The Future of Nursing
Introduction
According to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010, being a healthcare provider transcends all the professions that require exquisite leadership capabilities and competencies aimed at increasing patient outcomes and satisfaction. Willcox et al. (2018) observe that these attributes will ensure collaboration among healthcare professionals in different care environments that are tailored towards the identification of problems, devising, and enactment of plans for improvements and the tracking of development in the continuum. In this light, Salmond & Echevarria (2017) indicate that the caregivers are expected to partake in leading roles to transform the profession as they strive to ensure positive patient outcomes are achieved.
As per the stipulations of the Institute of Medicines report, “nurses should be full partners with physicians and other healthcare professionals in redesigning the US healthcare sector.” As per these guidelines, it is evident that nurses’ duty is encompassed in strong leadership (Institute of Medicine 2011). According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), registered nurses have been mandated to come up with leading innovative ideas and practices that will cultivate a new knowledge base to ensure better care in the community (Thomas, Seifert & Joyner, 2016). Further, they are expected to develop healthcare policies and practices to ensure advancement in healthcare information. Thomas et al. (2016) note that the ACA also anticipates for nurses to act as agents of change in driving processes that leverage policies on technology to advance the medical care systems.
Additionally, according to the ANA scope of nursing practice, within the nursing realm, caregivers are called to be partakers in leadership within their profession while working to influence policies and accord for innovation that is central to improve the quality of care (Thomas et al., 2016). According to the ACA, this will be achieved through creative ideas, teamwork among various professions, and a well-sustained innovative environment.
Conclusion
The evolving US medical care system requires a diverse workforce whose capacity is not only limited to offering palliative care. Nurses are expected to assume a leading role in the change that will help improve the healthcare system through innovative ideas, teamwork, and development of healthcare policies and practices. Through these efforts, the nursing profession will thrive in the ever-evolving healthcare system. Leadership will also help nurses acquire competent skills and capabilities that will enable them to disseminate their services in various communities more proficiently.
References
Institute of Medicine (US). Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing. (2011). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
Salmond, S. W., & Echevarria, M. (2017). Healthcare transformation and changing roles for nursing. Orthopedic nursing, 36(1), 12.
Thomas, T. W., Seifert, P. C., & Joyner, J. C. (2016). Registered nurses are leading to innovative changes. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 21(3).
Willcox, A., Sutherland Boal, A., de Padua, A., Balaski, B., Ens, B., Toye, C. R., … & MacPhee, M. (2018). Leadership and Influencing Change in Nursing. University of Regina Press.