Nursing Report on Future of Nursing, Career Paths, and Education Plans

This report explores the future of nursing, focusing on the author's personal and professional aspirations. The author aims to align with the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) recommendations, specifically by completing an RN to BSN program and pursuing a doctorate in nursing. The report also emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning and translating knowledge into practice. Furthermore, it outlines career options available with a BSN degree, such as unit manager, neonatal nurse, and pediatric nurse, and discusses how increased education levels can enhance job prospects and enable nurses to take on more advanced roles, including direct consultations with healthcare providers, participation in collaborative projects, working with community leaders, creating healthcare policies and leading a strong nursing workforce. The report references relevant research to support its claims.

1Running head: NURSING
Nursing
Name of student:
Name of university:
Author note:

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The Institute of Medicine (IOM) Future of Nursing recommendations aims at
motivating nurses to take a deeper role in America’s complex health care system, and
bringing reforms in the current nursing practice. The present paper would reflect on how I see
myself fitting into three of these recommendations in the near future. The paper would also
highlight the options in the job market based on my educational level, and how increasing my
education level would affect the competition in the present job market and the role in future
of nursing.
The IOM future of nursing recommendation 4 states “Increase the proportion of
nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80% by 2020.” I would contribute to this aim as I
would be completing my RN to BSN course in April, 2018. The IOM future of nursing
recommendation 5 states “Double the number of nurses with a doctorate by 2020”. I would
like to mention in this regard that I aim to do a doctorate in nursing in 2020. The IOM future
of nursing recommendation 6 states “Ensure that nurses engage in lifelong learning.” At
present, I ensure that I engage myself in seeking and appreciating novice ideas and concepts
emerging in the field of nursing for gaining knowledge of the nursing domain. Since I
understand that lifelong learning is the dynamic process of constantly enhancing own skills
and competencies, I am motivated to engage in lifelong learning in future. I plan to take part
in reflective learning through which I can seek new learning opportunities and pave the way
for professional development. Further, translation of knowledge into practice is essential, and
thus I would ensure to deliver better quality nursing care based on evidence gathered from
research.
As a registered nurse (RN), one can earn the Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN)
degree that enables a nurse to have an array of career options. RN to BSN programs is there
for equipping nurses with the skills required for delivering a better level of care in the
complex healthcare system of the present time. The course focuses on three key areas: skills

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building, professional development and cultural awareness. After completing this degree, I
would be prepared to practice in all kinds of healthcare settings, unlike the diploma or
associate degree nursing programs. The different options would include unit manager,
neonatal nurse, a pediatric nurse and clinical staff nurse (Buerhaus et al., 2016).
Increasing my education level would have a direct influence on the competition faced
in the present job market and the role in future of nursing. Armed with the RN to BSN
degree, I would be able to demonstrate a certain set of skills that other nurses without the
course would not have. These would include direct consultations with healthcare providers,
participation in collaborative projects, working with community leaders, creating healthcare
policies and leading a strong nursing workforce (Wojnar & Whelan 2017). It is noteworthy
that my role as a nurse would evolve for the betterment as I would be in a better position to
translate my nursing knowledge into practice.

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References
Buerhaus, P. I., Auerbach, D. I., & Staiger, D. O. (2016). Recent changes in the number of
nurses graduating from undergraduate and graduate programs. Nursing
economics, 34(1), 46.
Wojnar, D. M., & Whelan, E. M. (2017). Preparing nursing students for enhanced roles in
primary care: The current state of prelicensure and RN-to-BSN education. Nursing
outlook, 65(2), 222-232.