Introduction
Nursing is a respectable career choice due to its significant impact on people’s health. Nurses treat patients and teach them and their loved ones how to take better care of themselves. They also participate in community efforts to improve health and reduce disease incidence. In order to provide good care to their patients, nurses must have a solid education. A nurse’s education prepares them to evaluate patients, identify health problems, and treat them safely and effectively. It teaches nurses how to communicate with their patients, family members, and other healthcare team members clearly and compassionately.
The study “The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity” by Flaubert et al. (2021) recommends that nurses continue their education throughout their careers. According to the survey, nurses who want to stay current in the healthcare system must consider themselves lifelong learners. The study also suggests that nurses pursue advanced degrees such as master’s and doctoral degrees to advance their careers and those they serve. By continuing their education, nurses can improve patient outcomes, increase health equity, and advance professionally.
Options in the Job Market
I am pleased about the variety of employment prospects that await me as a nursing student pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Opportunities include being a staff nurse in a hospital, clinic, or long-term care facility, enabling me to provide direct care to patients. I can specialize in a subject such as pediatrics, oncology, or acute care. I can also seek a profession as a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist now that I have a bachelor’s degree in nursing. I may become a nurse anesthetist or a nurse midwife with more education and experience. I look forward to the numerous nursing-related job options available after graduation, and my bachelor’s degree in nursing will give me a solid foundation to launch my professional nursing career.
Review Recommendations for Achieving Higher Levels of Education
Advanced degrees are essential for nurses in today’s healthcare system. Flaubert et al. (2021) underline the relevance of postgraduate degrees for nurses regarding health equity, better patient outcomes, and nursing progress. The paper emphasizes the importance of continuous education and presents various recommendations to assist nurses in furthering their education.
The study predicts that by 2030, 80 percent of nurses will have a bachelor’s degree or higher (Flaubert et al., 2021). It is an important safeguard to guarantee that nurses have the knowledge and skills to deliver safe and effective patient care. It is vital to encourage nurses to continue their education beyond the associate degree level and build smooth educational pathways leading from the associate degree to the bachelor’s degree and beyond in nursing.
The study emphasizes the relevance of ties between healthcare organizations and academic institutions in providing continuing education options for nurses and financial assistance to nurses pursuing higher degrees of education. Mlambo et al. (2021) note that collaborations of this type help nurses stay current on patient care advancements and gain the expertise needed to offer high-quality, evidence-based care. The research also underlines the need to foster diversity and inclusion in nursing education and the workforce to improve health equality. Nurses trained from various perspectives and experiences will be better equipped to treat patients from all walks of life. These guidelines help the nursing profession meet its goals and ensure that nurses are prepared to address the healthcare needs of a changing society.
Professional Certification or Advanced Degrees to Pursue and Goal Accomplishing Timeline
I deliver services to patients to advance my career and the quality of care. I am considering pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Due to this, I will be able to advance my expertise in management, leadership, and the use of scientific facts. I believe that becoming a leader in the nursing profession requires me to devote my career to training future nurses. It is also a stepping stone to higher-level nursing roles like nurse administrator and clinical nurse specialist. This degree will help my patients and coworkers by improving communication and collaboration.
As a nursing student, I anticipate finishing my Master of Science in Nursing within 5-6 years of my bachelor’s degree. I want to work as a nurse for a while to learn how things work before pursuing my master’s degree. As a result, I can apply my professional experience to my graduate studies. The time commitment is to select the correct program, assemble my application materials, and complete my classes and clinical hours. I am motivated to achieve my objectives and advance up the nursing ladder.
Increasing Education Level and Role in Future Nursing
A Master of Science in Nursing would significantly increase my employability in the modern nursing field. I could work as a nurse manager, nurse educator, or clinical nurse specialist with a master’s degree in nursing, all of which pay better and provide me more autonomy. Watson (2021) notes that continuing one’s education is critical to advancing any profession, including nursing. I can improve patient outcomes and enhance access to high-quality healthcare through evidence-based practice and nursing leadership.
ANA Scope and Standards for Practice, Code of Ethics; Competency, Attitudes, Knowledge
Maintaining competence, fostering optimistic attitudes, and expanding knowledge are vital to continuing nursing education. Nurses can improve their clinical abilities, critical thinking, and decision-making by participating in ongoing education to stay current on healthcare advancements (Mlambo et al., 2021). As a result, nurses are better able to achieve the skills outlined in the American Nurses Association (ANA) Scope and Standards for Practice, resulting in safer and more effective patient care.
The ANA Code of Ethics codified fundamental values such as respect for human dignity, autonomy, and confidentiality, reinforced via continual education and training (Watson, 2021). Nurses can better serve their patients and create connections with their coworkers by incorporating these ideas into their daily jobs. Nurses’ continued education is critical to the overall good patient care and the advancement of the nursing profession.
Stance on Continuing Nursing Education
In my opinion, continuing nursing education should not be mandatory but rather encouraged and supported. While mandatory continuing education will assist nurses in staying current and advancing their careers, there is no guarantee that it will result in better patient outcomes or higher-quality care. Instead, nurses should be encouraged to continue their education in ways that correspond to their professional goals and the requirements of their communities (Watson, 2021). Nurses who are encouraged and rewarded for pursuing continuing education can better adapt to healthcare changes, expand their competence, and improve the sector as a whole.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the advanced degrees nurses gain can significantly assist individual nurses and the healthcare system. In order to achieve health equity and improve patient outcomes, the Future of Nursing 2020-2030 report emphasizes the importance of continuing education and graduate degrees. A Master of Science in Nursing degree increases professional independence and job satisfaction by providing specialized training in leadership and evidence-based practice. Continuous education should be encouraged and supported rather than imposed to allow nurses to follow their interests and professional goals while simultaneously contributing to the growth of the nursing profession.
References
Flaubert, J. L., Williams, D. R., Menestrel, S. L., & Wakefield, M. K. (2021). The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a path to achieve health equity. The National Academies Press.
Mlambo, M., Silén, C., & McGrath, C. (2021). Lifelong learning and nurses’ continuing professional development, a metasynthesis of the literature. BMC Nursing, 20(1). Web.
Watson, C. L. (2021). Time for change? A qualitative exploration of the educational preparation and subsequent continuing professional development needs of nurse and midwife prescribers. Nurse Education in Practice, 54, 103100. Web.