For many years, America's healthcare system has failed to address concerns of access, quality, and cost adequately.
But, the passage of the Affordable Care Act, a landmark piece of healthcare legislation, solidified the government's commitment to providing seamless, high-quality, and affordable care (National Academies of Sciences, 2017).
To reach this purpose, the system needed to be redirected to reflect patient-centered care.
In partnership with the IOM, RWJF developed a vision for the Future of Nursing.
The collaborative endeavor aimed to transform the nursing workforce in the United States (National Academies of Sciences, 2017).
A committee was formed to prepare a report that encompasses specific actions for improvement of healthcare including changes in policies at the federal, state, and local levels.
Importance of IOM Future of Nursing Report
Education
The committee report targeted the nursing profession because of the central place of nursing in the dispensation of care.
The nursing workforce in the United States is estimated to be about 3 million.
It represents the biggest proportion of America's healthcare labor force.
The report made important recommendations towards nursing practice, education, workforce development, and partnerships with physicians.
The IOM report has strategic importance because it seeks to improve the nursing force going into the future (IOM, 2011).
For example, the report recommended that nurses should be allowed to pursue education and training to levels that they desire.
Such education is important because it equips nurses with relevant skills and knowledge that they need to improve their services and adapt to emerging issues in the healthcare setting.
The IOM report places emphasis on the need for nurses to acquire education through an improved nursing education system.
The delivery of patient-centered care in the United States occurs a time patients have more sophisticated needs.
In this regard, nurses should acquire competencies that can match with the diverse needs of patients.
IOM (2011) identifies the competencies as teamwork and collaboration, research, and healthcare leadership policy.
The nursing education system should offer opportunities for nurses to move from one level of education to another (Cherry and Jacobs, 2016).
IOM Report recognizes that a diverse nursing workforce is well prepared to deal with issues of diversity in the workforce.
Partnerships
Practice The IOM Report underscores the importance of partnerships between nurses and physicians especially when designing healthcare.
In so doing, it seeks to empower nurses and increase their voices not only as providers of care but also in policy discourses.
Partnerships enable nurses to account for their contributions in the delivery of care.
According to IOM (2011), a partner takes responsibility and makes a decision.
In this regard, nurses should endeavor to take part in policy discussions and make important decisions that can influence implementation.
Through partnerships, nurses and physicians can promote interprofessional teamwork and collaboration, building synergies, and resolve day-to-day problems that arise in healthcare settings (Cherry & Jacobs, 2016).
It builds broader understanding of the opportunities and challenges surrounding healthcare service delivery.
Data
Appropriate data and robust information systems are necessary ingredients in the policy making process.
The IOM Report recognizes that comprehensive data will be useful in making changes regarding the education and employment of nurses (IOM, 2011).
Such data entails the specialty of nurses, their levels of education, and job group.
For example, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) is an umbrella name that comprises four different specialties in nursing.
They include clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), nurse practitioners (NPs), Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs), and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) (Sochalski & Weiner, 2011).
Any policy changes that may affect this group of nurses should rely on the correct data and information.
The report supports the establishment of National Health Care Workforce Commission that can sufficiently develop the needs of the workforce.
Role of State-based coalitions
Every state including the D.C. has action coalitions which undertake campaign at the local level to drive the change towards better healthcare.
The coalitions comprise nurses and business partners based at the local, regional, and state levels (Sochalski & Weiner, 2011).
The focus of the coalitions is to establish healthier communities by means of improved nursing.
Texas Progress Report: The Two Initiatives
The Action Coalition in Texas commits to "better care, better health, and lower care costs for every Texan" (Campaign for Action, n.d.).
Nurses in the state have committed to achieving the three essential goals since they represent the largest healthcare workforce.
Consequently, nurses in Texas have been working with enthusiasm to promote healthier communities and improve healthcare.
First Initiative
The State of Texas is on the path to expanding access to care by allowing APRNs to practice.
The state has made incremental steps towards the removal of legal restrictions which preclude nurses from offering care that matches the level of their education and training (Campaign for Action, n.d.).
In the spirit of the IOM report, Texas recognizes that effective nurse leadership cannot be achieved unless legal barriers are removed to give nurses the latitude to operate within the boundaries of their educational competencies.
In the meantime, nursing advocates in Texas can continue to lobby and push for relevant state laws that guarantee APRNs full practice.
Second Initiative
Texas is committed to a nursing workforce that exhibits diversity.
To achieve this initiative, the state has increased the number of nurses from diverse ethnic, racial, religious, and gender backgrounds (Campaign for Action, n.d.).
The purpose of the nursing force is to work together towards better health in light with the fundamental goals of the Action of Coalition.
Diversity helps in fostering understanding tolerance which may eventually lead to improved healthcare.
Conclusion
The study has revealed that the IOM Report can significantly revolutionize healthcare service delivery if it is implemented across all states.
Important findings of the report have pointed towards a more safe and secure healthcare environment through improved nursing.
It recognizes that the nurse plays a central role in facilitating better care.
In this regard, it is important for nurses to have requisite education and training that can promote their nursing practice to achieve positive health outcomes among the population.
The study has revealed that Texas is making progress towards the implementation of key areas which include practice/care, diversity, education, leadership, data, and interpersonal collaboration.
References
Campaign for Action (n.d.). Texas Action Coalition. Retrieved from https://campaignforaction.org/state/texas/
Cherry, B., & Jacob, S. R. (2016). Contemporary nursing: Issues, trends, & management. Elsevier Health Sciences.
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.
National Academies of Sciences (NAS). (2017). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health (2011). The National Academies Press. Retrieved from https://www.nap.edu/read/12956/chapter/2
Sochalski, J., & Weiner, J. (2011). Health care system reform and the nursing workforce: Matching nursing practice and skills to future needs, not past demands. The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health, 375-398.
