Nurses play an essential role in ensuring the healthcare sector provides quality medical assistance to patients. Nurses are expected to interact with a varied population of patients from different backgrounds on healthcare concerns. As a result, nurses need to prepare to cater to patients’ needs and promote the quality of their lives. Therefore, nurses need to undergo quality training to improve their skills and knowledge to make the delivery of healthcare services more effective. The paper gives a detailed analysis of the importance of nursing education and practical education goals that promote nursing.
Job market options
Nursing job opportunities heavily rely on education, with the person with high qualifications getting more advanced managerial positions. After pursuing a nursing course, a person can become:
A legal nurse consultant mainly gathers, analyzes, and defines nursing information during a medical malpractice claim. The legal nurse consultant puts the events that lead to this medical malpractice into perspective. A person should complete a nursing degree or acquire a nursing program certificate to become a nurse consultant. A nurse consultant should have relative experience in nursing practice and obtain certification by taking support courses and exams through the Association of Legal Nurse Consultants. This association is responsible for the professional growth of nurses and the development of professional knowledge.
A certified dialysis nurse’s primary role is to help patients with kidney-related conditions. The dialysis nurse, also referred to as a nephrology nurse, oversees the setup of dialysis machines, teaches patients about the use of dialysis machines at home, and checks and records the patient’s vitals for analysis and treatment recommendation. To become a dialysis nurse, one should be certified and become a member of the associations for nephrology. Moreover, a nurse must complete clinical rotations and acquire state licensing (Girones, 2021). Besides, a nurse educator designs, implements, and designs education nursing programs in schools. One should obtain a master’s degree in nursing to qualify for nursing education. However, a person should complete a doctorate to be eligible as a nurse educator at the university level. Besides, in collaboration with doctors, a nurse practitioner provides nursing care to patients. A nurse practitioner should earn a nurse registration license to qualify for this role. In addition, a nurse practitioner should acquire a master of science in nursing.
IoM: Future of Nursing
The institute of medicine has given recommendations that would help boost the nursing sector to provide quality healthcare. One of the main recommendations is for nurses to pursue and achieve high training and education levels. This can be achieved by upgrading the education system to facilitate efficient academic progression. The institute of medicine requires nurses to pursue academic courses and acquire licenses to enable efficiency in practice. Below are some recommendations provided by the IOM on achieving high levels of education.
Recommendations by the IOM include the increase in nurses with doctorates and BSN degrees. This is to help close the gap created by a shortage of qualified nurses, researchers, and healthcare providers. In doing this, there is an increase in the supply of nursing services hence increased healthcare quality (Jeniffer, 2019). Moreover, the IOM recommends that the nursing workforce be diversified across all genders, ethnicities, and races to improve the relevance of care. Furthermore, the institute recommends that relevant organizations develop competencies to propel regular updates on the nursing curriculum, thus boosting nursing efficiency. Moreover, the IOM advises on expanding loans and grants to nursing students to facilitate affordability in nursing. Finally, the IOM recommends that nurses engage in life skill development programs and nurses with associate qualifications join nursing programs.
Pursuing an MSN and DNP
To pursue a DNP to help advance the nursing career and get better chances of career development. Moreover, a DNP degree will allow one to formulate and implement health policies. In addition, a DNP degree helps equip a nurse with the necessary skills and knowledge in nursing, thus improving the nursing practice. Furthermore, a DNP degree expands specialization areas and incorporates other fields that boost efficiency in nursing. A DNP will enhance competitiveness in the nursing field due to the increased demand for employees. Finally, NDP-related careers have competitive salary arrangements.
Besides, pursuing an MSN degree helps develop a nurse’s nursing knowledge and improve licensure. MSN will help in research and thus create better nursing solutions. Moreover, an MSN would guarantee better nursing careers and leadership roles, thus creating more lucrative opportunities. Furthermore, an MSN degree helps improve the career network and cultivate a stable career path. Consequently, this increases personal fulfillment by providing outstanding healthcare services. Moreover, an MSN will give room to take on more responsibility and work more flexible hours. Generally, an MSN will increase expertise and recognition in the nursing sector, hence better work and service delivery.
The timeline for completing the DNP and MSN programs is seven years with two years of working experience and five years of study. The five years will equip me with theoretical skills that are crucial in the continuity of the practice. Besides, the years of study will help understand the nursing regulations and engage in the practice without committing malpractices. The two working years will help improve a learner’s perspective on nursing and get a practical understanding of the work environment. Moreover, the working experience will help identify challenges and build concepts in the research areas. After completing these steps, students would be able to offer nursing services effectively.
Impact of increasing level of education on competitiveness and role in future nursing
The increase in the level of education can create a massive transformation in the nursing field due to an increase in knowledge and skills. An increase in education helps improve healthcare due to increased techniques that help care for patients. The improvement in healthcare results from using technology, facilitated by the rise in education levels. Moreover, an increase in education expands healthcare knowledge, which helps establish a stable career path. Furthermore, increased education increases community health awareness and organization skills that enable improved decision-making. Consequently, this increases the chances of working in managerial positions, thus better career conditions. In addition, an increase in the level of education helps a nurse gain confidence and therefore make better decisions in healthcare provision.
Relationship of continuing nursing education
Continuing nursing education increases the levels of licensure, thus improving the scope of operation. The American Nurses Association points out that a sound healthcare system is more effective if it contains different qualified caregivers. Therefore, continuity in the level of education increases the availability of qualified caregivers as per the guidelines on the healthcare regulatory boards. Moreover, an increase in education protects patients from harm that could be caused by the rise in the number of unqualified people in the nursing sector. Furthermore, continuity in education creates a definitive work system due to sets of qualification requirements needed to take up delicate responsibilities. For instance, continuity in education defines nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, and nurse educators. This, in turn, helps reaffirm regulations and stabilize the healthcare sector.
Should continuing education be mandatory?
The continuous change in healthcare concerns requires new approaches. The approaches should be effective and precise in addressing the health condition, thus requiring continuous research to devise better healthcare provision solutions. Therefore, changes in health conditions demand new studies to make nursing practices effective. Consequently, old nursing practices should be revised and the unviable methods eliminated to avoid redundancy. By evaluating these changes and incorporating technology in nursing, it is necessary to make continuity of education in nursing mandatory (Eyikara and Baykara, 2017). The continuity will help nurses gain practical information that addresses current issues, unlike old unviable approaches. Moreover, continuity in education makes nurses competent in providing health care.
References
Eyikara and Baykara. (2017). The importance of simulation in nursing education | World journal on educational technology: Current issues. Birlesik Dunya Yenilik Arastirma ve Yayincilik Merkezi. https://un-pub.eu/ojs/index.php/wjet/article/view/543
Girones. (2021). Employment and working conditions of nurses: Where and how health inequalities have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic? PubMed Central (PMC). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8444178/
Jeniffer. (2019). The future of nursing report: Where are we now? HealthLeaders Media. https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/nursing/future-nursing-report-where-are-we-now
