Current Trends in Nursing Practice
Apart from the population that is aging, there is a steady transformation towards bioinformatics. This is another trend in nursing whereby there is dependence on bioinformatic due to the changing technology.For instance the use of technology when it comes to recording medical information for accuracy and accessibility. This challenges most of the nurses because some may lack knowledge in technology. Additionally, the shortage of nurses is also a current issue because of lack of degrees and program mes that are advanced. This is an issue as it affects the patient especially when errors are made. The outcomes of the patients have also been affected by the introduction of evidence-based practices in the nursing profession. This encompasses the positive outcomes that promote the sense of ownership by nurses (Linda, Geraldine, & Katherine, 2012). Current Trends in Nursing Practice Paper
The paper aims at identifying one current nursing trend or issue that has had an impact on healthcare. The issue I intend to discuss is the implementation of evidence-based practices in the nursing profession. Evidence-based practices have enables the patients to have more positive results when receiving health care.Current Trends in Nursing Practice Paper
Background of the current trend or issue
According to Stevens (2013), implementing evidence-based practice (EBP) has had a huge impact on nursing as a profession. EBP has ensured that knowledge is applied in healthcare so that there can be improved outcomes for the patients. EBP is described as the integration of evidence that is dependent on research from the clinical expertise that ensures that the values of the patients are upheld. Through EBP, the preferences of the patients are included in healthcare. The definition of EBP touches on the clinician’s experience so that more knowledge is impacted in healthcare.
The process of EBP entails application of what has been researched in nursing as well as healthcare. This element ensures that advanced forms of evidence are obtained. The healthcare system is able to create new roles as well as teams. Shojania and Grimshaw (2005) affirm that EBP leads to other fields of sciences that help in building more evidenced-practices.
The introduction of EBP into the nursing arena has brought a major shift thus considered as a current trend or issue. The shift was seen in how nurses approach research in a bid to change healthcare in general. They have contributed significantly in discovering new approaches that help in creating positive results for the patients. Nurses have become owners of their individual achievements as they are more involved in implementing, reporting and conducting various aspects in healthcare.Current Trends in Nursing Practice Paper
National experts have called for other recommendations that will transform healthcare. Through this, more nurses have directed their efforts towards initiatives that make them more valuable such as engaging in research developing models and theories and adopting various practices.
Impact of EBP
EBP has affected the nursing practice as well as education and research. For successful implementation of EBP, healthcare professionals and nurses need to ensure the adoption of policy makers and providers of individual care. The policy makers include state, federal, local and other regulatory bodies.
After its introduction, nurses have revealed a positive attitude towards EBP because of the desire to acquire more skills and knowledge about healthcare. Nurses have continuously led inter-professional teams so that the systems of delivery may be competent and with EBP, they have been able to change healthcare. The competencies they consider ensure appropriate use of their knowledge in making clinical decisions. Thus research on EBP mainly provides the evidence of various interventions to other providers. The main competencies for professions in healthcare include the following:Current Trends in Nursing Practice Paper
- Provision of care that is centered on patients-The differences, needs and preferences of the patients should be identified. This will help the professional to communicate effectively with the patient as well as their families.
- Utilizing interdisciplinary groups-Working in teams is helpful when it comes to integrated care since it ensures continuity and reliability.
- Use of evidence-based practice-The values of the patients should be considered thus use of the appropriate research that can be integrated into practice.
- Use of informatics-This entails using technology to gather information and knowledge.
- Improvement of quality-Medical errors should be noted from time to time so that safety principles become applicable such as simplification and standardization.
EBP has helped in minimizing the issues of safety of the patients. However, there are certain challenges that are experienced when it comes to its implementation into nursing practice. First and foremost, a complex plan for implementation is required before the full adoption of evidence-based practice. Although a policy of agency can be set, sustaining it may bring more challenges.
Recommendations for managing evidence-based practice in nursing
There are various models that were developed earlier when EBP was first introduced. The models were created by nursing scientists so that the different aspects regarding EBP could be understood. Also, the models are crucial in designing the approach towards making decisions when it comes to evidence-based practices. There are forty-seven EBP models that are prominent.
