The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Committee Initiative on the Future of Nursing and The Institute of Medicine (IOM) Research were commissioned to work together to develop an initiative to assess and transform the nursing profession. The work of RWJF Committee Initiative and The IOM Research on the Future of Nursing progress lead to the released of the IOM report on 'Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health' which provided recommendations through the action-oriented blueprint for the future of nursing. Thus, the RWJF Committee, in collaboration with the IOM, conducted the study which produced a transformation report on the future of nursing as a profession (Altman et al., 2016). The report examined the opportunity and need for the United States to transform the health care system through the provision of higher quality, safer, affordable, and accessible health care.
The report was prompted by the signing into law the comprehensive healthcare legislation which was passed by Congress in 2010 as the Affordable Care Act (ACA)(Kovner et al., 2018)). The RWJF and IOM report developed a vision for the transformation of healthcare. The concept provided by the committee proposed a future system in healthcare concerned with the quality and accessibility of healthcare for the diverse United States populations (Denker et al.,2015). The committee sought a future healthcare system with the intentional promotion of wellness and disease prevention, improvement of health outcomes, and provision of compassionate care at all levels, ages, and livelihoods. The report provided a specific concern on primary care and prevention, which were highlighted as the fundamental drivers of the health care system.
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The report compiled by the committee explored the roles, responsibilities, and the educational system for nurses and how the increased demand for care in the US can be met. They advocated for health care reforms, advancements, and improvements in the complex health care system in America. The report evaluated nursing as the largest segment of the healthcare workforce, with more than 3 million nurses in number (Kovner et al., 2018). The nursing sector was also recognized for its dedication to healthcare in the delivery of services and patient care, spending the most considerable amount of time in healthcare activities (Altman et al., 2016). In this regard, the report envisioned the nursing sector as valuable in the provision of insights due to possession of unique abilities and therefore the need for them to participate as partners with other health care professionals for the improvement of quality and safety of care as outlined in the Affordable Care Act.
Importance of IOM Future of Nursing Report
The IOM future of nursing report is significant as it highlights critical areas which relate to the nursing practice, nursing education, and nursing workforce development. The report advocates for full engagement of nurses with other professionals underscoring the need for nurses to assume leadership roles to help in the redesigning of care in the US (Kovner et al., 2018). In the area of nursing practice, the report advocates for the removal of restrictions that have been placed on nurses' scope of practice to ensure that the health care system benefits from the skills, training, and knowledge that nurses receive for patient care (Denker et al.,2015).
In nursing education, the report recommends ensuring that nurses are well prepared for their roles. To achieve the goal, the committee encourages the profession to undertake specific measures such as the introduction of institute residency training for nurses. The training is aimed at increasing the percentage of nurses who attain a bachelor's degree to a projection of 80 percent by 2020. Increased practices are also expected to encourage more nurses to pursue doctorates to double the current number (Altman et al., 2016). The report endorses the expansion of nursing faculties, increase in the capacity of nursing schools as well a redesigned curriculum which ensures that well prepared and adequate nurses are trained to meet the current and emerging health ae needs. In workforce development, the report considered a reconceptualization of the nursing roles within the workforce. The report recommended measures to address shortages, societal issues facing nurses, and the incorporation of the current and future technology. The committee examination of the workforce led to recommendations on actions which attract and retain the well-prepared nurses in health care settings. The committee also endorsed innovative solutions in the delivery of care and attainment of professional education for nurses.
The Role of the State-Based Action Coalitions
The Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action was established to ensure that every individual in America enjoys the gift of health through nursing support in their engagements as essential partners in the provision of care and promotion of health equity and well-being. The Campaign for Action was therefore introduced in every American state for mobilization of nurses, health providers, consumers, educators, and businesses to strengthen nursing and fulfill the recommendations provided by the Future for Nursing Report.
The State coalitions advance goals of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action report by tackling arising issues to achieve a healthier America through nursing (Altman et al., 2016). The Campaign for Action movement was, therefore, stationed in every state to address issues of improving access to care. In this aspect, it advocates that nurses must be allowed to practice to the full extent of their education and training. The campaign also focusses on fostering interprofessional collaboration where they insist on cooperation with other institutions, businesses, education, and community planning to promote communal well-being (Altman et al., 2016). Also, the campaign encourages nursing leadership by getting nurses to serve in boards in their communities. The battle through state-based action coalitions has also engaged in the transformation of nursing education, preparing them to meet the complex health care needs of the society. It has also increased diversity in nursing by ensuring a reflection of cultural and ethnic diversity in the workforce. The campaign has also engaged in the collection of workforce data in national and local levels to harness the flow of information on nurses (Kovner et al., 2018). The campaign for action has also played a critical role in building healthier communities as nurses help in ensuring the society to live the healthiest lives possible by partnering with organizations and promoting health in all aspects of life.
The State Action Coalition in Florida
The state of Florida, in its action coalition, has played a significant role in the advancement of the nursing role in the Florida state. The state to improve access to care joined the enhanced nurse licensure compact (eNLC) and provides the multistate license which serves as an agreement to let the nurses practice across state lines without obtaining new licenses (Denker et al.,2015). The state coalition has also encouraged the creation of a more diverse workforce in Florida. For example, the state of Florida continuously offers diversity think tanks which draw from different nurses' participants across the state.
Through enhanced nurse licensure compact initiatives, the state has advanced the nursing profession as it allows nurses to provide care through telehealth according to demand or rise of disaster in other countries. The process ensures easy public access to care. Having a diverse nursing workforce in Florida is essential in the provision of common ground in the formulation of nursing policies on diversity and development of strategies and has increased the number of diverse leaders in Florida. Various barriers to advancement are currently being experienced in Florida in building a healthy community (Denker et al.,2015). The process requires nurses to invest and lead the effort to ensure that everyone lives in the healthiest way possible. The achievement is hindered by personal choices and preferences which are not always healthy. The challenges can be addressed through public outreach and training to inform people about the effects of individual decisions and how they impact their health as well as how they can make healthy choices.
References
Altman, S. H., Butler, A. S., & Shern, L. (Eds.). (2016). Assessing progress on the Institute of Medicine report The Future of Nursing . Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
Denker, A. L., Sherman, R. O., Hutton-Woodland, M., Brunell, M. L., & Medina, P. (2015). Florida Nurse Leader Survey findings: key leadership competencies, barriers to leadership, and succession planning needs. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration , 45 (7/8), 404-410.
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.
