Importance of Nursing Education
Nurses are recommended to achieve a higher level of training and education through the improved system of education, which has aimed at promoting seamless progress in academics. Nurses at all the levels have been requested to achieve a higher level of education. Institute of Medicine (IOM) in their report, Future of Nursing recommended that at least eighty per cent of the nurses should hold a minimum Bachelors degree of Science in Nursing. One the main reason for this recommendation was because of the modern healthcare demand which deemed to be very complicated.(Tingen, 2009) The complexity of this care requires one to transition from skill-based competency to the type that assesses the competency and knowledge of the health care policy. It also included other factors, for example, the improvement of the system, research, teamwork, collaboration and evidence-based practice.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) pointed to the research which correlated the preparedness with the improved outcome of the patients, fewer incidences of deep vein thrombosis, reduced failure to rescue rate and less readmission which are just among the few. American Association of College Nurses is asking nurses to do more since more is expected of them now than ever before. Not only do the nurses provide care at the hospital but also beyond the hospital where patients are located. It increases the access to those patients who cannot afford or cannot come to the doctors or hospitals office, for example, those in schools and urgent care centre. Nurses should also be able to provide care to homes, migrant health clinics, community centres and health care centres. (Linderman, 2013) Due to poverty or low financial situation, mitigating factors and another immigration status, most of the patients would not have access to proper healthcare without the availability of a nurse. Nurses not only must provide health care to these patients at remote places, but they also educate them education is the key to preventive health care which keeps most of the people from requiring acute healthcare. In most cases, they can’t afford this type of healthcare, or they do not have access to such.
According to a study conducted by Health Affairs, the nursing of physicians who are choosing primary care careers remains less to replace the one who is retiring. His concern is worrying especially in rural areas where it is long-standing in the shortages of providers. Therefore this advance nursing practice must the use of providers other than physicians, for example, nurse practitioners. There is a shortage of primary care physicians which has, in turn, created the need for more family nurse practitioners. These family nurse practitioners and another advanced practice nurse, for example, nurse anaesthetics and midwives are considerably more cost-effective as compared to doctors. Policy changes also need to change to allow nurse practitioners to fill up those positions which were previously taken up solely by the physicians. Those restrictions on the scope of the practice should be removed entirely, and nurses should be able to fully practice to the extent of the education he/she has acquired. The Future of Nursing report says that one of the most important reasons in the improvement of accessing patient-centred care would be to allow nurses to create decisive decisions at the point of care. However, in most of the cases policies, biases and out-dated regulations prevent nurses, particularly the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse from practising the full extend of there educational knowledge, skills and competency.
Master of Science in Nursing
Currently, the career path of those in the Nursing profession is diversifying. According to Sharon O’Neill, it does not matter which area you are presently in since you have to think critically. It is vital to follow your passion and what you love within the profession since nurses work with different people who have different personalities and within a different environment. A nurse has to love and enjoy what he/she is doing. (Fisher, 2004) A nurse has to have the ability to think and think creatively in new situations critically. These are what constitute a strong trait of a nurse. With an online Masters of Science Nurse, one can become the following:
- A Family Nurse Practioner
According to the Bureau of Labour and Statistics, the demand for family nurse practitioners will increase by 36 per cent in the year 2036. It merely translates to a promising career path for those nurses who are willing to pursue there further studies in this field. A family nurse practitioners deliver high-quality medical services including the following: diagnosing and treating the common health problems, interpretation of the lab results, prescription of medication, management of different treatment plans and they also counsel and provide patients with education thus promote their wellness
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
This profession suits those nurses who love working with children. The main bonus of this profession is witnessing the young children flourish into young adults. A pediatric Nurse treats children who under the intensive care unit or the clinical environment where patients, communication and sensitivity are crucial elements. For one to become a pediatric nurse practitioner, one has to have at least an online Masters in Science Nurse Degree plus additional training in paediatrics.
- Nursing Informatics Specialist
When the idea of nursing and technology entices you, then this is your career path. Working in Informatics, you will require a combination of skills in computer science, nursing and information which will then be applied to a patients care. As we witness technology evolving, we will see the career more diversifying. Ample medical facilities, medical startups and private consulting firms are current in the move to modernize and disrupt all areas of medical facilities. You will require to apply cognitively, and information science to push forward innovation and use it to the nursing profession.
It is evidence that pursuing an online Masters in Science Nursing will broaden your career path. It gives a broader range of opportunities to best nursing occupations. Hopefully, I would have accomplished undertaking my online Master in Science Nursing by the year 2028.
Increasing your level of education will undoubtedly increase your demand in the job market. As you specialize in a particular field, for example, a pediatric nurse practitioner, your level of knowledge in the area becomes wider; therefore, your demand also rises.
Continuing learning needs nurses to reflect on their levels of competency about the change which occurs in the society and health care environment. ( Naille, 2010).Therefore the result of that action is to develop and acquire a new level of competency. Continuous nursing education will develop and enhance competencies significantly.
Nurses should be characteristically involved in providing quality care; therefore, continuous nursing education should be mandatory. A nurse should thrive on learning something new, and continuing education for nurses will offer the opportunity to learn and advance his/her techniques safe patient care.
References
Tingen.S, Rachel &Murchison (2009) Importance of Nursing Research Retrieved from https://www.healio.com/nursing/journals/jne/2009-3-48-3/%7Bc6af7cbf-939d-46a0-9f4b-808e016eca38%7D/the-importance-of-nursing-research
CA & Tanner CA (2013) Research in Nursing Education: Assumptions and Priorities: Journal of Nursing Education https://www.healio.com/nursing/journals/jne/1987-2-26-2/%7B1a1b1fb1-d150-43d2-8bd6-260da0839d4d%7D/research-in-nursing-education-assumptions-and-prioritiesFisher CA & O’Neil CA (2004) Developing an Online Course: Best practice for nurse educators https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=bUPu0n_6qFcC&oi=fnd&pg=PR5&dq=online+masters+in+science+nurse&ots=ltQDtLax_p&sig=NpSgM3k9yn76CVOVgQvyWhL6qQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=online%20masters%20in%20science%20nurse&f=false
Naille, A Maureen, Wyatt H Tami & Carole (2010) Continuing Education Needs of Nurses In a Voluntary Continuing Nurse Education State Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing https://www.healio.com/nursing/journals/jcen/2010-3-41-3/%7Bc9774a7c-fe84-4809-832f-dfd98b05fcfc%7D/continuing-education-needs-of-nurses-in-a-voluntary-continuing-nursing-education-state