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The US is on the verge of transforming its healthcare system to meet the contemporary realities. The country provides seamlessly affordable and quality care which is accessible to the public and more patient-centered. The nursing practice recommended is one that understands the patient challenge and seeks to offer better interventions that meet the patient outcome. Furthermore, the article delves into contemporary challenges which nurses experience in the workplace such as burnout, lateral violence as well as the need for education to understand the changes in the profession. The paper tackles the issues of the roles and responsibilities of professional nurses in healthcare delivery by examining the huge influence the nurse has on the patient’s outcome.

Further, the paper acknowledges the need for nurses to continue with their education in line with ION recommendations due to the shift in demographics.

The Future of Nursing

Healthcare delivery to the population is experiencing radical changes across the world due to developments in human health. Strange diseases are discovered every day which affect human lives, calling for extensive research to improve the quality of life (Grossman & Valiga, 2016). The US, for example, is transforming its health sector with the intention to offer high-quality, affordable healthcare to its citizens, a concept that professionals have established to require a series of remodeling from patients, government, and healthcare providers.

Precisely, nurses need to be engaged actively at a professional level to develop measures that will establish future developments within the sector to match the demand and supply of nurses toward the realization of change through effective leadership (Masters, 2018). The paper explores the future of nursing in relation to health changes and the role of nurses in meeting patient needs.

Nursing Influence on Patient Outcomes

Nurses are at the center of caregiving; however, there is a world shortage of nursing that has impacted the level of services in most health facilities. Hospitals with supportive nursing environments have registered improved service deliveries and remarkable patient responses to health. In the US, studies have attributed reduced death rates in hospitals to experience and reliable medical interventions that have contributed to major hospital deaths (Bleich, 2011). Previously, the hospital environment was identified with various invasive actions which increased the chances of infections. These issues, such as administering medications, require close vigilance by experienced nurses. Moreover, inadequate isolation practices can lead to patients with different conditions being brought together, increasing infection rates. However, with increased knowledge of caregiving and limited medical errors, nurses have significantly reduced preventable deaths.

Roles and Responsibilities of Registered Nurses

The contemporary transformative changes in healthcare partly affect the roles and responsibilities of registered nurses. These changes relate to their position in the transformation, the respect they have earned, and their education level. Today, professional nurses are charged with numerous responsibilities including holistic caregiving that addresses the cultural, mental, and spiritual needs of patients. The increasing diversity in the patient population requires nurses to be conscientious of cultural sensitivities (Bleich, 2011).

Moreover, nurses serve as communicators, effectively managing patient care and enhancing cohesion and coordination in the care system to achieve positive patient outcomes. They also act as instructors, guiding patients in using Medicare apps and monitoring vital health information (Susskind & Susskind, 2015). Lastly, nurses often have specialized roles, addressing complications related to various health conditions using research to develop effective care plans.

Adapting to Health Changes and Meeting Patients’ Needs

Contemporary nurses are increasingly focused on improving patient experience, reducing costs, and minimizing professional errors. They are branching into new fields such as health coaching and offering life tips (Bleich, 2011). With changes in genetics, genomics, informatics, and telehealth, many nursing schools have adopted recommendations from the 2010 report on the future of nursing to lead change through advanced health practice. As such, nurses are pursuing further education and research to stay current with evolving changes to meet patient needs (Jeffreys, 2015).

Nurses Burnout

The increasing patient influx in health facilities has caused significant stress among American nurses, leading to burnout, a condition characterized by anxiety, sickness, and fatigue. Burnout negatively impacts job performance, leading to inadequate patient care and increased mistakes (Sarmiento, Laschinger, & Iwasiw, 2014). If unaddressed, these issues may result in diminished competencies and high attrition rates in the nursing profession. Therefore, the government must take action to address nurses' challenges to prevent future shortages.

Lateral Violence

Lateral violence in nursing refers to directing dissatisfaction toward colleagues, especially those perceived as less powerful. The growing power imbalance between physicians and nurses has led to feelings of undervaluation within the hierarchical hospital system. This sense of powerlessness and fear can affect workplace cohesion, which is crucial for optimal performance (Chu & Evans, 2016). Utilizing research-based evidence on nurse-to-nurse violence is essential to help create a more favorable work environment and focus on organizational transformation to enhance patient outcomes.

Addressing lateral violence requires remedial actions such as training to manage feelings of rage and anger toward colleagues and ensuring that grievances are expressed constructively rather than through jealousy or gossip (Chu & Evans, 2016). Healthy workplace dynamics are essential for effective service delivery and patient care.

Further Education

The future of the nursing profession hinges on advanced education for professional nurses. The ongoing shifts in health challenges indicate that the population aged 65 and older is expected to reach 20% by 2020, leaving vacancies that must be filled as retirements occur (Young, Shillam, & Reinhard, 2014). The demographic shift also suggests a need for new Medicare approaches, as traditional training may be inadequate for contemporary healthcare challenges. Thus, education must evolve to equip nurses with the skills needed for modern patient care (Young, Shillam, & Reinhard, 2014). The Institute of Medicine has advocated for advanced education that prepares nurses to face these evolving challenges.

References

  • Bleich, M. R. (2011). IOM report, the future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health: Milestones and challenges in expanding nursing science. Research in Nursing & Health, 34(3), doi:10.1002/nur.20433

  • Chu, R. Z., & Evans, M. M. (2016). Lateral violence in nursing. MedSurg Nursing, 25(6), S4-S4.

  • Grossman, S., & Valiga, T. M. (2016). The new leadership challenge: Creating the future of nursing. FA Davis.

  • Jeffreys, M. R. (2015). Teaching cultural competence in nursing and health care: Inquiry, action, and innovation. Springer Publishing Company.

  • Masters, K. (2018). Role Development Professional Nursing Practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

  • Sarmiento, T. P., Laschinger, H. K. S., & Iwasiw, C. (2014). Nurse educators’ workplace empowerment, burnout, and job satisfaction: testing Kanter's theory. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 46(2).

  • Susskind, R. E., & Susskind, D. (2015). The future of the professions: How technology will transform the work of human experts. Oxford University Press, USA.

  • Young, H. M., Shillam, C. R., & Reinhard, S. C. (2014). IOM Future of Nursing Report: Implications for Gerontological Nursing Science. Research in Gerontological Nursing, 7(2), 54-55. doi:10.3928/