The professional nursing practice incorporates many elements that individual nurses should implement to achieve the acceptable patient outcome. The nursing professional holds the largest number of employees in the U.S. healthcare workforce and continues to grow as professionals introduce more initiatives and goals aimed at improving the quality of care. However, the presence of many barriers in the practice inhibits the ability of nurses to respond to changing health care settings and the expanding health care system. An effective evidence-based management practice promotes the overall practice of nursing by managing these barriers through the paradigm of Theory-Research-Practice-Policy. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) initiates launched in 2008 assist nurses in implementing the above paradigm. The discussion focuses on the relationship between RWJ-IOM initiatives and the nursing paradigm.
Points outlined in the RWJ-IOM vision on the future of nursing
The RWJ-IOM report shows a thorough examination of the practice of nursing and recommends effective future visions of nurses that help meet the healthcare needs of diverse communities, the changing patients' populations all over the society, and the changing nursing workforce. The RWJ-IOM report outlined four main points. First, the report required nurses to practice in the full potential of their education and training. Second, it called for nurses reach higher levels of education and training by enrolling in improved education systems that ensure proper academic progress. The third vision of the initiative required nurses to become full partners and collaborate with physicians and other healthcare professionals in redesigning the U.S. health care system. Finally, the committee aimed at establishing an effective nursing workforce plan and policy through effective data collection and improved communication network (Institute of Medicine, 2010).
Theory development and evidenced based practice play a critical role in achieving the RWJ-IOM report’s vision. Nursing theories such as the management and leadership theories assist in reinforcing the practice of nursing by engaging the workforce in efficient nursing administrative practices that make nurses more prepared for future challenges in the practice (Roussel, 2013). On the other hand, evidenced based practice assists in promoting changes in the nursing practice by creating new directions in the nursing education. The future of nursing shown in the RWJ-IOM report aims at converging knowledge, quality, and new practices. Evidenced based practice focuses on utilizing the knowledge acquired to improve healthcare delivery using new competencies (Stevens, 2013).
Example of an evidenced based best practice
Nursing experience in Theory-Research-Practice-Policy assists in caring for different types of patient and achieving an effective patient outcome. I was presented by a patient, young girls aged six years diagnosed with diabetes in the clinic. I had to use my skills and knowledge to address the condition and ensure the patient restores her health. Nurses are supposed to use research in the practice to come up with solutions to health problems presented by different clients. Using knowledge, I gained throughout my education; I studied numerous articles on the causes and management of diabetes to come up with a good treatment plan for the patient. I had also conducted a study on the relationship between diabetes and unhealthy eating habits. I applied the study findings into practice and engaged the patient in different forms of dietary and physical activities. My knowledge of evidenced-based practice helped in managing the condition and within 18 months the child was back to her normal life.
Application of Theory-Research-Practice-Policy in the future practice as a registered nurse
Theory
Theories play a critical role in influencing the outcome of nursing by increasing knowledge and skills about different concepts found in the practice of nursing. As a future registered nurse, nursing theories will assist in assessing the condition of the patient using different nursing theoretical frameworks. The assessment helps understand different needs of the patient, especially psychological and emotional needs, which promote the outcome of care.
Research
The growing population and increasing disparities lead to the creation of new healthcare problems and challenges. The IOM vision asks nurses to take part in redesigning the U.S. health care system through collaborations with physicians and other healthcare providers (IOM, 2010). As a registered nurse, I will apply research skills to investigate solutions to future healthcare challenges affecting the larger society. Additionally, research assists in developing evidenced-based findings into the practice of nursing and work with physicians and other healthcare professionals in overcoming future nursing challenges.
Practice
Continuous practice in the field of nursing helps the nurse gain more skills and knowledge in the profession. Practice will assist my future career as a registered nurse by allowing me enter into a different field and gain more expertise. Additionally, practice assists in solving future health care issues by applying the first vision of IOM report that requires the nurse to practice to the full extent of his or her education and training (IOM, 2010). Registered nurses must apply nursing knowledge in assessing health needs, offer care and support that helps manage the health of the community through the application of the nurse’s scope of practice.
Policy
The current healthcare requires many changes through policy advocacy. Registered nurses should take part in health care reforms aimed at improving the safety, quality, and cost of care and ensuring every person has good access to healthcare services. The policy element of the paradigm applies to creating healthcare policies that give registered nurses more powers to take care of patients including observing a patient in the absence of the physician. Delays in the delivery of care cause a lot of losses especially when only one physician is available to check more than ten patients.
References
Health. U.S.A:. National Academies Press.
Roussel, L. (2013). Management and leadership for nurse administrators. Burlington, MA:
Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Stevens, K. (2013). The Impact of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing and the Next Big Ideas.
OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 18(2), Manuscript 4.
