When discussing effective healthcare practices, people usually highlight the significance of doctors and their ability to develop professional treatment programs. Millions of patients consider physicians to be the most essential agents in the process of care delivery. On the other hand, individuals should not forget that nurses’ work is valuable when it comes to tracking symptoms and medical histories, taking care of patients, and communicating with their relatives. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report is the document that indicates the role nurses play in the process of treatment and provides recommendations for the improvement of U.S. citizens’ health through the contributions of specialists. Therefore, the following essay will discuss the highlights of the 2010 IOM report and strategies for the suggestions’ implementation and provide a personal perspective on these recommendations.
The 2010 IOM report aims at improving the healthcare system and patient outcomes while identifying nursing as a crucial element in attaining these objectives. As mentioned by Gorski et al. (2015), one of the major highlights of the document is the idea that since healthcare continually goes through serious advancements, nursing education has to be improved. Nurses have to be able to deliver quality care that matches the needs and preferences of people and is consistent with the developments in the medical sphere (Gorski et al., 2015). Another focal point is that nurses can take collective action to adapt to the emerging changes by following the recommendations of the report (Gorski et al., 2015). While implementing various strategies proposed by the report, they have a chance to work as a team and apply their leadership skills to different situations (Gorski et al., 2015). Thus, the 2010 IOM report highlights the importance of nurses and teaches them to work collaboratively.
In order to improve the outcomes of treatment for the population and indicate the expectations for nursing, the document presents four key recommendations concerning the actions that should be undertaken. The suggestions for nurses include using their education to the full extent, achieving higher levels of training through an improved system, working collaboratively with physicians to redesign healthcare, and creating an advanced method of data collection (Kovner et al., 2018). The first two messages focus on proving that nursing specialists need to possess an exceptional amount of experience and learn to overcome all the possible obstacles that may prevent them from implementing this knowledge (Kovner et al., 2018). At the same time, the second two points highlight that nurses and doctors should engage in teamwork and collect data professionally to identify where healthcare needs immediate improvement (Kovner et al., 2018). In general, the discussed recommendations are created to establish a highly knowledgeable nursing workforce that will be able to manage the changes in demographics, technology, and treatment policies (Kovner et al., 2018). Thus, the IOM report is a vital document that highlights the need for adaptation and development.
Different strategies can contribute to recommendations’ implementation and, eventually, have a positive influence on nursing practices. One of the most apparent actions that can be undertaken is investing more governmental resources in supporting nursing graduates while they are transitioning to the working environment (Hassmiller & Reinhard, 2015). This strategy will make young specialists feel more encouraged to advance their nursing skills and gain new knowledge. In addition, various leadership approaches should be used by professionals in order to enhance collaboration and communication in nursing teams (Hassmiller & Reinhard, 2015). Leadership skills development will help nurses identify and solve problems quickly and interact with their colleagues effectively (Hassmiller & Reinhard, 2015). Hence, these strategies will help to implement the recommendations and achieve positive outcomes.
I believe that the suggestions discussed in the IOM report are essential for nurses and should be implemented in the practices of professionals. The U.S. healthcare system went through significant changes over the years, and it still continues to advance. Consequently, doctors, patients, and nurses have to adapt to various innovations and use their knowledge and skills appropriately. Moreover, if nurses implement these recommendations properly, they will have an opportunity to improve their communication and teamwork skills, collect data successfully, and contribute to the improvement of treatment programs. Specialists will be able to establish strong relationships with colleagues and improve personal connections with patients and their relatives. Therefore, the IOM report has the potential to change the healthcare system for the better.
Overall, nurses play a vital role in the patient treatment process. For this reason, they should be able to adapt to the continually emerging changes in healthcare and use their knowledge while taking into consideration these innovations. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report was developed to highlight the importance of nurses and provide suggestions that will positively influence the U.S. healthcare system. The document includes key messages that state various requirements and expectations for nurses that work in the contemporary healthcare system. Thus, this essay mentioned the main highlights and recommendations of the report, discussed strategies for suggestions’ implementation, and provided a personal perspective on the ideas.
References
Gorski, M. S., Farmer, P. D., Sroczynski, M., Close, L., & Wortock, J. M. (2015). Nursing education transformation: Promising practices in academic progression.Journal of Nursing Education, 54(9), 509-515. Web.
Hassmiller, S. B., & Reinhard, S. C. (2015). A bold new vision for America’s health care system: The Future of Nursing report becomes a catalyst for change. Nursing Outlook, 63(1), 41-47. Web.
Kovner, C. T., Djukic, M., Jun, J., Fletcher, J., Fatehi, F. K., & Brewer, C. S. (2018). Diversity and education of the nursing workforce 2006–2016. Nursing Outlook, 66(2), 160-167. Web.