The Institute of Medicine Report Essay Example for Free

The Institute of Medicine Report Essay The impact of the Institute of Medicine report on nursing education suggests the nursing profession should have a more advanced education system providing limitless opportunities for growth. The future of nursing providing care to the entire realm of health care, especially primary care and community settings, will be determined by the evolution of a new educational system. The IOM report states that sixty percent of hospital employed nurses will be impacted by the Affordable Care Act because of the transition of patients to primary and community health care. (National Research Council, 2011) Tension in the current educational system has been steadily increasing due to the newly required nursing skills in many specialty areas. That being said, the new educational structure will have to be expanded immensely. The IOM report suggests increasing the number of baccalaureate nurses from fifty to eighty percent by the year 2020. (National Research Council, 2011, p. 12) The report also suggests doubling the current number of nurses with a doctorate degree. Reaching these goals along with overcoming many other educational obstacles will require many changes and modifications to the current system. Increasing the use of technology to educate nurses through on-line programs is one necessary effective strategy. This will create continuous opportunities for nurses from all ethnic groups with associate degrees to obtain their baccalaureate and master’s degrees. Leaders of organizations, hospitals, accreditors, philanthropist, employers, etc. should work cohesively to secure funding for these educational programs. Generating more diversity in nursing will help meet the demands of the projected increase of ethnic groups receiving health care due to the ACA. Intra-professional diversity has been suggested by the IOM report too. (National Research Council, 2011) It is recommended that nurses, physicians and other health care disciplines should be educated together as students and their professions. The IOM report suggests utilizing a nurse empowering trend by hospitals around the country. This trend consists of health care organizations encouraging their nurses with associate degrees to enter into baccalaureate nursing programs within a few years of graduation or hire. (National Research Council, 2011) Impact of the IOM Report on Primary Care Nursing Practice The impact of the IOM report on primary care nursing practice suggests a direct link to the conversion of the education system. With specialty care expecting to diminish, primary care is foreseen to generate large numbers of health care consumers in the near future. People across the country will have increased access to primary care. Therefore, it is speculated that primary care nursing practice will require more opportunities and faster transitions for the advancement of nurses to obtain BSN, master’s and doctorate degrees. Advanced practice registered nurses should have a huge role in the success of primary care. Since there are few APRNs practicing in primary care settings then there will be plenty of opportunity for this group to grow. If these ideas do not evolve as projected then nursing shortages for primary care providers could impede nursing care. The IOM report states that continuous updates to nursing practice and education should be created by collecting and analyzing data from each role and scope of practice. (National Research Council, 2011) The collected data will also be used for future predictions of health care professional requirements in each setting. My Practice Changes in Regard to the IOM’s Report My practice changes in regard to the IOM report in many ways. It is not rare that my unit admits children who are over or under dosed on their medication or are prescribed medicines that are ineffective or not recommended for their diagnosis. I could change my practice to meet the goals of the IOM report by providing families and patients information about their mental health diagnosis, signs and symptoms of an exacerbation of their disorder, contact information to our facility and collect their contact information for a discharge phone call. More so, I can provide them with contact information for trained and skilled mental health professionals in their area and have appointments scheduled within a week or two of discharge. I would ask if the information discussed in the discharge meeting is realistic for them and meets their expectations. Another way I can change my practice to meet the goals of the IOM report is by continuing to chair and co-chair evidence based practice projects pertaining to technology. Technology is mentioned in several case studies in the IOM report and I agree that we should continue to find methods to use it being fiscally responsible. Recommendations for the Nurse Leader Recommendations for the nurse leader according to the IOM report are for nurses and physicians to start working as complete equals while providing healthcare. Nursing must contribute more to leadership roles and continue their education in these roles to help provide increased quality care to patients. Nurses must become more fluent in policy reform by becoming more involved as members of committees, councils and legislation. There should be a greater emphasis and expanded education on nursing leadership in educational programs and employer based competencies. Employers should begin or continue incentives for professional development as the IOM report suggests more nurse leaders are required for reform. (National Research Council, 2011) References National Research Council. The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2011. Retrieved from http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/The-Future-of-Nursing-Leading-Change-Advancing-Health.aspx