The National Academy of Nursing, previously known as the Institute of Medicine, produced a report that would change the future of nursing. The central point of the recommendation focused on education advancements for all nurses. More than a decade after that directive, the message remains imperative. Today, nurses need a specific educational qualification to offer quality patient care. Fortunately, online nursing education allows healthcare providers to advance their careers without the risk of losing their jobs.
More than just skills, nurses should assess knowledge, embrace multidisciplinary teamwork and thrive in critical thinking. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities with nurses with higher education qualifications experience better patient outcomes. The rapid growth and change in the healthcare environment also necessitate a more diverse workforce.
The following are different factors that explain the importance of increasing education in nursing.
Ever-evolving healthcare environment
Nursing techniques are ever-changing, with experts researching for better treatments, including safer procedures for the betterment of the healthcare system. Most of the methods nurses used decades ago are not the same that healthcare providers use today. For example, before the change, nurses would administer an intramuscular injection to the Dorsogluteal area, which experts designated unsafe since it increased the risk of damage to the sciatic nerve.
Nurses who stick to the old information they were taught in school, are more likely to administer an IM injection in the wrong area. For this reason, continuing education is essential for all nurses to deliver quality patient care. It is easy for nurses to fall through the cracks if they don’t keep up with the latest medical knowledge and technologies that continue to expand.
Additionally, technology is a huge part of healthcare and as it evolves, so does the medical field. For this reason, nurses need to be tech-savvy, which is only possible if they create time to develop technical skills. Unlike in the past, administrative tasks require less paperwork as most involve artificial intelligence.
Since the pace of change is not letting up, leaders should implement systems or strategies to disseminate these changes to healthcare workers. Online programs are one of the common ways nurses can advance their education. However, some states may disregard or limit online continuing education credits and require on-site courses.
Increase in new nurse graduates’ incompetency
Most of the new nursing graduates are not practice-ready due to incompetence. The number keeps growing over the years, which is why recent graduates need further education to supplement their existing knowledge. Therefore, nursing education leaders have a mandate to better the competency of new healthcare workers. They should create systems or channels to become more competent and ready for practice.
Need for specialty education
Several areas in the healthcare field, such as geriatric and pediatric care, require special training or education. With less qualified personnel, nurses are urged to specialize in
a particular area that interests them; for example, if you are good with children, you may sign up for a course on pediatrics.
Specializing in a particular area promotes career advancement and personal growth. Other areas that require an advanced degree include home care, chronic care management, and holistic care. While selecting an area to specialize in, consider your interests and what you are good at.
Employers are always on the lookout for specialized nurses, and therefore finding a job may be a straightforward process. Specializing also puts you in senior positions, which usually have lesser responsibilities. Nurses can specialize in a particular area while still working to gain experience and advance their careers.
Need for qualified nurse educators
As the number of educated nurses increases, so does the need for highly educated nurse educators, but unfortunately, there is a scarcity of nurse educators. The nursing association encourages registered nurses to pursue a Master’s program which is the minimum educational requirement to become a nurse educator.
However, most nurse educators hold a doctoral degree. Usually, it takes six to ten years to become a nurse educator. But those with a Bachelor’s degree need as little as two years to complete a Master’s degree.
While nursing education challenges remain significant, the future points to a positive path ahead; as leaders continue to adopt frameworks and enact changes that promote academic progression and improved competencies, nursing education challenges are set to be overcome.
Here is the related article The 7 Top Reasons to Choose a Nursing Career
