Professional Development of Nursing Professionals
SILVIA C. MIHAILA
Grand Canyon University: NRS-430V
December 4, 2015

Professional Development of Nursing Professionals
The nursing profession will face significant changes in the near future. There is an urge to reconsider changes in the healthcare system to better outcome for patients and nursing professionals. Over the years patients needs become more complex with a great desire for more skilled, trained, and highly educated nurses to provide higher quality of care. The report of Institute of Medicine (IOM) together with Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) that started in 2008 and finish in 2010 elaborates on the impact and benefits patients and particularly patient care would have if these changes would occur. To achieve the suggested recommendations by IOM and RWJF, and to meet the future changes in healthcare, nurses must transform their education, nursing practice, and leadership roles.
The Impact of IOM report on nursing education
As a result of our aging population and more critical patient conditions, care shifted from acute to more chronic condition. Nurses are required to be reeducated to an expanding role, understanding care management system and quality improvement methods to deliver a high standard of care for the patients. “There is a strong trend for higher educational attainment with the coming generation of older adults…a factor associated with improved health and lower disability” (ANA, 2013). In the past an Associate’s of nursing Practice meet the requirements, currently and in the near future a Baccalaureate Degree of nursing education would be preferred. This would converse in strong critical decisions, leadership and management skills, advanced nursing practice and evidence and research based practice. More so, studies shows advanced education nurses with BSN (Baccalaureate of