Nursing Education and Nursing Leadership

Professional Development of Nursing Professionals
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Nursing Education and Nursing Leadership
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) report outlined key messages and recommendations to support efforts to improve the nursing practice and, ultimately, the healthcare system. This paper discusses the influence of the IOM report on nursing practice.
Key Messages of the IOM Report
The IOM report developed four key messages that are instrumental in transforming the nursing profession. The messages emphasize the need to empower nurses by removing the restriction on their practice and providing them with necessary nursing education. These messages are (Institute of Medicine, 2011):
1 Enabling nurses to practice to the full extent of their education and training- Restrictive scope of practice for APRNs in some states prevent APRNs from fully practicing, thereby limiting their ability to improve access to care.
2 Ensuring nurses achieve higher education and training levels through an improved education system that enhances seamless learning and academic progress- Nursing education should provide nurses with lifelong learning opportunities with an easy transition into higher nursing degrees.
3 Ensuring that nurses are full partners in redesigning health care in the US- Nurses should be full partners with physicians and other healthcare professionals to provide high-quality care. They should collaborate with other leaders in the health professions to provide high-quality care.
4 Better collection of data and improved information infrastructure to facilitate effective workforce planning and policy-making- Data on the types and numbers of health care workers are important in helping determine the healthcare workforce needs in different parts of the country. Having access to such current data can help plan for the future workforce.
Influence of the IOM Report
The IOM report placed a strong emphasis on improving nursing education and leadership. Specifically, the IOM states that ensuring nurses have more education will prepare them for more roles in healthcare, including leadership roles (IOM, 2011). By recommending that nurses continue with lifelong learning and acquire higher levels of education, the report is making sure that nurses can practice in collaboration and partnership with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians, most of who have higher degrees in their respective fields. As a result of the IOM report, the number of programs offering baccalaureate in nursing, as well as the number of BSN graduates, have increased significantly (Altman, Butler, & Shern, 2016). BSN-prepared nurses have greater opportunities, especially in terms of employment and leadership opportunities. According to Anbari and Vogelsmeier (2018), the management courses in a BSN program improves the nurses’ understanding of nursing leadership and management. This prepares them to become better nurse managers/leaders. BSN degrees also move nurses a step closer towards achieving higher education in nursing.
Importance of Nurse’s Role and Education Evolution
Nurses play a significant role in the provision of...