Reflective Essay on IOM Future of Nursing Recommendations

Running head: REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Reflective essay
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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REFLECTIVE ESSAY
The reflective journal is a very potent tool for identification of the personal strength
and weakness of the professional in terms of professional practice (Ning et al., 2017). The
reflective tool helps the professional build on their strengths and identify personal
weaknesses so that they can be adequately addressed. In this essay, the reflective essay will
explore my job market opportunities and how my expertise can fit into IOM Future of
Nursing recommendations.
IOM stands for Institute of Medicine which has initiated a very important and
effective campaigning for how nurses’ responsibilities, roles and education can be improved
or modified to address the needs of the a diverse and aging population along with responding
to the ever-changing and complex health care system of the present day scenario. There are
five critical recommendation areas where the report is aiming to foster positive change by
informing and improving the roles, responsibilities and scope of practice (Ulrich, 2015). The
three most notable recommendations include Increase the proportion of nurses with a
baccalaureate degree to 80% by 2020, double the number of nurses with a doctorate by 2020,
and ensure that nurses engage in lifelong learning. Each of the recommendation addresses the
myriad of roles and responsibilities of the nurses and their scope of practice effectively.
These three recommendations are linked with the financial stability of the nurses and
attaining professional growth in the field.
However, the first recommendation is discussing increasing the rate of baccalaureate
degree by 80% in 2020. The need for educated nursing workforce is increasing every day and
as the staffing shortage is a grave challenge for the present day health workforce. As a
medical surgical nurse myself, I have myself encountered the pressing need for higher
educated nurses in the post-surgical nursing background. As a nurse myself I would like to
develop skills and expertise in becoming nursing educators or nursing managers so that I can