Iom Report Essay

In November of 2010, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) delivered a report, â€Å" The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health†. The report looked in depth about the role that nurses should play in a changing healthcare system. The report explains about changes in the health care system and how the nurses should play a role in this transformation. The transformation mainly focuses on three aspects : education, practice and leadership. Since the healthcare system is advancing every day, it requires the nurses to become more advanced to meet the demands of the healthcare. The impact of the IOM report on nursing education is very significant. According to the article, â€Å"The IOM Advocates for Higher Education†, The report contains three key messages related to nursing. Part 1 of this series looked at IOM recommendations for transforming nursing practice. The second key message put forth by the IOM’s report on the future of nursing says that, â€Å"nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression† The IOM believes that nurses must go for higher levels of education in order to reach the demands of the healthcare system. According to the IOM, the main reason why a higher level of education is necessary for nurses is because since the hospital care is becoming more complex, nurses must be able to make critical decisions. Nurses should gain more knowledge about the public health, geriatrics, leadership skills, improvements within the system, research and the health policy. Due to changes made in nursing overtime, the need for more changes in nursing practice is becoming more and more crucial. As stated in the IOM report, â€Å"†¦the changing landscape of the health care system and the changing profile of the population require that the system undergo a fundamental shift to provide patient-centered care; deliver more primary as opposed to specialty care; deliver more care in the community rather than the acute care setting; provide seamless care; enable all health professionals to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and competencies; and foster interprofessional collaboration. Achieving such a shift will enable the health care system to provide higher-quality care, reduce errors, and increase safety. Providing care in this way and in these areas taps traditional strengths of the nursing profession† (IOM report, pg 86-87). Transforming nursing practice will be an advantage in the future. It will improve quality and promote health care. The major intention included in this transformation is to provide patient care in all aspects. The transformation mainly focuses on primary care. Nurse practitioners , physicians, and physicians assistants provide the most care in this area. â€Å"Primary care brings promotion and prevention, cure and care together in a safe, effective and socially productive way at the interface between the population and the health system. The features of health care that are essential in ensuring improved health and social outcomes are person-centeredness, comprehensiveness and integration, and continuity care, with a regular entry into the health system, so that it becomes possible to build an enduring relationship of trust between people and their health care providers† (World Health Organization (WHO) Annual Report 2008). From reading the report, I can understand how interdisciplinary partnerships are very significant in providing care in our health system. In the psychiatric unit where I work, we are involved in the daily socio-economic realities of our patient’s lives. We make sure at all the times that the patients are provided care and we pay close attention to their well being. The IOM’s report has made me realize the importance of obtaining leadership qualities. I will expand my practice and pursue more leadership roles in an interdisciplinary healthcare team. This report has also made me to commit myself to a lifelong learning process. I will pursue advanced education and seek for higher levels of training and education. The IOM report gives a great emphasis in the need for leadership and how it is a vital quality for the transformation. Key Message #3 challenges the nurses to display partnership with other physicians and health professionals in healthcare. As written in the IOM report, â€Å"Strong leadership is critical if the vision of a transformed health care system is to be realized. Yet not all nurses begin their career with thoughts of becoming a leader. The nursing profession must produce leaders throughout the health care system, from the bedside to the boardroom, who can serve as full partners with other health professionals and be accountable for their own contributions to delivering high-quality care while working collaboratively with leaders from other health professions†(IOM report, pg 221). Nurses should develop a style of leadership in which they have to work health and collaborate with others. The IOM report calls for nurses to become effective leaders and to apply their leadership skills in their practice of nursing. As leaders, nurses should be able to manage staff and work system in order to meet the needs of the patients. Nurses must be able to make decisions quickly, communicate effectively, and cooperate with other nurses in the team. The IOM report of 2010 explains a lot about the future of nursing. It states in the report that the nurses need more training and education, opportunities to assume leadership roles and to change their ways of practice to meet the demands of the changing health care system. The report tells us that nurses should explore more about the challenges and opportunities in the profession of nursing. Nurses should pursue higher education in order to give quality and safety care to the patients. The patient’s satisfaction is the most important factor in nursing practice.