Implementation of the IOM Future of Nursing Report

Implementation of the IOM future of Nursing Report
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Implementation of the IOM future of Nursing Report
Question 1
Despite the nursing profession large workforce of approximately 3 million members, there are various barriers that prevent the nursing workforce from being able to respond and deliver the constantly changing health care needs (Fitzpatrick, 2010). In 2008, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) together with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) initiated a two-year report and initiative that is aimed at assessing and transforming the nursing profession for a better future. The work of RWJF is to enhance the future nursing profession in a way that everyone in the United States gets a chance to live a healthier lifestyle, sustained by a system where nurses play a crucial role of providing care and also promoting health (Fitzpatrick, 2010).
The work of RWJF is a campaign that focuses on various interrelated issues that hope to bring about a healthier America. This means focusing on increasing the chances of access to care, enhancing interprofessional collaboration and partnerships, supporting the concept of nursing leadership, renovating the nursing education, promoting diversity in nursing, gathering workforce data, and in the process build healthier communities (Goeschel, 2011). The RWJF focuses on drawing clear guidelines and programs for action that include bringing modifications to institutional policies from the national, state, and also at the local levels. It is an initiative that aims to bring about innovative ways that address barriers to health care and nursing shortages.
Question 2
The IOM “Future of Nursing” report plays a critical role in the nursing practice, nursing education, and in the development of nursing workforce. In the nursing education, the RWJF and IOM initiative recommends that nurses should be able to practice to the full extend and degree of their education, as well as training (Goeschel, 2011). Despite the fact that most are registered nurses, research indicates that about a quarter of a million nurses’ fall under the advanced practice nurses (APRNs). However, licensing and the rules of practice vary depending on states that determine what responsibilities a qualified nurse can perform. For instance, some states permit nurse practitioners to see and even prescribe medications to a patient without the supervision of a physician, but many other states do not allow this practice (Goeschel, 2011). In this way, the IOM report recommends that all stakeholders including state legislators to make sure that nurses are able to take on duties to the full extent of their education level and training. The report also recommends that nurses should be able to achieve higher levels of education and training by gaining access to an improved education that encourages continuous academic progression (Goeschel, 2011). Given that patient needs have over the years become more complicated, it is paramount for nurses to obtain requisite proficiencies to be able to deliver quality care. Nurses need to comprehend the expanding roles and grasp technological tools, as well as information system and this calls for higher levels of education to adequately deliver thes...