Over the past 9 years of practicing as a nurse, many aspects of nursing has changed. Obviously technology has played a major role in the ever-changing field of nursing. With the advances in technology comes a whole new skill set for the practicing nurse. New equipment requires continued education and training for the nurse to stay in the forefront of patient care.
Increased demands on the nurse to do more than just bedside care have led to a variety of changes in the scope of practice. Nurses are doing more and going places that have in the past been outside their scope. Medication delivery, prescriptive authorities, nursing orders all advancing over these past 9 years. LPNs and RNs alike are now working outside the original scope of practice changing the dynamic of total patient care from a “I’ll get your nurse” or “I’ll get the Doctor” mentality to a let’s get this taken care of now!, confidence. This continuity of care aids in better patient communication and streamlines the care given.
The advancements in technologies, changes in scope of practice and the new educational avenues have lent themselves to opening up a multitude of new career paths for nurses as well. Nurses aren't just in the hospital and nursing homes but have expanded out into the community as home health nurses, community educators, legal nurse consultants as well as specialties such as nurse anesthetist and increased trauma related nursing including flight nurses or even private holistic care nursing.
With all the changes comes danger as well. It is essential that nurses keep up to date with their skills and continuing education as more of the burden of the patient care falls on their shoulders. Larger workloads, shorter patient stays and fewer staff members can be overwhelming and does present problems in continuity of care as well as ensuring that complications, patient