Essay on Implementation of the IOM Future of Nursing Report

It is the responsibility of every state to liaise with the relevant bodies to ensure that the health sector performs well. This paper analyses the Institute of Nursing Report as well as its importance and relevance to the future of nursing in the U.S. It also defines the role of action-based coalitions and their initiatives to advance the initiatives. The paper also highlights some of the barriers that pose a threat to the advancement of nursing and offers some possible solutions that nurses can employ to contain such challenges.

Overview of Robert Wood Johnson Committee Initiative

The desire by the Institute of Medicine in the United States of America to create a strong and significant component of the healthcare workforce saw it form a partnership with Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (“The Future of Nursing,” 2011). The main idea behind their collaboration was to have a team of experts that would carry out research and prepare a comprehensive report on the possible solutions for the problems that faced the nursing industry. The report was also supposed to give recommendations that help would improve the health sector and allow the nurses to keep in touch with the dynamics of the nursing industry. To support the efforts, the Institute of Medicine welcomed staff from Robert Woodson Foundation as loaned employees. Combining the two organizations integrated the best practices, and helped them think about the best possible ways to conduct the research, and compile the Institute of Medicine report.

Importance of the IOM Future of Nursing Report

The Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing report has played a crucial role in the advancement of all aspects of the nursing field that require changes to keep up with the changing needs of the patients. The report has positively transformed the health sector by recommending that a thorough examination of the nursing workforce be conducted (“The Future of Nursing,” 2011). This has helped in identifying and sealing of the various loopholes in the nursing profession. Consequently, the move has succeeded in preventing further deterioration of the nursing practice. Nurses are encouraged to practice to the maximum extent of their education and training. As a way of maximizing professional competence in the nursing industry, the report requires them to achieve the highest level of education and training. It also recommends the establishment of an improved education system that promotes a seamless nursing academic progression (“The Future of Nursing,” 2011). An improved education system is responsible for ensuring that the current and the future nurses can deliver safe, quality, and patient-centered care across the country.

The Role of State-Based Action Coalitions and How They Advance Goals of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action

State action coalitions are led by nurses and business partners. They are entrusted with the more significant task of positively transforming healthcare by ensuring that the health sector functions are kept at their optimal conditions. To accomplish this mission, the coalitions have different but equally important roles. One of their most important tasks is to ensure that there are no barriers to health care in their respective states (“Action Coalitions – Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action,” n.d.). Moreover, the coalitions are supposed to build healthier communities by promoting leadership and increasing diversity in nursing. The coalitions have made numerous advancements to the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action by implementing the nursing residency programs (“Action Coalitions – Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action”, n.d.). Their volunteers are working tirelessly to create standard nursing guidelines and tracking programs across the states. They also educate and build common ground about advanced practice bills to secure the future of the nursing campaign for action.

Initiatives Spearheaded By California State Action Coalition

The California action coalition acts as the primary driving force in transforming the healthcare through nursing. The primary goal of the coalition is to improve the health of the population by spearheading various initiatives. Among them is increasing diversity in nursing. The campaign for action in California has undertaken a significant step in promoting diversity by conducting numerous training initiatives and implementing mentorship programs for the nursing workforce (“Action Coalitions – Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action,” n.d.). The training incorporates the involvement of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

The coalition has also undertaken the initiative to expand health care to cover people in vulnerable communities. This has been achieved through an increase in consumers’ access to healthcare. In addition, the coalition expands health services as a way of connecting people who do not live near nurse practitioners who can provide them with the care they need (“Action Coalitions – Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action,” n.d.). The initiatives make the nursing profession competitive and enable the provision of excellent services to the client. They also help in creating a dynamic health system in the respective states where they are practiced.

Barriers to Advancement and How Nurses Can Overcome Them

Nursing advancement in California has faced some challenges that have threatened to stagnate it. Shortage of physicians in this state has had the effect of limiting consumers’ access to specific clinicians who suit their preferences and needs (Beamish, 2014). California and most of the other states limit the availability of nurses by only permitting them to practice with the guidance of a doctor. The situation has resulted in extra layers of paperwork and signoffs when treating patients on Medicare and others. Besides, patients have to travel long distances to get the primary care since nurses who could undertake open practice in their areas are tied to the existing physician practices (Beamish, 2014). To limit such incidences, the action coalitions should push for advanced nursing education and training to provide different aspects of primary care for which the patients visit the nurses. Nurses and the Institute of medicine in California should pressure lawmakers to lift the limitations, to give nurses a more significant role in health care.

Clearly, the Institute of Medicine researchers report has significantly impacted the health sector in the U.S. The report recommended changes in the nursing industry to enable nurses adapt to the dynamics of the profession. Among them is the establishment of state-based action coalitions entrusted with the role of developing various initiatives to transform the health sector. Among the initiatives of action-based coalitions in California are removing barriers to healthcare and increasing diversity in the industry, and advocating for adequate training for nurses. Despite the steps taken,, there still exist some obstacles in the advancing of the nursing profession. They include shortage of nurse, signoffs, and strict laws that require nurses to be supervised by doctors during their practice. Nurses can, however, put an initiative to minimize the barriers. Such initiatives include calling for advanced nursing training and pressuring the government to relax the strict and unnecessary restriction of independence of practice. With the help of medical practitioners and the Institute of Medicine, there can be a positive transformation of the nursing practice to suit the long-term goals of the profession.

References

Action Coalitions – Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action. Retrieved 9 January 2018, from https://campaignforaction.org/our-network/state-action-coalitions/

Beamish, R. (2014). AARP California. Nurses Seeking Larger Role in Primary Care. Retrieved 10 January 2018, from https://states.aarp.org/ca-nurses/

The Future of Nursing. (2011). Leading Change: Advancing health. Retrieved 9 January 2018, from https://nursing.unc.edu/files/2013/12/Future-Nursing-Report-IOM.pdf