The Future of Nursing - Essay Example

Nursing care has been extended to home-based patients and nurses should have the ability to perform admission assessments. This will identify patients requiring hospitalization and those in need of home care services. Increasing educational levels of nursing and continuous training will provide highly qualified nurses in hospitals.  This training will enable them to acquire lifelong skills required when handling future developments within the health department.

IOM proposes the amendment of requirements for hospital participation in medical provision programs. Collaboration between nurses and other physicians is required during research and improvement of the healthcare environment (Ridge, 2011). It will oversee the implementation of the recommendations by the government and other bodies involved. This includes the provision of advanced research models that will provide innovative solutions in the healthcare provision system. The institute has to strive to empower nurses to further their education and engage in continuous learning activities. Nurses require empowerment through the institute to lead the changes required for the provision of advanced health care. The standardization of data collection by licensing boards requires a contribution from IOM.

The most important point made during the briefing was the proposed increase of nurses with baccalaureate degrees to 80 percent by 2020 (IOM, 2010). This will add to the number of highly qualified nurses who can provide healthcare services in hospitals and homes. The number of patients who require health services is increasing rapidly and these patients require different health services. This in turn requires a diversified workforce of trained nurses who have the appropriate skills to cater to the patients. Collaboration between education institutions, funding agencies, and employers is required to provide necessary training to student nurses. Creating a learning culture within health facilities will encourage nurses to further their education to meet the required percentage.

 Congress has to amend the Medicare program to authorize nurses to perform admission assessments. An amendment is also required for governing participation in the Medicare program by various hospitals. Insurance companies that cover federal employees have to expand their services to advanced registered nurses. States require laws that allow registered nurses to practice health care for patients in all circumstances within their qualifications. Laws governing the extent to which nurses can participate in the research and manufacture of products are also necessary. Nursing residency especially in rural areas requires serious scrutiny to ensure fairness during to all rural areas. The education department and other funding agents require criteria to be followed when funding nurses to further their education. This will reduce favoritism and irregular dispatch of educational funds (Ridge, 2011).

Nurses have to take responsibility for their personal and professional growth through continuous learning. Leadership skills are required to give nurses the lead in the provision of advanced health care.