One important aspect is the Ace Star Model of Knowledge Transformation. According to Stevens (2004), the model was established to provide an easier approach for evidence to be translated into practice. This encompasses comprehending how EBP is transformed into nursing.Current Trends in Nursing Practice Paper
Conclusion
Nursing practice has continued evolving from time to time. The environment of healthcare has been affected by various factors thus the need for the improvement in practices of healthcare. The trends experienced may be negative or positive or both. The changes are seen in the populations, technologies, shortages of nurses and integration if evidence-based research.
Since 2010, the US congress passed “Healthcare Reform: Affordable Care Act”, recent healthcare is focusing on more preventing and promoting than curative heath care. Associated with it, nursing care also gradually shifting from inpatient to outpatient an emphasizing in patient, family and community based. Scope of nursing practice has become more boarder than past. Public attitudes and views towards nurses has been also changed. Along with dynamic changes in society, many advance technologies are introducing into nursing practice as well. Ongoing education and lifelong learning is needed to maintain safety and achieve better outcome with limited available resources (Blais & Hayes, 2016). Nurses are no more limited to bedside care, their roles have been changed to a leader, an educator, an advocator, a researcher. Due to increasing elder population growth and the shortage of healthcare provider health-related organization, institution, and government are encouraging nurses to go back to school again to advance their career and get more opportunity by participating in ongoing education. ‘Issues and trends in Nursing’ online course is developed for student who want to continue their education and advance degree like RN to BSN. Current issues and trends considered in terms of their impact on roles and practices. Overall objectives of the course ‘Issues and Trends in Nursing is addressing to investigate nursing practice that is influenced by the impact of social issues and concerns which are related to economic, demographic, technological ethical, legal, and social. The potential change of nursing practice in response to societal changes will be discovered as well as the new opportunities these challenges have for career development. (ASPEN, 2017) Identify strategies that promote the socialization of the nurse into a professional role, to achieve the goal, courses are divided in eight different topic modules and each module has specific goal to reach overall goal.Current Trends in Nursing Practice Paper
The first module ‘Nursing as a profession of this course focused on this module begins with an exploration of societal trends that shaped nurses returning to school and what is required to be successful. Student will also examine two role transitions models and apply these models to their current situation. Where I learned, influencing factors including challenges and difficulties for nurses to return school along with benefits and successful strategies to motivate and complete the course after enrollment by exploring phases of transitional module. Explore Professional Role Transition Models and apply the knowledge to the student’s current situation
The second module ‘Legal and Ethical Issues focused on cares for patients, families, and communities, and in doing so must consider how the care impacts the feelings and rights of others. Nurses operate their function and role within the scope of nursing practice and law. On this module, I learned legal and ethical issues and dilemmas that may arise in nursing profession and also able to differentiate between ethical and bio ethical issues in nursing especially in end of life situation by analyzing the situation along with learned nurses roles and responsibility and way to solve the problem.
The third module ‘The Nurse as a Leader, Teacher, and Healthcare Promoting is a lifelong process, as nurses we are teaching patients and families about their illnesses and treatments. Lastly, nurses are leaders and managers, and these roles will be explored. On this module I learned component of health promotion by investigating the objective of Healthy people 2020 and choose two topic ‘Diabetes and Hospital Associated Infection.’ Also able explore nurses responsibilities with focusing patient learning style to overcome barrier and issues on Diabetes and HAIs.
In the fourth module, founding on safety and emphasize in research with EBP (evidence-based practice) and its importance to nursing as a profession. On this module, I was able to select evidence based research articles in Catheter Associate Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) and wrote political letter to Texas House Representatives in regards to one current health issues in dignity of human life on demise fetus to cremate or burry.
