Institute Of Medicine 2011 The Future Of Nursing
The nursing profession has undergone significant changes in the past few decades. There has been a shift from the traditional role of nurses as assistants to physicians to a more autonomous role. This change has been driven by a number of factors, including changes in the healthcare system, an aging population, and a shortage of primary care providers. In response to these changes, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report in 2011 titled "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health."
Background
The IOM is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides research and advice on health policy issues. In 2008, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) commissioned the IOM to assess the current state of the nursing profession and to provide recommendations for how nursing could contribute to improving the healthcare system. The resulting report, "The Future of Nursing," was released in 2011.
Key Recommendations
The "Future of Nursing" report made a number of key recommendations for how the nursing profession could contribute to improving the healthcare system. These recommendations included:
- Increasing the number of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80% by 2020
- Removing scope-of-practice barriers that prevent advanced practice registered nurses from practicing to the full extent of their education and training
- Implementing nurse residency programs that provide new nurses with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the profession
- Increasing diversity in the nursing workforce to better reflect the patient population
- Improving data collection and information infrastructure to support workforce planning and policy-making
Impact
The "Future of Nursing" report has had a significant impact on the nursing profession and the healthcare system as a whole. Many states have implemented changes to their scope-of-practice laws, allowing advanced practice nurses to provide a wider range of services. Nursing schools have also responded to the report by offering more baccalaureate and graduate degree programs.
In addition, the report has helped to raise awareness of the important role that nurses play in the healthcare system. Nurses are now seen as key contributors to improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. As a result, nurses have been given a more prominent role in healthcare delivery and policy-making.
Conclusion
The "Future of Nursing" report has provided a roadmap for how the nursing profession can contribute to improving the healthcare system. The report's recommendations have helped to raise awareness of the important role that nurses play in healthcare delivery and policy-making. As a result, nurses are now seen as key contributors to improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. The nursing profession will continue to evolve in response to changes in the healthcare system, but the "Future of Nursing" report will continue to serve as a guiding document for how nurses can lead change and advance health.