skills current. They acquire news skills that permit them to deliver excellent services. Handling diverse populations’ calls for the professional development of skills. When handing these patients, lifelong learning helps care providers to develop adequate critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Notably, it assists in developing interpersonal skills that boost patient outcomes. The health-illness continuum revolves around improving health and well-being. For instance, through professional development, nurses are exposed to tactics that safeguard patients’ health and welfare. They engage their creativity in boosting patient outcomes.

Managing Patient Care in an Evolving Health care System

The health care environment is complex and evolves every day. Nurses are playing a crucial role in improving service delivery in the ever-changing setting. They are all-rounded since they operate across various cases and situations to meet the patient’s needs. For instance, they coordinate care from various providers to ensure that patients obtain swift recovery and achieve a quality state of health. Also, they handle caseloads where patients have massive and intense needs. Lastly, they assist in the effective patient transition in the hospital and home environment. In each of these aspects, the conditions might change calling for the nurses’ attention. Overall, nurses prevent illnesses and promote wellness in an evolving system.

References

Grady, P. A. (2011). Advancing the Health of our Aging Population: A lead role in nursing science. Nursing Outlook, 59(4), 207-209.

Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine (2011). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Washington (DC): National Academies Press. PMID: 24983041.