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The Importance of Nursing Education

Student’s Name

Institution Affiliation
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The Importance of Nursing Education

Introduction

The significance of education in nursing or any other profession cannot be underestimated.

However, in nursing, education plays a critical role and especially because it deals and concerns

itself with the health and life of people. As such, improved health literacy would translate to

people living longer than ever before. Also, poor education and insufficient knowledge can lead

to mistakes that can be costly to the health of a majority. Therefore, improving nursing

knowledge and especially in the ever dynamic society is essential and it can play a critical role in

the prevention of errors and provision of higher quality care. In this essay, the discussion will

solely focus on the importance of education in the nursing profession and the extent one can

progress in their career by increasing their level of education.

Options in the Job Market with a Nursing Degree

Sound knowledge in nursing education can open job opportunities for nursing graduates. As

noted earlier, sound knowledge in nursing education can result in improved quality of care. With

a degree in nursing, there are many options in the job market that one can pursue. Some of these

options include a registered nurse. A registered nurse can pursue a variety of jobs including

critical care nursing, emergency nursing, labour and delivery nursing, dialysis nursing, med-surg

nursing, and perioperative nursing. In most cases, these jobs are always in high demand, which

means that a professional and effective nurse will not lose nursing opportunities. Besides

nursing, a person with a nursing degree can also venture into other jobs such as becoming a nurse

educator, careers in information technology, and assumption of nursing leadership roles. In

essence with a degree in nursing, there are a lot of options in the job market, which makes the

profession even more enticing.

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A Review of IOM Future of Nursing Recommendations for Achieving Higher Education

Levels

Every profession is bound to encounter challenges. As such, professionals give

recommendations on how to address the challenges. Specifically, IOM has made a few

recommendations for nursing practise on matters dealing with teamwork, technology, and value.

Concerning the issue of teamwork, IOM recommends that the best way to enhance the quality of

care in the nursing profession is by identifying barriers of collaboration between nurses and other

healthcare staff in a wide range of settings (Institute of Medicine, 2011). The other

recommendation for enhancing the quality of care in nursing per IOM is the identification and

testing innovations in education that have the potential of increasing the ability of healthcare

professionals to serve as collaborative and productive care team members (Institute of Medicine,

2011). An analysis of these recommendations shows that the only way to enhance nursing

practice is by enhancing innovation and education.

Other recommendations made in the IOM report focus on technology and values. Concerning

technology IOM suggests the determination of contributions of different health professionals to

the development and design, implementation, purchase, and evaluation of technology devices

(Institute of Medicine, 2011). In essence, the recommendation suggests that all technology

devices must portray meaningful use of information technology in helping nurses in the delivery

of quality care. Concerning values, the IOM report recommends capturing the impact of changes

made to the system of care delivery on costs and quality over the next decade (Institute of

Medicine, 2011). The changes made in the system should be sustainable and should by all

means, attempt to address all issues that may hinder or tamper with the delivery of quality care.
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Immediately after finishing my degree in nursing, I intend to do a master degree in nursing

(MSN). The master degree will approximately take two years. The reason why I do a master

degree in nursing is that it allows nurses to advance and specialize in the profession. In essence,

one becomes an all-round nurse. Also, besides the fact that I do nursing as a calling, master

degree in nursing guarantees higher salaries. Therefore, I will be motivated to deliver better

quality services because my efforts are rewarded wholesomely. In addition, besides the fact that

being a nurse is incredibly rewarding, specialization in the field will guarantee me an opportunity

of helping patients who are in pain. It will allow me to assist patients who go through the pain

and most of the difficult moments in their life.

How Increasing the Level of Education Can Affect one’s Competitiveness in the Job

Market

Increasing my level of education in nursing practice, and specifically obtaining MSN, can

increase my competitiveness in the profession. First, according to Committee on the Robert

Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine and

ebrary, Inc (2011), after obtaining MSN, a nurse can become a nurse a practitioner. As such, one

obtains licensure, which can lead to higher-paying positions. Besides high paying positions, one

gets greater responsibilities. The other way increasing level of education for a nurse enhances

competitiveness according to the Institute of Medicine and ebrary, Inc (2011), is that one tend to

gain more skills. Advanced education in the nursing profession increases one’s professional skill

set. As such, one can master competencies that were never learned during undergraduate

education.

The other way increasing one’s education can enhance one’s competitiveness is that it offer

one with an opportunity of assuming leadership roles in the future. According to Joel (2018),
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higher levels of education, such as a nurse obtaining MSN, puts one in a position for eyeing

competitive job opportunities such as managerial and administrative positions. In essence,

increasing education levels in nursing put one in a position of acquiring a wide range of

opportunities.

A Discussion Of The Relationship Of Continuing Nursing Education To Competency,

Attitudes, Knowledge, And The ANA Scope And Standards Of Practice And Code Of

Ethics

Continuing nursing education has a relationship with competency, attitudes, and knowledge.

First, according to the American Nurses Association (2009), it is unlikely for a nurse with a

degree to share the competency with a nurse who has pursued MSN. The latter tend to have more

knowledge and competency. According to the American Nurses Association (2009), nursing

competency refers to the ability of an individual to perform core skills. The skills of these nurses

are evaluated by their ability to demonstrate these nursing skills. Nursing education is also

correlated to ANA standards and scope of practice. According to the American Nurses

Association (2009), the scope of practice in nursing is the description of the services qualified

health professionals are deemed competent to perform. Once they are evaluated and determined

to be competent in specific skills, they are permitted to undertake. As such, this cope of practice

expands with increased education levels. ANA standards also propose that nurses should only

handle what is within their scope (American Nurses Association, 2009). These conditions are

outlined in the code of ethics and demands nurses to uphold them at all cost.

A Discussion of Whether Continuing Nursing Education Should Be Mandatory

Continuing nursing education should be mandatory for many reasons. One of them is that as a

nurse, one does not learn everything they need to know in nursing school. According to Curtis,
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Ramsden and Lord (2011), the reason why this should be mandatory is attributed to the fact that

the field of healthcare and medicine is constantly evolving and improving through advancements

in knowledge and technology. As such, education, as well as other means of communicating this

information, is critical evidence-based on care and positive patient outcome. Curtis, Ramsden

and Lord (2011) further suggest that continuing nursing education should be mandatory because

techniques change and, therefore, understanding the need for knowing and getting acquainted

with these changes and the reasoning behind these changes can go a long way in making a huge

difference in patient outcome.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the essay has presented a discussion that has solely focused on the importance

of education in the nursing profession and the extent one can progress in their career by

increasing their level of education. From the essay, the main theme is that education in nursing is

critical. The higher the levels of education, the more a nurse become competitive and open to

opportunities. Lastly, continuing nursing education should be mandatory because the profession

is ever dynamic. As such, nurses have to keep abreast of the changes.

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References

American Nurses Association. (2009). Nursing administration: Scope and standards of practice.

Silver Spring, Md: American Nurses Association.

Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the

Institute of Medicine., & ebrary, Inc. (2011). The future of nursing: Leading change,

advancing health. Washington, D.C: National Academies Press.

Curtis, K., Ramsden, C., & Lord, B. (2011). Emergency and trauma care for nurses and

paramedics. Chatswood, NSW: Elsevier.

Institute of Medicine. (2011). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.

Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/12956.

Joel, L. A. (2018). Advanced practice nursing: Essentials for role development. Philadelphia,

PA: F.A. Davis Company.