Benchmark Assignment

Subject: Nursing
Pages: 5
Words: 1125
Reading time:
4 min
Study level: College

A summary of the report of the Institute of Medicine

Nursing requires rigorous training. The occupation usually aims at improving the quality of life of individuals and communities. Nurses form the biggest section of the health care population in the US. They play critical roles in the achievement of healthcare objectives, particularly the Affordable Care Act. The caregivers can bring about needed changes in the healthcare sector. Certain barriers usually prevent them from addressing challenges in the healthcare domain. Various bodies and organizations like the Institute of Medicine have been making efforts to tackle challenges in the healthcare field. The founders of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation formed it in order to resolve healthcare related challenges. The Institute of Medicine began its operations in 1970. The body deals with matters that relate to the improvement of the well-being of the citizens of the US. In 2008, the US government formed a committee that reviewed the future of nursing. The committee created a report that provided numerous recommendations. The review created a foundation for the management of healthcare systems. The account revealed the need for an inclusive approach in addressing dynamics in the healthcare sector. The report encouraged the participation of the national government and key stakeholders in the change process. The committee also developed a memorandum that helped it in the implementation of medical care strategies. The report also upheld the need for adequate academic formation for the nursing fraternity.

The US government authorizes the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Society to issue licenses to nurses. The organization also provides a framework that verifies the academic qualifications of caregivers. The medical practitioners must pass national certification exams in order to be eligible to provide care services to patients. Licensing rules and regulations vary among the various states in the US. Certain states like Indiana and Maryland authorize nurses to administer medication to patients. States like Texas, Alaska and North Carolina do not allow the caregivers to provide medication to sick people. The government provides guidelines that include the quality of services that nurses should provide to their patients. The central administration formulates regulations for the nursing practice. The state determines the criteria of entry of students into the nursing colleges (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2012).

The committee that led in the review of needed adjustments in the healthcare sector in 2008 recommended changes to the nursing curriculum. The council proposed a curriculum that addressed the changing needs of patients in contemporary times. The unit oversaw the need for education content that instills leadership qualities in the nursing professionals.

The curriculum should instill in the nurses the need for continued improvement of their skills and knowledge (Horne, 2012). The caregivers can achieve this aspect by attending health workshops that may help them to improve their knowledge of patient care. The council advanced the need for collaboration among various stakeholders in the healthcare domain. This idea aimed at helping the healthcare sector to create new knowledge and solutions. The committee also proposed the integration of efficient communication structures into the medical sector. It recommended the incorporation of appropriate data collection techniques into the medical fraternity.

Comprehensive collection of information related to medical research may help the US government to plan for demographic changes in the population (Hartley, 2010). The state should also safeguard the welfare of caregivers in order to encourage them to provide quality services to the medical domain. Labor organizations should help in addressing the grievances of nurses in the US. An improved information management system in the medical field may help healthcare givers to make future projections on resource allocations to the healthcare sector. The US government should create systems that allow medical experts to access and use data for future planning.

The future of nursing: Facilitating change and advancing health

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation approached the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 2008. The two institutions engaged in a partnership that provided a basis for the growth of new interventions in the nursing profession. The collaboration between the two organizations related to the advancement of medical care as a whole unit. The future of nursing may be linked to the manner in which the profession works with other medical fields. Nurses must undergo adequate training under an evidenced based curriculum. The relationship between the two institutions also leads to the continued operation of a committee that oversees regular evaluations on nursing education, training and leadership.

The function of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation plays the role of addressing health issues in the USA. The US government supports the organization financially. The unit works in partnership with major stakeholders in the medical care fraternity in order to improve nursing practice in the US. It also examines the capacity of the nursing field in the attainment of the dynamic aspirations of patients.

The importance of the IOM FON Report

The report helps in the implementation of documented plans. The Institute of Medicine usually drafts policies that bring about significant changes in the nursing profession in the US. The report has brought about the creation of many nursing schools in the US. The report also helps in the incorporation of new curriculum practices and theories into the nursing domain.

The role of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action

The project is essential in the creation of awareness among nurses of the need to initiate change in their profession. It is an initiative that guides the enactment of the recommendations of the IOM Report. The campaign aims at ensuring that all nurses deliver high quality care to the patients. The campaign also addresses education challenges in the nursing sector.

The rationale of state based action coalitions and initiatives in Maryland

Action coalitions in Maryland involve a variety of stakeholders from different sectors of the US economy. The initiatives include the Nursing Support Program 2 and the Sullivan Alliance. The interventions provide technical assistance to nurses within Maryland. The programs help marginalized groups in the state to access medical care. The state also experiences challenges related to low numbers of enrolment of students in nursing courses. This aspect is due to lack of interest by students in the nursing profession. The state of Maryland can overcome challenges related to poor student enrolment in nursing courses by increasing remuneration and improving working conditions for nurses. Maryland can also offer bursaries to students undertaking nursing courses. The state should develop efficient communication structures in order to gather information on the challenges facing the nursing occupation. The nursing fraternity in Maryland requires strong monitoring and evaluation mechanisms that may ensure sound theoretical and practical interventions in the curriculum. The Nursing Support Program 2 and the Sullivan Alliance may improve nursing practices through academic support programs in Maryland.

References

Hartley, C.L. (2010). Nursing in Today’s World: Trends, Issues, & Management. London, UK: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Horne, C. (2012). Transparency: A Concept Analysis. Journal of Nursing Science Quarterly, (25)4, 326-331.

McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2012). Nursing Informatics and the Foundation of Knowledge (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.