This paper examines the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Institute of Medicine collaborative report, "Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health" (2010), tracing its origins and key findings. It discusses the report's significance for nursing practice, education, and workforce development in the context of an aging population and rising chronic disease burdens. The paper evaluates the role of state-based action coalitions in advancing the Campaign for Action at local and state levels, summarizes two key initiatives undertaken by a state action coalition, and identifies persistent barriers to advancement — particularly a lack of public awareness — along with strategies for overcoming them through public education campaigns and legislative advocacy.
In an era of widespread nursing shortages, identifying opportunities to improve nursing practice, nursing education, and nursing workforce development has assumed new importance and relevance. This paper provides a discussion concerning the work of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Committee Initiative on the Future of Nursing and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) research that led to the IOM report, Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. A discussion of the importance of the IOM "Future of Nursing" report as it relates to nursing practice, nursing education, and nursing workforce development is followed by an evaluation of the role of state-based action coalitions and how they advance the goals of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action. In addition, a summary of two initiatives spearheaded by a state action coalition and an analysis of how those initiatives advance the nursing profession is followed by an examination of the barriers to advancement that currently exist and the ways in which those barriers can be overcome. Finally, a summary of the research and important findings concerning these issues is provided in the conclusion.
The report Future of Nursing was a collaborative effort between the IOM and the RWJF that was initiated in 2008 in response to a growing recognition that the nursing profession required a current assessment and fundamental transformation in light of changes in healthcare legislation and practice requirements (The future of nursing, 2010). The Future of Nursing report provided several key findings, including the need for continuing education for nurses and the importance of partnerships with allied healthcare professionals (McNeal, 2012).
The "Future of Nursing" report identified a number of trends affecting nursing practice that will require nursing professionals to become better educated and trained in the future. One of the most significant trends is the rapidly aging population; the elderly segment of the population (i.e., those 65 years and older) will account for nearly 20% of the population in the United States by 2030 (The future of nursing, 2010).
In addition, the IOM report highlighted changes in healthcare needs that have taken place in recent years. Chronic conditions such as arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease now represent the most pressing healthcare issues facing the American population, a situation that will be further exacerbated as the population continues to age (The future of nursing, 2010). As a result, the manner in which nurses are educated must change in order to respond to this evolving healthcare dynamic (The future of nursing, 2010).
Some of the competencies identified as important for nursing development are broad-based and include leadership, health policy, system improvement, research and evidence-based practice, and teamwork and collaboration, as well as competency in specific content areas such as community and public health and geriatrics (The future of nursing, 2010). Moreover, nurses are increasingly required to coordinate care among multidisciplinary teams and work with innovative technologies that can improve the quality of patient care (The future of nursing, 2010).
"State coalitions as local drivers of nursing reform"
"Town halls, lessons learned, and public awareness barriers"
McNeal, G. J. (2012, Winter). The IOM report on the future of nursing: One year later. ABNF Journal, 23(1), 3.
The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. (2010, October 5). Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. Retrieved from
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