IOM Future of Nursing Report and Nursing
Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the IOM, seeks to transform nursing as part of bigger efforts to reform the healthcare system (Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine, 2015). In the committee’s report, titled “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health,” IOM envisages a future where quality care is provided at affordable prices, primary prevention and care are core health care system drivers, Interprofessional coordination and collaboration are the norms, and payment for health care services rewards value for individuals and the society at large. To meet these objectives, IOM envisioned that most aspects of care systems must be transformed, including the nursing profession (Jennifer, 2019). In 2008, the RWJF committee called for major changes in the nurses’ education, responsibilities, and roles to meet the advanced demand for healthcare and ensure healthcare system improvements.
In framing the discussion, the RWJF committee’s question was: what are the nursing roles in combating the rising demand for quality, safe, affordable, and efficient health care services? RWJF affirmed that advanced health care regulations would need strategies to address primary care management concerns, chronic illnesses, wellness and well-ing, and adverse events prevention (Blair & Jansen, 2015). Also, the work of RWJF identified the increasing demand for school health services, palliative care, long-term care, and mental health services. The report also determined that nursing creates the future an unwavering commitment to care, safety, quality, and better patient outcomes. As a result, the report stressed that nurses oversee key roles as leaders and team members for a transformed and properly-integrated, client-focused healthcare system (Blair & Jansen, 2015).
Key Messages that Structure the IOM Report
Released in 2010, the IOM report “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health,” featured four (4) key messages:
Nurses are entitled to practice to their education and training’s full potential: The IOM report identified regulations and policy barriers as the main factors that make nurses not practice their education and experience optimally (Palatnik, 2015). For instance, each State uses the Nurses Practice Act that addresses the scope of practice, education program standards, and licencing requirements. Due to the report, more resources and structures have been put in place to create flexible health care systems and support the transparent transition of nurses from school to practice (Blair & Jansen, 2015).
Nurses should achieve advanced education and training levels through a progressive education system which promote continuous academic growth: According to the IOM report, there has been a significant expansion of nursing core competencies, encompassing geriatrics, public health, change management, teamwork, leadership, and more (Palatnik, 2015). Also, the need to attend critical care patients requires the use of advanced technology. This has influenced the need for progressive education and training, for example, RN-BSN programs, online MSN degree programs, and other innovations.
Nurses should fully partner with medical doctors and other health practitioners to redesign the U.S. health care system: To achieve this objective, the IOM report recommended that leadership skills be recognized as a core competency across all nursing levels and be implemented in the nursing curricula (Palatnik, 2015). As per the report, as nursing leaders, for example, nurses should identify inefficiencies and problems, develop and implement interventions for improvement, assess those strategies effectiveness, and adjust strategy as required.
Effective workforce planning and formulation of policies call for proper collection of data and information infrastructure: To ensure effective workforce development, the IMO report suggested that health care sector should embrace an organized approach of gathering detailed data on the types and numbers of U.S. health care professionals, their place of employment, activities, roles, and duties (Jennifer, 2019). This data helps identify healthcare gaps among primary care providers. For example, in assessing and planning for the future nursing workforce needs where they are falling short.
Role of State-Based Action Coalitions
State-based action coalitions led by nurses play the role of driving change locally by transforming health care through nursing care and building healthier communities. According to (Campaign for Action, 2020), action coalitions across all states and Washington, D. undertake the “Campaign” at the local, regional, and state levels. Through nursing care, community advocates, including education, healthcare organizations, and businesses, play the role of establishing a healthier society. Through these established state-based action coalitions, the quality of healthcare services across the U.S. has improved (Campaign for Action, 2020). For example, Georgia State has advanced access to quality health care services to the residents by updating the laws and regulations used in the nursing and health care sectors. In accordance to the IOM report, action coalitions have been in the forefront to advocate for flexible nurses working environments, improvement of the education system to promote seamless progression of academics, redesigning of state health care systems, and formulation of efficient workforce policies and plans in attempts to advance the health of American citizens by delivering quality care (Campaign for Action, 2020).
Initiatives Spearheaded by our State’s Action Coalition
Formed in 2011, the Georgia Nursing Leadership Coalition (GNLC) has been committed to implementing in Georgia the IOM’s report on the nursing practice. The GNLC is Georgia’s Action Coalition, focused on advancing nursing in the State as recommended in the IOM’s 2010 Future of Nursing report (Campaign for Action, 2020). The goal of initiating this action coalition was to ensure that Georgians are provided with quality, safer, affordable, and readily accessible health care facilities by the health care providers operating in the State. The Georgia Action Coalition is working on various initiatives, with the two main ones being:
- Creating “innovative solutions to improve the nursing profession and improve health and health care delivery for all Georgians.”
- Meeting the increasing demand for health care services while combating the increasing cost of health care services.
The Georgia Action Coalition has been focused on encouraging innovation and strengthening the profession of nursing. The action coalition has rolled out projects that create replicable strategies for nurses to establish a Culture of Health and health equity (Blair & Jansen, 2015). Also, these initiatives emphasize the significance of nurses’ collaboration with diverse stakeholders. To meet the rising demand for health care services, the Georgia Action Coalition has been committed to implementing the four (4) main recommendations of the IOM report, requiring a positive change in nursing practice, progressive nursing education, integrated nursing leadership, and nursing workforce development for all health care providers across the State (Jennifer, 2019).
Barriers to State-based Action Coalitions and Ways to overcome these Barriers
While the Campaign for Action is a cooperative endeavour to drive change to the profession of nursing and create nurse-based interventions to transforming and advancing quality care, action coalitions encounter various barriers when spearheading this agenda (Campaign for Action, 2020). For example, in Georgia health care facilities, these barriers include funding, health care diversities and disparities, and income disparities among patients. To overcome these barriers, nursing advocates in Georgia, including health care organizations, educate patients to obtain health insurance covers and NHIF. Also, patients are encouraged to obtain the Obamacare cover, which offers affordable health insurance coverage for all Americans regardless of the wealth, social class, and income level (Campaign for Action, 2020). In addition, Action Coalitions have been focused on advocating for the construction of more health care institutions across the State to alleviate the extreme imbalance in health care facilities, which has continued to enhance access to care for patients across the State.
References
Blair, K. A., & Jansen, M. P. (2015). Advanced practice nursing: Core concepts for professional role development. Berlin: Springer Publishing Company.
Campaign for Action. (2020). State Action Coalitions. Retrieved from https://campaignforaction.org/our-network/state-action-coalitions/
Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/Activities/Workforce/Nursing.aspx
Jennifer, T. R. (2019). The Future of Nursing Report: Where are we now? Health Leaders, 3-15. Retrieved from https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/nursing/future-nursing-report-where-are-we-now
Palatnik, A. (2015). The future of nursing Leading change, advancing health…how are we doing? Nursing Critical Care, 11(3), 4.