IOM REPORT: IMPORTANCE OF NURSING EDUCATION 1

IOM Report: Importance of Nursing Education

Student Name

Institutional Affiliation

Course/Class

Instructor

Date
IOM REPORT: IMPORTANCE OF NURSING EDUCATION 2

IOM Report: Importance of Nursing Education

Question 1

Nursing is a course that prepares students for a career as Licensed Practicing Nurses

(LPN) or to practice as registered nurses (RN). I am a holder of an Associate Degree in

Nursing (ADN). An ADN is the least required qualification for one to be regarded as a

registered nurse or LPN. Undertaking the course offers an educational background and

requirements to access a wide range of careers in the market in different work environments.

An AND can attend to any patient from the young to the old, men to women, and adolescents

to elderly patients (Feeg & Mancino, 2016). With such a qualification, a nurse can provide

good services that assure them of suitable job security. The tasks that ADN nurses can

undertake are very diverse and ranges from the healthcare centers to community centers. The

nurses can assess patients, diagnose, treat, and educate the sick on healthy living aspects.

According to Poghosyan et al. (2020), the nurses can care for patients while being admitted in

wards and collaborate with any healthcare practitioner from clinical officers, surgeons to

even midwives.

Question 2

The healthcare sector is highly recognized by the Institute of Medicine as rapidly

growing and changing with time; hence, nurses have a tremendous responsibility to cope with

the new issues. IOM suggests that nurses should further their education to change the nursing

practice. By advancing one’s education, a nurse can change the healthcare system and be part

of the dynamic changes (Shen et al., 2015). Therefore, I plan to further my education in

nursing because of the reasons mentioned above. I will have to struggle in everything

possible to earn additional certifications in nursing practice and advanced degrees.

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Pursuing professional certifications will enable me to be an all-around nurse with

competence in four specific fields. The specialization will allow me always to be part of the

team at the forefront in reducing the hazards of errors made in nursing, promoting good

healthcare, and enhancing inpatients’ satisfaction. First, I would like to do an AIDS certified

registered nurse, which will only qualify if I participate in several HIV/AIDS nursing

attendance for at least two years. After that, I will take an exam that will test the knowledge I

have gained, especially on the ethics of service, prevention, epidemiology, and psychosocial

issues in HIV/AIDS. As I pursue the certification, I will also be caring for those patients

living with HIV.

Secondly, I plan to earn a certification in pediatric nursing. For a nurse to acquire a

certificate in pediatrics, the nurse should finish a total of 1800 hours of clinical care, which is

equal to two consecutive years, after which one will apply to sit for an exam. Thirdly, I will

take a certification exam for oncology. To qualify for the certification, a nurse will have to

practice oncology for two years or a total of 1800 hours, after which the nurse will apply to

sit for an exam. The certification exam for oncology will test on oncology nursing practice

and the treatment methods. Lastly, I will seek to advance my nursing education by obtaining

an advanced degree like a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nursing. In my doctorate, I will

ensure that I specialize in family nursing and medicine. Pursuing a Ph.D. in nursing will be a

long-term goal because it takes up to four academic years in a recognized university to

complete it.

Question 3

For a nurse to secure a job, they need to increase education to enhance relevance and

competitiveness in the job market. An educational process that leads to certification in the

field of profession validates one's ADN when presented in search of a job. A combination of
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both ADN, Professional certification, and an advanced degree shows a high competitiveness

level. There is currently a high need to provide quality services in the nursing field, unlike in

the past where basic knowledge was all a nurse needed. Advanced education in nursing

equips the nurse with the capabilities for general wellbeing, geriatrics, authority abilities,

wellbeing strategy, framework enhancements, exploration, and proof-based practice

(Dechezleprêtre & Sato, 2017).

Question 4

For a nurse to remain competitive, there is a need for continuing nursing education.

Continued advancement in the healthcare sector, characterized by advancement in

technologies, a dynamic patient presenting various needs requires continued nursing

education to prepare nurses with the required content to deal with the arising challenging

matters. Areas that arise and need some orientation and knowledge equipping to the nurses

are addressed using continued nursing education. Further education also results in

specialization and improve knowledge on the specific field. An example can be furthered

education in critical care nursing leading to expertise and specialization in emergencies

(Snibsøer, 2019). The patients, in this case, can be diagnosed and treated successfully by a

well-educated nurse. There is a need to improve clinical and reasoning knowledge of a nurse

to enhance their attitudes towards the exactness of nursing finding, which can only be done

through continued nursing education. Lack of technical know-how on handling a situation or

a phenomenon may impact a nurse's attitude towards the nursing occupation. Work standards

are greatly enhanced when a nurse has the required knowledge to perform activities in

various fields. Certificate issuance on every continued nursing education gives a nurse a

larger range of fields to work. A practicing nurse ought to conduct oneself following the

expected codes and ethics; this is enhanced by continued education.

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Question 5

Absolutely yes! A nurse's competence is improved by ensuring continuity in nursing

education. Current healthcare work expectations include the ability of a nurse to be

conversant with the evolving technologies in the field and patients' diverse requirements.

Furthermore, it improves the quality of services offered to customers, reduces risks, and

improves the success of nursing results. Continuing nursing education makes a nurse

knowledgeable and more competitive in the field of work. Besides the nurse's professional

advancement, it also increases networks for a nurse to venture into and increase the know-

how of different phenomena in those diverse fields.

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References

Dechezleprêtre, A., & Sato, M. (2017). The impacts of environmental regulations on

competitiveness. Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, 11(2), 183-206.

Feeg, V., & Mancino, D. J. (2016). Trends upward and trends downward reflecting a

changing job market for new nursing graduates. Dean’s Notes, 37(4-5), 1-5.

https://www.ajj.com/sites/default/files/services/publishing/deansnotes/summer16.pdf

Poghosyan, L., Ghaffari, A., Liu, J., & McHugh, M. D. (2020). Organizational support for

nurse practitioners in primary care and workforce outcomes. Nursing research, 69(4),

280-288.

Shen, Q., Peltzer, J., Teel, C., & Pierce, J. (2015). The initiative to move toward a more

highly educated nursing workforce: Findings from the Kansas registered nurse

workforce survey. Journal of Professional Nursing, 31(6), 452-463.

Snibsøer, A. K. (2019). Evidence-based practice in Bachelor healthcare education. A survey

of attitudes, knowledge, and behavior.