Fifth Module, the importance of teamwork/ inter-professional teams, effective communication, change, and informatics. This week, the student will be utilizing effective strategies to implement a (potential) change within their workplace. Change is part of every one life, both planned and unplanned changes gives challenge. On this module learned importance of good rapport within the team to promote safety and reach the desire goal by exploring the change model framework, its steps and module with considering effective communication during change.
Module 6: Holistic, Cultural, & Spiritual Nursing
discussing the focus change from treating diseases to preventing diseases. Cultural and spiritual needs of a group should be incorporated into their healthcare planning. On this section, I learned more about culturally competent care including health issues and concern associated with particular culture. Also, learned nurses responsibility while providing to specific culture in regards to competent care and its important by choosing specific cultural group “Latino- Hispanic.’
Current Trends in Nursing Practice Paper
Module 7: Global Health and Violence
Focus on manage global disease and healthcare. Where discuss the recent Ebola scare within the United States and the influence of these organizations. Lastly, violence is something nurses encounter within the workplace. On this module, able to explored current global health issues in emerging new disease and health concern and nurses role in its management by researching articles in specific topics ‘Workplace Violence: Bullying and Active Shooter.’ Even though, most of shooting are not preventable, I learned common characteristic of shooter and important of drill and preparedness and how to respond crisis situation as a first responder that can help to lessen death of and the crisis situation. Also, I learned how to handle and confront in effective way if bullying occurs in workplace which is not supposed to happen in work place.
Module 8: Advanced Nursing Roles, Continuing Education, and the Future of Nursing, Evaluation: advanced nursing roles and the importance of continuing education for nurses and future utilizing IOM’s report. By exploring the small research on articles including Institute of Medicine report recommendation, on this module, I got opportunity to learn potential future role of nurses which are assuming different than present and past.
Conclusion
‘Issues and trends in Nursing online course is developed for student who want to continue their education and advance degree like RN to BSN. Current issues and trends considered in terms of their impact on roles and practice. Overall objectives of this course ‘Issues and Trends in Nursing is addressing to investigates nursing practice that is influenced by the impact of social issues and concerns which are related to economic, demographic, technological ethical, legal, and social. The potential change of nursing practice in response to societal changes will be discovered as well as the new opportunities these challenges have for career development. (ASPEN, 2017). Prior to enroll this course, I am not much aware about trends and issues in nursing. This course obligated to me study more and spend more time research many article regarding current issues and concern So, gave me opportunity investigate, research and learned in-depth about current issues and problem in nursing profession. Even though, the all assignments are equally important I choose module four assignment: to choose evidence based practice research article and write political letter to house representative provided me new experience to write political letter to house representative in current health issues that also affect in care and practice.
Staffing shortages in health care have been a mystifying subject to experts because of measurements in survey, new health care businesses arriving every day, people reevaluating job choices, and increases and decreases in health care applications. The subject of staffing shortages has a great deal of negativity, health care organizations need to have more team involvement. Without greater involvement by health care institutions, staffing shortages will provide problems such as lower nurse to patient ratios and high mortality rates. The research paper will reflect current trends leading to shortages in staffing, the influence of the shortages, economic effects, governments role, businesses role, society’s role, and the future dilemma of staffing shortages.Current Trends in Nursing Practice Paper
Influence of the Trend
With an increase of chronic diseases making a comeback, there has been a shift in health care organizations continuum of care. The chief problem when it comes to staffing is increasing demands, longer hours, and nursing mistakes. Current trends that are influencing staffing shortages are ” aging patient populations, shorter length of stay, increased patient load, …, increase of overtime, stressful work environment, unstable workforce, few incentives, declining morale, and quality concerns” (Leach, 2007, p.2). Some nursing shortages factors that can be attributed are according to Leach, ” hiring bonuses, higher wage rates, lack of free continued education, salary compression, effective recruitment, view staffers as assets, make positive changes in work environment, expand career opportunities, and increase staffers contribution to health care “( Leach, 2007, p. 3). Staffing shortages and how to keep staff are important, health care organizations should follow through with simple ideologies to keep facilities well staffed.
