Nurses need constant upgrading of knowledge and skills to remain effective in today’s complex and dynamic healthcare system. Legislative debates on affordability and universal access to healthcare continue, and significant emphasis is on how the American healthcare system would deal with emerging challenges. According to Sullivan (2018), the issue of central focus is the ability of the American healthcare system to deal with the additional 32 million people, and the rising elderly population. In light of these concerns, experts in the health sector contend that the practical solution to the challenges requires the expansion of the roles of care providers, especially nurses.
The Institute of Medicine envisions a similar approach in its 2011 report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health . The report advances primary care and prevention as the central determinants of the care system. It advocates for an environment that fosters interprofessional collaboration and coordination, recognition of the value of care provision, and affordability of care (Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine, 2011). To realize the goals of the new norm in the healthcare industry, the report recommended changing many aspects of the care system, including the nursing profession. Therefore, the implication of the recommendations for me as a practicing nurse is that I must explore ways of improving my nursing knowledge and skills through education.
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The changing environment of care settings and strategies for care delivery represents the avalanche of reforms that would transform the nursing profession. My career goal is to become a nursing CEO, a position for highly experienced and educated nurses. A nurse in this position leads an entire healthcare delivery facility or organization. As an RN nurse with an associate degree and four and a half years of practice, my educational goal is to attain a master’s degree, which is the least educational requirement for the position. The educational goal would prepare me for the nursing, administrative, and leadership responsibilities demanded by the job. My educational and career goals show consistency with the recommendations advanced in the IOM report. The report contends that to adjust to the changing scope of nursing practice, advances in education should be the impetus (Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine, 2011). The information discussed above reveals that enrolling for a master’s degree in nursing equates to the fulfillment of the report’s educational recommendations.
The report advocates for nurses to practice to the full level of their education and experience, which implies ease of promotion with higher educational attainment. The position of a nursing CEO would not limit me to practice because I can extend my expertise in research and teaching. The flexibility that comes with higher educational and academic qualifications fulfills the recommendation for nurses to be essential partners in the redesign of the country’s healthcare system. Based on the factors highlighted, I believe that by advancing my nursing education, I can acquire the experience and expertise needed to be effective at the highest level of the fast-changing care delivery system.
The IOM report advocated for the improvement of nurses’ roles across the continuum of care and complemented by changes in the utilization of nurses. It is important to recognize that practicing nurses cannot ask for long-term academic leaves to advance their educational objectives. I need to integrate my practice with education, which implies looking for a balance to engage in the two concurrently. Under the existing nursing education curriculum, I can advance my educational qualification from an RN to an MSN. The MSN program traditionally requires the completion of between 120 and 150 course credits. The program takes between 30 and 36 months for full-time students. However, I would enroll in a part-time program that would take between 36 and 48 months. The part-time program is suitable because it gives me the flexibility to work and attend classes. The observations made indicate that improving a practicing nurse’s education calls for a balanced approach that integrates work, academic, and family life without inconveniences.
Furthering nursing education can be a smart investment for me because it opens new opportunities in the field. An MSN nurse earns more and attracts increased responsibilities (Nurse Journal, 2020). Possession of an MSN degree qualifies one to be a nurse practitioner, and advance licensure position. The qualification also creates some level of independence for me as a nurse. I can shift from the traditional nursing role to more dynamic ones in conformity with the recommendations of the IOM report. The MSN qualifies me as an advanced practicing nurse (APN), a position with a positive job outlook. Data by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics cited by the Nurse Journal (2020) projects APN positions to increase by 26% from 2018-28.
In comparison, the RN positions would grow by 12% over the same period. The additional knowledge and skills gained prepare me to concentrate in pediatric care, an area of healthcare of interest on which I can specialize. I can also pursue my desire to become a nurse educator. Therefore, it is clear that improving my education would increase my competitiveness and expand my responsibilities, in addition to concentrating on my areas of interest.
Increased nursing responsibility implies exposure to many ethical dilemmas in the clinical field. The expanded knowledge, skills, experiences, and responsibilities from taking an MSN program allows me to deliver safe and quality. I would be able to recognize and implement the American Nursing Association’s guidelines on ethical care delivery. Exposure at the highest level would shape my approach and behavior and aid recognition of the need for compassionate and respectful behavior. Also, the ANA ethics code calls for prioritization of the patient above all else. My mandate as a nurse is to promote, advocate, and protect my patient in all ways. With an MSN degree, I would be comfortable when handling the requirements to express authority, accountability, and responsibility required of an APN. My peer would expect me to serve as an example because of my experience level. The implication for my practice is that I have to engage the organization in a collective effort to establish, maintain, and improve an ethical care environment. This attribute of knowledge of ethics is essential in the achievement of the IOM recommendation to the changing nursing practice and the environment in a dynamic and complex healthcare system. It is evident that improving my nursing education would enhance my knowledge of ethical practice for better management of patients and the healthcare environment.
The IOM report recommends that all nurses must engage in continuous improvement of knowledge and skills to enhance their practicing abilities. In my view, while changes in the healthcare system call for substantial shifts that cover retraining the practicing nurses, individuals should retain the autonomy to decide whether to continue their nursing education. Sheehy (2012) observed that from the information on websites of different nursing colleges, acquiring an online MSN, which is the preferred mode by part-time students, costs between $35,000 and more than $60,000. The investment in more education may not be financially beneficial to some nurses. Sheehy noted that for most, it led to an increase of only $10,000 in earnings. Making continuation of education mandatory would inconvenience those with more responsibilities and unable to afford the programs. Therefore, the government can offset the cost of continuing education through sponsored programs and scholarships, including free retraining of practicing nurses.
References
Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine. (2011). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health . National Academies Press.
Nurse Journal. (2020). 25 Reasons to get a master’s in nursing. https://nursejournal.org/msn-degree/25-best-reasons-why-to-get-a-msn-degree/
Sheehy, K. (2020). Weighing costs of an online master’s in nursing. US News. https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/articles/2012/01/12/weighing-costs-of-an-online-masters-in-nursing-#:~:text=Investing%20in%20an%20online%20master’s,according%20to%20nursing%20school%20officials.
Sullivan, T. (2018). Institute of Medicine Report – The future of nursing: leading change, advancing health. Policy & Medicine. https://www.policymed.com/2011/02/institute-of-medicine-report-the-future-of-nursing-leading-change-advancing-health.html#:~:text=In%20their%20report%20entitled%20%E2%80%9CThe,rewards%20value%2C%20not%20volume%20of
