Improving the Nursing Practice to Increase Job Satisfaction in the Healthcare Sector

Reflection Paper
Name
Institution
Reflection Paper
The healthcare industry is undergoing major transformations in the United States and around the world. The forces driving the changes in the health sector include the increase in the number of eligible patients for the diverse medical insurance programs provided by the government. The government’s initiative on health care reforms demands a comprehensive review of various aspects of the sector. The complexity of the patients’ demands further fuel calls for the implementation of significant reforms seeking to improve the delivery of quality health care services. Nurses are at the forefront of delivering quality primary and acute care to patients. Hence, it is imperative that nurses acquaint and align themselves with the evolving practices and demands of the healthcare sector to effectively carry out their distinct roles. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations for nursing health care services include advancing in the level of education, interdisciplinary collaboration, full application and practice in line with the educational and training levels achieved, and policy changes to accommodate the evolving healthcare demands CITATION Ins10 \l 2057 (Medicine, 2010).
Advancing the level of education to attain a baccalaureate degree serves to secure future opportunities in the profession and assist in the delivery of quality services. Besides becoming one of the advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), attaining higher levels of education would provide a valuable platform for the acquisition of other valuable competencies. The transformation of the healthcare sector requires leadership skills, and the ability to impact change through evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaborations, and engagement in scholarly activities aimed for the same purpose of effecting positive changes. Such competencies can only be achieved or acquired through an advanced level of education and training thr...