The Impact On Nursing Of The 2010 IOM Report

Running Head: THE IMPACT ON NURSING OF THE 2010 IOM REPORT 1
The Impact On Nursing Of The 2010 IOM Report
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THE IMPACT ON NURSING OF THE 2010 IOM REPORT 2
Introduction
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) is an independent firm that is not under the influence of
the government that provides unprejudiced and unbiased advice and professional information
that is used to make informed healthcare statutory decisions. The Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation collaborated with the IOM so as to assess and make changes to the nursing
profession so that there would be proper nursing education, effective nursing practice and ensure
that there is a defined nurse’s role as a leader in the healthcare sector. Together, these two
organizations were able to compile a report in the year 2010 addressing these issues (Berwick,
2002). The overall effect of this report is that it has led to the formulation of policies that have
transformed the health care system.
The Impact Of The IOM On Nursing Education
Nursing education is the core of the nursing profession and forms the foundation for
effective nursing practice as well as leadership in the nursing occupation (Kozier, 2008). The
IOM has had a positive impact on the nursing education as it has enabled those nurses wishing to
achieve higher levels of education to get funds. The report recommends incentive for these
individuals to better nursing education through scholarships, tuition compensation, expansion of
loans as well as grants. The implementation of this recommendation has made nursing education
affordable and achievable. The report also states that the number of nursing students keeps
growing hence the educational institutions need to hire them and retain faculty via issuing of
competitive salaries and benefits. This has encouraged more persons to undertake nursing
education as they are assured of jobs and satisfactory salaries (Jeffries & Jeffries, 2012). The
report has also suggested that the doctoral level nurses should be doubled by the year 2020
(Institute of Medicine, 2010). The committee further encourages lifelong learning in nursing

THE IMPACT ON NURSING OF THE 2010 IOM REPORT 3
education so that their practice can be to their fullest potential and up to date since there are
emerging issues as well as many new inventions. This emphasis has helped in improving the
education system whereby the outcome is the production of highly educated, all-rounded
workforce with current and valid information and skills that meet the present needs of the society
hence reducing errors and harm.
The Impact Of The IOM On Nursing Practice
The IOM has had a desirable impact on the nursing practice and especially in the primary
care setting. The aims of the IOM report is aimed at improving the nursing practice through the
transformation of the nursing education and making changes in the leadership system in the
nursing profession. Through the various transformations stated above, there has been an
improvement in community health and coordination of care (Polit & Beck, 2010). Through the
educations legislations passed based on the recommendations of the report, more nurses with
greater nursing skills have been produced which has improved service delivery, especially in the
primary care sectors. The recommendations in the report will ensure that there are trends away
from the specialty to better primary care and evasion of acute issues by offering the best
healthcare to the community. Therefore there will be the provision of quality and affordable
primary care to the entire population (Gurzick & Kesten, 2010). To meet the goals of the IOM I
would change my practice through furthering my education and acquiring new and current skills
so that I can offer reliable healthcare to the community.
The Impact Of The IOM On The Nurse’s Role As A Leader
Nursing is a dynamic profession that has many challenges and therefore, this profession
requires leaders who are role models and inspiring (Landrigan et al. 2010). Therefore, nurses are