Achieving of higher levels of education and training for nurses.
In the healthcare practice there are various groups of professionals who work together to ensure efficient delivery of services to the patients, they include the nurses, physicians among other health care professionals. They all work together to come up with ideas on what clinical practices issues should be considered in an organizations systematic agenda. According to a report by the Institute of Medicine (2013), some of the key practices recommended by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) are;
- Registered Nurses (RNs) should practice to the full extent of their education and training there should be no constraint on their scope of service delivery.
- Nurses should strive to gain higher training and academic levels with an improved education system that will result in higher academic progression.
- The nurses should partner with other health care professionals in the improving of the health care delivery system in the country.
- Effective policy making and workforce planning require better data collection and improved information infrastructure.
All these practices are essential if well pursued as they can assist in enhancing the operation of organization system.
In this paper, the focus is on agenda setting and the clinical practice issue discussed based on nurses pursuing higher levels of education and training. When addressing this issue, the aim is to understand how the level of education and training acquired impacts on the healthcare service provision to patients and its effectiveness. In a society, there are various stakeholders who are concerned with the clinical practices of the nurses and other healthcare practitioners. According to American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2013), some of these stakeholders include; state legislators, local government leaders, licensing authorities, health care researchers, nurses and physicians, educational institutions, philanthropic organizations and consumer protection organizations.
For all these groups, it is vital for them to understand why nurses need to advance their level of education and training. As an organization, there are several approaches that can be employed in informing the stakeholders the importance of this particular issue of clinical practice. The first thing to put in consideration would be to set up the proper channels of communication between the organization and the stakeholders. The use of various forms of media such as radio and television shows or magazines and newspaper articles will enable the organization to inform the stakeholders why it is essential for nurses to advance their levels of education in their field of practice. Another strategy for relaying information would involve the organization to host seminars or forums in the different institutions to make the society understand the importance of including this clinical practice in their systematic agenda.
This practice should be embraced ensures the development of a strong and effective nursing leadership which is achievable through diversification of education programs and encouraging increased interdisciplinary training (Greenhalgh et al, 2005). The education system for nurses has to be improved as the medical needs have become complicated over the years, and there is the need for a quality nursing workforce. The government as a stakeholder has a critical role of investing in career ladder programs for nurses through the provision of funds and the loan repayment program. The organization management can assist in the achievement of this clinical practice by offering scholarships to its employees. In including this clinical practice in the organizations agenda, it should include training programs for the nurses during their transition from students to practicing professionals.
References
A report by the Institute of Medicine (2013). The future of nursing: Leading Change, Advancing health.
Greenhalgh T, Robert G, Bate P et al. (2005) Diffusion of innovations in health service organisations: a systematic literature review. Oxford: Blackwell BMJ Books.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2013). 2012-2013 Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing. Washington, DC.
Accessed October 22, 2013.
