support the argument
The IOM report from 2010 has a lot of items that have, or could, lead to positive changes within the nursing profession. It seems that was the purpose of this report was to give recommendations about what nurses need and should be doing to establish themselves as leaders in the healthcare industry and be able to work with other disciplines to provide care within the ever-changing world of healthcare (Ulrich, 2015). It does this by attempting to remove barriers in our scope of practice, increase education levels, increase diversity, establishing effective leaders, and expanding collaboration (Ulrich, 2015).
One of the goals of the IOM report is to remove the scope of practice barriers for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). In some states APRNs are not able to practice to the extent that their training and education should allow them to (Ulrich, 2015). Since the original report was done some states have reduced the score of practice limitations for APRNs, but progress is still needed to that they can practice to the levels they have learned (Eastman, 2016). These restrictions impose barriers on APRNs and limits what they are allowed to do (Eastman, 2016). This report could help empower APRNs with the push they need to stand up as leaders in an effort to make a change and remove or reduce these restrictions.
As nurses we need to band together to shape our own future. It’s challenging for one nurse or a small group of nurses to make a big difference at a national level to shape things in our future. The best thing that can be done is to be active in specialty organizations like the American Nurses Association or through state associations (Ulrich, 2015). This allows a starting point so that a large group can make efforts to make those changes at a national level, which will be the changes that shape our future (Ulrich, 2015).
Advanced nurse generalist, or nurses at the graduate level, have a great opportunity to make impacts in nursing because of their advanced knowledge and their ability to be leaders. Because of this they have the ability to create protocols and help to develop professional standards for nurses (Yoder-Wise, 2015). These roles help to provide a continuation of care across all levels and in all nursing settings (Yoder-Wise, 2015). When these advanced nurses can see that their efforts can make a difference it helps to empowers them to continue to make changes to the benefit of all nurses. They need to continue to have a safe environment in which to practice and be open and have the abilities to explore potential and encourage others to make decisions about their jobs, leading to increased job satisfaction and further empowerment (Yoder-Wise, 2015). How do you empower yourself and others where you work?
References
Eastman, P. (2016). IOM Report Assesses Progress in Readying Nursing Workforce for Health
Care Challenges. Oncology Times, 38(1), 3–5. Retrieved from http://prx-keiser.lirn.
net/login?url=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ebscohost.com%2flogin.aspx%3fdirect%3dtrue%2
6db%3dccm%26AN%3d112221794%26site%3dehost-live
Ulrich, B. (2015). From the Editor. Progress on the 2010 IOM Future of Nursing Report and
Future Needs. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 42(6), 527–528. Retrieved from http://prx-
keiser.lirn.net/login?url=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ebscohost.com%2flogin.aspx%3fdirect%
3dtrue%26db%3dccm%26AN%3d112410597%26site%3dehost-live
Yoder-Wise, P. S. (2015). Leading and managing in nursing (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier
Mosby. ISBN-13: 978-0323185776
