Essay on Nurses: Educated for Quality Care in US Healthcare Transformation

Introduction

Nurses comprise the largest workforce in America. They play a significant role in the transformation of healthcare delivery. The Affordable Care Act of 2010 has also stimulated the transformation of the delivery of health services. Nevertheless, for the transmission to be smooth, there is a need for quality and advanced nursing education. The American Nurses Association (ANA) provides a scope of practice and competencies needed by nurses. Based on the nurses’ education level, they have different options in the job market. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) drafted a report that detailed the goals to advance nursing education and meet the future demands of health care delivery in the United States. Additionally, the Campaign for Action aims to transform nursing education. As an advanced practice BSN nurse, I know that my education plays a significant role in ensuring that I provide quality care to patients. The purpose of this paper is to scrutinize the importance of nursing education and discuss my overall education goals.

Options in the Job Market Based on My Education Level

I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing. In the job market, there are myriads of job opportunities for advanced practice registered nurses (APRN). Staff Writers (2020) indicated that because of the growing number of jobs, advanced practice nurses can work in a range of hospital settings, jobs are available in most states, many jobs in various specialties, availability to work with different populations, and ability to expand the scope of practice. The American Nurses Association (n.d) stated that the scope of practice involves who, what, where, when, why, and how of nursing practice. Staff Writers (2020) added that having an advanced nursing practice degree enables a person to work both full and part-time jobs and have better working schedules. Based on my education level, I know that I can get a job in a range of specialties such as ambulatory care, emergency room, critical care, family nursing, perioperative nursing, mental health, pediatrics, and public health. Also, I know that after I complete my bachelor’s program and get a certification, it would be easy for me to get a job in a range of services. I could become a clinical nurse specialist who works with a specific population to treat diseases such as diabetes. A degree in advanced practice enables an individual to have career fulfillment (Staff Writers, 2020). As the authors added, advanced practice nurses participate in research and development to increase their practice. As a clinical nurse specialist, I can provide patient care to those under my scope.

IOM Future of Nursing Recommendation Report

In its key message #2, the IOM future of nursing recommendations for achieving higher levels of education suggests that nurses should acquire the highest level of education and training through an advanced education system that would enable them to have smooth education progression (Institute of Medicine, 2011). For me, I would like to pursue a master’s degree in advanced practice nursing (MSN) after I get a certification. The reason for furthering my education is to gain more knowledge and become more competent in my scope of practice. More so, attaining a masters’ degree would enable me to provide safe and quality care to patients. The challenging demands of healthcare require me to have the highest level of education to manage to provide exemplary care. Staff Writers (2020) stated that a master’s degree is sufficient to become an advanced practice nurse. The program requirement for a master’s degree is between one to three years (Staff Writers, 2020). After acquiring my master’s degree, I will pursue a doctorate in nursing program (DNP). A DNP will enable me to become a competent nurse leader. Rosseter (2019) asserted that the complex healthcare system requires the highest level of scientific practice to enable quality patient outcomes. The program will take between three to five years (All Nursing Schools, n.d). My timeline for accomplishing these goals is in five years.

Level of Education and Competitiveness in the Job Market

Advancing my level of education would increase my competitiveness in the current job market. Rosseter (2019) indicated that there is a shortage of nursing personnel, which requires qualified nurses to fill in the positions. I believe that due to the current shortage, increasing my education will lower my competitiveness and make it easy for me to get a myriad of jobs in my scope of practice. Staff Writers (2020) stated that the job availability for advanced practice nurses is expected to grow between 2012 – 2020. I know that with my bachelor’s degree, I have a chance to work in a wide range of settings within the country. The committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative and the IOM in the future of nursing developed a vision for a transformed health care system (IOM, 2011). I know that with my level of education, I am knowledgeable in key areas of nursing and competent to provide patient-centered care in the future. Advancing my level of education by acquiring an MSN and DNP will equip me with organizational and leadership skill sets to facilitate transformation in healthcare.

Continuing Nursing Education

Continuing my nursing education has a relationship to competency, attitudes, knowledge, and the ANA Scope and Standards for Practice and Code of Ethics. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2017) defined competency as the array of knowledge, skills, and attitudes across multiple areas of nursing performance. According to the authors of the document, competency-based education runs across educational programs in nursing such as the APRN, MSN, and DNP. Undoubtedly, the more I move towards the nursing educational framework and attain a DNP, the more I will become more competent in my practice. Nursing competencies have been developed in terms of scope and measurability. The ANA established a review program for practice competencies. It is essential for nurses to perform to the full extent of their education level and ability to provide quality care (ANA, n.d). To adhere to the terms of professional practice and the code of ethics, it is important for nurses to be qualified in their scope. For me to be deemed competent, increasing my level of education is necessary.

The Mandate of Nursing Education

Continuing nursing education should be mandatory. The reason is that by advancing education, nurses will be more knowledgeable and competent in their practice. The Campaign for Action (n.d) indicated that more nurses are advancing their education because they now know that a stronger workforce results in a healthy country. More so, to eliminate the fragmentation present in the current health care workforce, continuing education is mandatory. From a broader perspective, continuing nursing education increases professional practice and facilitates ongoing proficient development.

Conclusion

A strong and educated nursing workforce is the key to a healthy America. As the health sector continues to evolve, it is necessary for nurses to continue their education. Whether mandated or not, nurses need to acquire the highest level of education to ensure that they improve health care delivery. Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) report successfully outlined the educational recommendations for nurses. From the research on nursing education, there is no doubt that increasing the level of education increases a nurse’s ability to provide care. As an APRN, I aim to achieve the highest level of education to become knowledgeable and competent in the realm of providing patient-centered care.

References

All Nursing Schools. (n.d). About a doctoral degree in nursing. Retrieved July, 19th 2020, from https://www.allnursingschools.com/dnp/

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2017, October). Common advanced practice registered nurse doctoral-level competencies October 2017. Retrieved July, 21st 2020, from https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/AcademicNursing/pdf/Common-APRN-Doctoral-Competencies.pdf

American Nurses Association. (n.d). Scope of practice. Retrieved July, 19th 2020, from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/scope-of-practice/

Campaign for Action. (n.d). Goal and impact. Retrieved July, 19th 2020, from https://campaignforaction.org/issue/transforming-nursing-education/

Institute of Medicine. (2011). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/12956.

Staff Writers. (2020, June 3rd). Advanced practice nursing fact sheet. Nurse Journal. Retrieved July, 19th 2020, from https://nursejournal.org/advanced-practice/advanced-practice-nursing-fact-sheet/

Rosseter, R. (2019, March). Fact sheet: The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). American Association of Colleges of Nursing. https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/News/Factsheets/DNP-Factsheet.pdf