The Impact of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report
Alexandrea Waytes
Grand Canyon University
September 21,2014
Author Notes
Research paper for Professional Development of Nursing Professionals, NUR 430, Misty Stone (Instructor)
In 2008, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the IOM launched a two-year initiative to respond to the need to assess and transform the nursing profession. A report from the IOM (2010), entitled The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, recommended transformational changes in nursing education and practice, which position nurses to be a strong influence in shaping healthcare delivery systems, healthcare policy, and overall healthcare practices in the future. The committee developed four key messages. IOM report stated nurses should practice to the full extent of their education and training. Nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression. Nurses should be full partners, with physicians and other health care professionals, in redesigning health care in the United States. Effective workforce planning and policy making require better data collection and information infrastructure.
A number of barriers prevent nurses from being able to respond effectively to rapidly changing health care settings and an evolving health care system. These barriers need to be overcome to ensure that nurses are well- positioned to lead change and advance health (IOM,2010) This review of the IOM report will focus on the impact on nursing education, nursing practice, and the nurse’s role as a leader.
IOM report impact on nursing education
The United States health care system and practice environments were going through several major changes. According to the IOM report, the education of nurses both before and after they receive their licenses will have to change to be to adapt to the health care changes.. Nursing education at all levels needs to provide a better understanding of and experience in care management, quality improvement methods, systems-level change management, and the re-conceptualized roles of nurses in a reformed health care system. IOM 2010 report, wants the nursing education to provide nurses with lifelong learning and opportunities to be able to achieve higher degrees in nursing. IOM believe that nurses should be educated with physicians and other health professionals as students and throughout their careers (IOM,2011,p.163). Some health care organizations in the United States are requiring more BSN-prepared nurses for entry-level positions. For example, teaching hospitals have on average 90 percent baccalaureate degree prepared nurse on their staff. Nurses holding a baccalaureate degree are usually the preferred new-graduate hires in acute care settings (IOM,2011,p171).
IOM report impact on nursing practice
In 2008, the IOM issued a report calling for “retooling” of the geriatric health care workforce that included increasing geriatric care competence, new models of caring for older adults, and recruitment and retention issues. The IOM gave a recommendation to remove scope of practice barriers. Advanced practice registered nurses should be able to practice to the full extent of their education and training. Several suggested policy changes that will directly influence gerontological advanced practice RNs (APRNs) relate to Medicare. These include expanding APRN Medicare services to those services allowable under state laws comparable to physician services and amending Medicare to authorize APRNs to perform admission assessments, hospice and skilled nursing facility admissions, and certification for home health services. It is recommended that APRNs be eligible for medical staff privileges, including clinical and admitting privileges. This would ensure that gerontological APRNs could follow and manage their Medicare patients longitudinally, regardless of setting. Other indirect influences on gerontological nursing practice would be policy changes at the state level that would require third-party payers to provide direct reimbursement to APRNs. This change would permit older adults with private insurance to access APRN services (Nannini,2011,p.13).
IOM report impact on leadership.
IOM report stated that the nursing profession must produce leaders throughout the health care system, from the bedside to the boardroom, who can serve as full partners with other health professionals and be accountable for their own contributions to delivering high-quality care while working collaboratively with leaders from other health professions (IOM,2011,p 221). Several sets of leadership competencies have been developed by practice focused groups such as the American Organization of Nurse Executives[AONE]. AONE described five main competencies that focus on communication and practice with inter-professional team members, focus on the knowledge of clinical practice, evidence based practice and the safety of the patients. The AONE also focused on the professionalism of nursing and the business skills (Lacasse,213,p.432).
Conclusion
After reviewing the IOM report, I will strive to achieve a high education in the nursing filed. As a RN I must abide by the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine. My first goal is to complete the BSN program and resume my education by receiving my master degree in nursing. Then work to achieve my advance practice degree as a Nurse Practitioner. I also will attempt to be a great advocator for my patients, by keeping them safe and providing the best care possible. I will continue to educate myself advancements in nursing and evidence based practices.
References
IOM (Institute of Medicine). 2011. The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. http://iom.edu/Reports/2010/The-Future-of-Nursing-Leading-Change-Advancing-Health.aspx Lacasse, Cheryl MS, RN, OCN, Developing Nursing Leaders for the Future: Achieving
Competency for Transformational Leadership. Oncology Nursing Forum , Vol. 40, No. 5, September 2013
Nannini, Angela , PhD, FNP-C , The Future of Gerontological Nursing. Journal of
