Review the Institute of Medicine’s 2010 report “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.” 750‐1,000 words, 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. An abstract is not required.
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Introduction
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) released its report “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health” in 2010. The report introduced several recommendations for the nursing profession, with the aim to improve the quality of patient care, increase access to care, and reduce healthcare costs. This essay will discuss the influence of the IOM report on nursing practice, including the four messages highlighted in the report, the direct influence on nursing education and leadership, the importance of evolving nursing roles and education, the significance of professional development in caring for diverse populations, and how nurses can effectively manage patient care in an evolving healthcare system.
The four messages outlined in the IOM report
The IOM report outlined four key messages aimed at transforming the nursing profession. The first message is the need to remove barriers to practice, which entails eliminating laws and regulations that limit the scope of practice for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). This message is significant to nursing practice because it enhances the autonomy of APRNs and ensures that they can provide evidence-based care independently.
The second message is to expand nursing education, which primarily involves increasing the number of nurses with Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees. This is crucial because BSN-prepared nurses are better equipped to provide evidenced-based care and can function at higher levels of responsibility in care delivery, administration, and education.
The third message focuses on enhancing nursing leadership, which involves equipping nurses with leadership skills that enable them to assume leadership roles in care delivery, research, and education. This message is significant to nursing practice because effective leadership is essential for successful patient outcomes, quality improvement, and the shaping of healthcare policy.
Finally, the fourth message is the need to enhance nurse data collection, which involves increasing the participation of nurses in healthcare data collection and ensuring that data is used to inform decision-making in patient care delivery, outcomes improvement, and policy-making.
Direct influence of the IOM report on nursing education and nursing leadership
The IOM report has had a direct influence on nursing education and leadership by emphasizing the importance of professional development and promoting the BSN as the minimum education level for nurses. The report highlights the need for nurses to acquire leadership skills, and universities have incorporated leadership courses into nursing curriculums. The report also recommends that employers encourage continuing education for nurses, which has led to more funding for continuing education programs.
Benefits and opportunities for BSN-prepared nurses
BSN-prepared nurses have several benefits, including the ability to critically think, manage complex patient cases, and contribute to quality improvement initiatives. BSN-prepared nurses are also better equipped to assume leadership positions, which leads to more opportunities for career advancement. The IOM report recommends that hospitals and healthcare organizations hire more BSN-prepared nurses, and several healthcare systems have implemented this recommendation to improve patient outcomes.
Importance of evolving nursing roles and education to meet the needs of an aging and increasingly diverse population
As the number of older adults and minority populations continues to grow, nurses must be equipped with the skills and knowledge to care for these diverse populations. Nursing roles have evolved to include the need for cultural competence, palliative and end-of-life care, and chronic disease management. Nursing education must adapt to these changing roles by including content on cultural competence, gerontology, and population health.
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
Professional development is crucial in nursing because it ensures that nurses remain current with best practices, new therapies, and technologies, and can provide optimal care to diverse populations. Lifelong learning ensures that nurses understand the needs of their patients, and can adjust their care plans accordingly. The IOM report recommends that employers create opportunities for continuing education, and several healthcare organizations have implemented development programs for their nursing staff.
How nurses can assist in effectively managing patient care within an evolving healthcare system
Nurses can effectively manage patient care in an evolving healthcare system by collaborating with other healthcare providers, encouraging patient engagement in their care plan, and implementing evidence-based practices. Effective communication, leadership, and adaptability are also essential for providing optimal patient care in an evolving healthcare system. Nurses must advocate for patients and be at the forefront of healthcare system transformation to ensure that patients receive high-quality, patient-centered care.
Conclusion
The IOM report has had a significant impact on nursing practice, education, and leadership, emphasizing the need for professional development, elevating the BSN degree, and enhancing nursing leadership skills. Nursing roles have evolved to meet the changing healthcare environment, and nursing education has adapted to include content around cultural competence, gerontology, and population health. Effective patient care management in an evolving healthcare system is achievable through collaboration among nurses and other healthcare providers, patient engagement, and evidence-based practices. With the IOM report’s recommendations, the nursing profession is well-positioned to lead change and advance health.