Economic Affects
Factors in the economic aspects of staffing shortages would include: supply and demand, area of geographic, budget constraints, education, microeconomics, macroeconomics, and stability in the market, planning, efficiency, cost benefit analysis, and direct costs. A statement which speaks on the dangers an organization may face when trying to hire and keep nurses is in an article by the Department of Health and Human Services 2009, ” the adequacy of nurse supply varies geographically throughout the Nation, … a moderate shortage of registered nurses (RN) exists and the findings of our analysis suggest that the current RN shortage will continue to grow in severity during the next 20 years if current trends prevail and that some States face a more severe shortage than do others ” ( p. 1). In order for nurses to thrive in their professions health care organizations need to discover ways of reducing stress and burnout. The nation may have highly educated nurses but if she or he is not happy then the quality of care will suffer. According to another area of an article by the Department of Health and Human Services, 2009,Current Trends in Nursing Practice Paper “The growth and aging population, along with the continued demand for highest quality of care in the nation is creating a surge in demand for RNs and because many RNs are now reaching retirement age, the nursing profession facing difficulties attracting and retaining new employees, the RN supply remains flat” (p.1). Health care organizations should look to trend analysis to better serve the future of nursing. Only statistics will show the need of staffing. Listed below is a copy of a baseline projection from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, (2009) website showing substantial decline in the RN population between 2000 and 2020 due to a number of new RN graduates in each state is lessening
Government Role
The Nurse Reinvestment Act was passed in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives in December, 2001. The Nurse Reinvestment Act amends the Public Health Service Act allowing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to promote the nursing profession (Nurse Reinvestment Act At A Glance, 2005). This amendment allows nursing applicants who cannot afford to pay back student loans an opportunity to receive grants as long as he or she works in areas where the need is the highest. This amendment also allows nursing schools and health care organizations to do outreach programs to persons interested in entering the nursing field. The Nurse Reinvestment Act also encourages a career choice of long-term nursing services for the elderly and demonstrates how to retain nursing staff. Individual States also have put forth legislative measures and they are as follows: ” No Mandatory Overtime, Whistleblower Protection, Collection and Reporting of Nursing Sensitive Quality Data, Requiring Valid and Reliable Staffing Systems of nursing staff required to deliver safe and quality of care, Collection of Nursing Supply and Demand Data” ( Pindus, Tilly, Weinstein, 2002, 6, p.2).
Business Role
Nurses are the backbone and information gatherers in any health care organization and hold the key to patient health and recovery. Health care organizations contain the tools needed to hire, retain, and ensure stability within the workforce environment. The problem remains in budgeting errors, wrong strategies for investments, and a complete negligence of insight for nursing professionals and education. To encourage a smoother transition to hiring and keeping nurse’s health care organizations must focus on service delivery. Organizational staffing shortages as quoted from the Oracle Data Sheet, 2008, (1) “improve productivity, satisfaction, and retention, (2) integrate employee development and education through enterprise, (3) systematically grow and reward talent, (4) control workforce costs and improve service to employees and managers, (5) deliver workforce intelligence for improved decision making, (6) practice integration and improve service levels” (Oracle Data Sheet, 2008, 1-13, pgs. 2-3). With all of these ideas in mind Human Resources should have no problem hiring and keeping nurses. The above information should be used as an asset when considering the shortage of nurses.
Society Role
Society’s role begins with nursing schools, availability of education, and deciding nursing capabilities. Some may differ on the reasoning but not including a quarter of all applicants for whatever the reason, the nation is suffering and losing numbers. Other reasons society plays a role in staffing shortages would be the way an individual may vote, lobby, and have his or her voice heard. The topic of health care issues is usually only heard when one of the nation’s leaders has a particular agenda. According to an article in Facts about Nursing Shortages, (2006), society’s role on the issue is as follows: “growing demand, new graduate problems, lower baccalaureate enrollment, higher hospital census and great acuity, salary wars, and baby boom bubble” (p.2). Change is inevitable due to changing occurrences in health care staffing, and all of the above issues can be addressed.Current Trends in Nursing Practice Paper