Background of the Research that Led to the IOM Report
The strategic partnership between the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) led to the launch of the “Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health” report. During the initial phases of the research, the two agencies observed that many hurdles were making it impossible for nurses in the United States to offer evidence-based care to their patients. Such obstacles existed despite the changing health needs of the country’s population (Hassmiller & Reinhard, 2015). Additionally, the country’s healthcare sector was observed to attract more Nurse Practitioners (NPs). Nurses form the biggest percentage of workers in the health sector. Unfortunately, such nurses encounter numerous challenges and obstacles (Bleich, 2011). The IOM report therefore presented powerful insights to empower more NPs and transform the nature of nursing.
The established committee outlined the existing gaps and new practices towards supporting more nurses. The committee observed that many nurses were not allowed to maximize their potentials. That being the case, the two agencies focused on the best strategies to ensure more nurses were empowered to offer evidence-based care. The committee indicated that “nurses should be empowered to offer quality care to the extent of their education” (Hassmiller & Reinhard, 2015, p. 51). Training and acquisition of new concepts was supported to improve the performance of many nurses. The other issue was to allow nurses to act as equal players in the sector (Hassmiller & Reinhard, 2015). New policies can be implemented to empower and support more caregivers. Such issues formed the foundation of the IOM report.
Importance of the IOM Report
The IOM “Future of Nursing” report is relevant towards transforming the nature of nursing practice. The report outlines a number of recommendations that can empower more nurses. The report encourages nurses to complete new academic programmes. By so doing, such practitioners will acquire new competencies in nursing practice. The professionals will understand how to offer evidence-based, culturally-competent, and personalized care (Fineberg & Lavizzo-Mourey, 2016). These skills will make it easier for the nurses to address the heath challenges affecting more people. Evidence-based information is supported because of its potential to inform nursing practice. Nurses can form multidisciplinary teams to provide sustainable care to more clients. Acquisition of advanced skills can make it easier for nurses to diagnose and treat various health conditions. This discussion explains why the IOM report can result in improved nursing practice.
The IOM report goes further to support the implementation of a superior nursing education system. The system should equip learners with appropriate competencies and theoretical concepts. The individuals will understand how to act ethically and focus on the diverse needs of more populations. Similarly, the report encourages nurses to educate their teammates (Bleich, 2011). They can train nurse aids and equip them with desirable skills. By so doing, the caregivers will make a significant difference in nursing practice.
The successful implementation of the IOM report will improve the quality of nursing. This is the case because more nurses will be empowered to practice independently. Every Nurse Practitioner (NP) will acquire new concepts and use them to support his or her followers. The targeted practitioners will use the skills to offer culturally-competent medical care (Fineberg & Lavizzo-Mourey, 2016). The improved nursing education system will attract more learners. The individuals will graduate and support the diverse health needs of more communities. The strategy will also address the “problem of nursing shortage” (Bleich, 2011, p. 170). These professionals will complete advanced roles and eventually transform the health outcomes of more citizens.
State-Based Action Coalitions
Role of State-Based Coalitions
The “Campaign for Action” is a powerful initiative in the United States aimed at implementing the IOM report. These campaigns are undertaken in every state across the nation. The campaigns focus on the best approaches that can empower and equip nurses with new resources (Fineberg & Lavizzo-Mourey, 2016). The campaigns encourage nurses to complete various courses and acquire new competencies. The campaigns empower healthcare practitioners and Nurse Educators (NEs) to embrace new strategies that can ensure desirable medical services are available to more citizens.
These initiatives also support the idea of nursing leadership. The approach is currently encouraging more NPs to guide and mentor their followers. The campaign guides different institutions to improve the quality of nursing education. The campaigns encourage different states to attract more nurses. This move has been aimed at addressing the predicament of nursing shortage in the country. The issue of diversity is taken seriously in order to support the needs of every client (Fineberg & Lavizzo-Mourey, 2016). The use of evidence-based data is something critical towards developing better models of care. The campaign suggests new strategies to ensure more stakeholders collaborate to improve the nature of nursing. These initiatives will continue to support the implementation of the IOM report.
Initiatives Spearheaded by the State of Florida
Every state has been on the frontline to implement the IOM “Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health” report. The Florida Action Coalition (FAC) is a collaboration of different stakeholders in order to implement new healthcare practice and delivery models (Florida Action Coalition, 2016). That being the case, the fist initiative towards implementing the IOM report in the state is through partnerships. The Florida Action Coalition attracts many stakeholders such as health professionals, nurses, universities, and government agencies (Florida Center for Nursing, 2016). Such stakeholders focus on “three key areas namely education, practice, and leadership” (Florida Action Coalition, 2016, para. 3).
The second initiative entails the use of powerful programs to empower more practitioners. Such programs equip more nurses with advanced leadership and mentorship skills. These programs focus on diversity in order to improve the nature of care delivery. The programs “use evidence-based data in order to build healthier communities” (Florida Center for Nursing, 2016, para. 1). The Florida Action Coalition (FAC) promotes new concepts such as nursing leadership and education. Evidence-based information is used to produce better healthcare delivery models. Such initiatives continue to support the state’s healthcare sector.
Barriers
Several barriers have continued to affect the IOM report implementation process in Florida. The state lacks adequate resources to support the program. Many citizens in the state prefer other careers because they are rewarding. The health sector is also associated with minimum benefits and uncompetitive salaries (Florida Action Coalition, 2016). Several laws in Florida make it impossible for more NPs to practice independently.
New policies have been suggested to amend these laws. Evidence-based data is used to empower more nurses in the state. The gathered information is used to develop new nursing strategies (Florida Center for Nursing, 2016). More studies can be completed to produce superior nursing models and practices.
References
Bleich, M. (2011). IOM report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health: Milestones and challenges in expanding nursing science. Research in Nursing & Health, 34(3), 169-170.
Fineberg, H., & Lavizzo-Mourey, R. (2016). The future of nursing: A look back at the IOM report. Web.
Florida Action Coalition. (2016). Web.
Florida Center for Nursing. (2016). Web.
Hassmiller, S., & Reinhard, S. (2015). A bold new vision for America’s health care system. American Journal of Nursing, 115(2), 49-55.