The institutional affiliation
Nursing practice experiences constant changes due to the implementation of new trends related mainly to the demographic shifts, medical research, and technological advancements. Being the closest to patients’ caregivers, nurses are considered as major contributors to healthcare organizations. Nurses are obliged to have an evidence-based understanding of the significant influence that can be made through health promotion interventions and deliver this understanding to the community at large (Sanjiv, 2014). What are the most recent trends in the modern healthcare system; and what influence do they have on nursing?
Nursing Roles: Due to the expanding opportunities within nursing, there is the need for collaborative and interdisciplinary strategies. Thus, business, administration and management courses can be beneficial for nurses, additionally to the integration of the liberal arts in the nursing program. Recently, a ‘triple aim’ of the improved quality with better healthcare experiences has been implemented by many healthcare facilities. Thus, nurses should apply interdisciplinary knowledge to the caring practice, as well as possess new leadership skills, and competencies of the evidence-based practice and collaboration (MacDonald, 2014).
Technology: Technological changes are based on lab experiences, nanotechnology and high-fidelity simulation. Thus, those who are intending to enter the nursing profession should be prepared to use remote monitoring devices, electronic health record systems or high-tech simulators which will be widely used in hospitals. Each facility can possess different types of technology, so nurses should be ready to master the new systems or equipment. Furthermore, text apps can enable electronic communication within the facility so that nurses can respond more efficiently to the patient needs. With the increase of electronic medical records, hospitals keep track of patient information digitally. Such innovative methods are developed to improve the work routine for nurses, enhance the hospital team collaboration and access to the patient personal information. In this way, technology advancements are one of the most crucial trends nurses can already apply in their healthcare practice.
Patient Education: Healthcare facilities require nursing academies provide nursing students not only with theoretical and practical skills, but also efficient patient education ones in order to instruct patients how to take care of their health state. Especially now, when patients have access to their Electronic Medical Record (EMR); and they will definitely have some questions about the data and diagnosis contained in it (MacDonald, 2014).
Patient Changes: The changes mainly concern demographics, open access to healthcare services, and broader patient education. Thus, about 20 percent of the American society will be by the age of 65 in 2020 what makes this age group the fastest growing one. As people age, there is an increasing need for medical services, consequently, the higher demand for professional nurses trained in aging patient care (Hussung, 2016).
Alternative and Complimentary Therapies of non-traditional medicine becomes mainstream. The medical community becomes more open to different types of alternative medicine. Nevertheless, there are still doubts about the effectiveness of these kinds of treatments and whether nursing should consider alternative healthcare methods as a part of the nursing practice (MacDonald, 2014).
Shortage of Nursing Staff: There has been lately a tendency for the decrease and aging of nurses and nurse educators what leads to serious consequences for students, educators, and patients. According to the results of the recent recession, the nurses older than 50 years of age had to reenter the healthcare workforce to mentor younger nurses (Cherry & Jacob, 2008). Currently, there is already a nursing shortage observed within the healthcare sector and this tendency starts increasing, so the policymakers need to take some measures to adjust the medical facilities to this coming trend. For now, nursing students should learn to be more responsible and initiative to master essential core competencies. The results of the study conducted by the research university in Sweden determine that the group supervision is one of the most successful methods to monitor student professional growth, as well as management and student personal development (Cherry & Jacob, 2008). However, there are new methods promoting more effective and closer to practice learning methods for nursing. Even though, medical staff is aging and retiring, but there are still a number of prospective qualified replacements severely limited. Some medical facilities expand enrollments by means of part-timers, university clinical faculty and by increasing popularity of online courses and simulations ("American Association of Colleges of Nursing | New AACN Data Confirm Enrollment Surge in Schools of Nursing", 2016). Unfortunately, the current needs of healthcare sector cannot be met by the current number of students in master and doctoral programs. Nursing academies and organizations try to attract funding from private entities and gain the national government support in order to promote additional recruitment. Despite many hardships, this upcoming trend may be the source of creative solutions and potentially perspective ideas. For example, many private and national nursing associations started collaborative partnerships that bring mutual benefits, as this kind of collaboration allows expanding nursing experiences in all levels of the nursing practice (Cherrry & Jacob, 2008).
The role of nurses as healthcare professionals is growing with the recent changes in healthcare services, technological upgrades and increased patient expectations. This tendency requires nurses to have the up-to date information at their disposal so that they can provide their patients with an effective treatment. With all the upcoming changes, it is not a surprise that many nurses prefer to start their nursing practice after earning an RN-to-BSN. Besides, quality patient care depends on a well-educated nursing workforce, as nurses need more knowledge to lead professionally (Hussung, 2016).
References
American Association of Colleges of Nursing | New AACN Data Confirm Enrollment Surge in Schools of Nursing. (2016). Aacn.nche.edu. Retrieved 30 July 2016, from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/news/articles/2015/enrollment
Cherry, B. & Jacob, S. (2008). Contemporary nursing. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby/Elsevier.
Hussung, T. (2016). The Future of Nursing: How Changes in the Healthcare Industry Affect Clinical Practice - Husson University. Husson University. Retrieved 30 July 2016, from http://online.husson.edu/the-future-of-nursing/
MacDonald E. (2014). The future of nursing education: 5 trends to watch. Retrieved July 29, 2016 from http://www.nursetogether.com/the-future-of-nursing-education-5-trends-t
Sanjiv, S. (2014). Current trends in nursing research. International Journal of Nursing Research and Practice, Vol. 1 No. 1. Retrieved July 29, 2016 from http://www.uphtr.com/issue_files/2%20Shobhi%20mam%201(1).pdf
