FOCUS ON:  The Future of Nursing

January 2011

After a two-year collaborative effort, in October of 2010, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) released the report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. This major initiative began in 2008, with the formation of a committee to assess and transform the nursing profession. As nurses, we can and should play a fundamental role in health care, especially during this time, as the health care system of the United States undergoes major changes.

Four key messages and eight recommendations resulted from the committee’s deliberations:

Key messages:
1. Nurses should practice to the full extent of their education and training.
2. Nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression.
3. Nurses should be full partners, with physicians and other health care professionals, in redesigning health care in the United States.
4. Effective workforce planning and policy making require better data collection and information infrastructure.

Recommendations:
1. Remove scope-of-practice barriers.
2. Expand opportunities for nurses to lead and diffuse collaborative improvement efforts.
3. Implement nurse residency programs.
4. Increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020.
5. Double the number of nurses with a doctorate by 2020.
6. Ensure that nurses engage in lifelong learning.
7. Prepare and enable nurses to lead change to advance health.
8. Build an infrastructure for the collection and analysis of interprofessional health care workforce data.

In addition to the full report, the IOM also has provided the Report Brief as well as Report Recommendations. Take some time to read these documents and learn more about this initiative and what it means to you and your practice. This is our future, the future of nursing.

Wolters Kluwer Health, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins supports keeping the nursing profession aware of articles and activities around this initiative. One of the best ways we can affect change within the profession and within the healthcare system is to disseminate information that will improve nursing practice and improve patient outcomes. Several of our journals have published and plan to publish editorials, articles, and other resources that support this endeavor. This Focus On: The Future of Nursing page is a compilation of those activities. We have the opportunity to significantly impact the way health care is delivered. Use the resources below to help make a difference.

Sincerely,

Anne Dabrow Woods, MSN, RN, CRNP, ANP-BC Chief Nurse Wolters Kluwer Health/ Lippincott Williams & Wilkins and Ovid Technologies

Lisa Bonsall, MSN, RN, CRNP Clinical Editor NursingCenter.com

From our journals

Editorial: SUPPORT FOR THE FUTURE OF NURSING
Gastroenterology Nursing, April 2013

The Campaign for Action: An Update
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, March 2013

Editorial: Realizing the IOM Future of Nursing Research Within Clinical Practice
Nursing Research, October 2012

Implementing Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing Recommendations: A Model for Transforming Nurse Practitioner Privileges
JONA: Journal of Nursing Administration, September 2012

The Future of Nursing: Community Health’s Network Approach
JONA: Journal of Nursing Administration, August 2012

Responding to Health Care Reform by Addressing the Institute of Medicine Report on the Future of Nursing
Nursing Administration Quarterly, September 2012

NACNS Position Paper: The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists Response to the Institute of Medicine's The Future of Nursing Report
Clinical Nurse Specialist: The Journal for Advanced Nursing Practice, August 2012

Nursing's future: What's the message?
Nursing Management, July 2012

Wellness Promotion and the Institute of Medicine's Future of Nursing Report: Are Nurses Ready?
Holistic Nursing Practice, May/June 2012

Integrating the Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing Report Into the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses Strategic Plan
Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, June 2012

Editorial: The Future Has Arrived
Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, June 2012

Editorial: The Institute of Medicine and the Future of Nursing
Journal of the Dermatology Nurses' Association, March/April 2012

Guest Editorial: Leadership Responses to The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health IOM Report
JONA: Journal of Nursing Administration, April 2012

Think About It: The Future of Nursing Report Staff Nurses Step Up!
Journal of Christian Nursing, April/June 2012

Views on the Future of Nursing and Home Healthcare: The Future of Nursing for Home Healthcare
Home Healthcare Nurse, March 2012

Views on the Future of Nursing and Home Healthcare: The Future of Nursing in Home Healthcare Is Now
Home Healthcare Nurse, March 2012

Editorial: Is Planning for Change an Oxymoron or a Prescription for Success? Your Role in Advocacy, the IOM Future of Nursing Report, and the Importance of Therapy in Home Care and Hospice
Home Healthcare Nurse, March 2012

Editor's Memo: Implementing The Future of Nursing into daily practice
The Nurse Practitioner, March 2012

From the Editor
Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, March/April 2012

Viewpoint: The Future of Nursing Report and Direct Care Nurses
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, February 2012

Response From the Southwest Florida Nursing Community Supporting the Future of Nursing
JONA: Journal of Nursing Administration, January 2012

HIMSS Position Statement on Transforming Nursing Practice through Technology & Informatics (Approved by the HIMSS Board of Directors June 17, 2011)
Critical Care Nursing Quarterly, October/December 2011

Influencing the Future of Nursing: An Interview With Sue Hassmiller
JONA: Journal of Nursing Administration, October 2011

Editorial: Nursing's Unprecedented Opportunity and the Courage to Lead
Journal of Neuroscienc Nursing, August 2011

Editor's Memo: Planning for the future
The Nurse Practitioner, July 2011

Talking Points For ANI's Organizational Affiliates Topic: Future of Nursing Initiative
CIN, Computers, Informatics, Nursing, July 2011

Future of Nursing special: Practicing to potential
Nursing Management, June 2011

Editorial: Changing Nursing to Change America's Health
Orthopaedic Nursing, May/June 2011

Future of nursing special: Leadership at all levels
Nursing Management, May 2011

The Role of Scholarship in Shaping the Future of Nursing
Advances in Nursing Science, April/June 2011

Transforming education
Nursing Management, April 2011

Editorial: Forging the future of nursing
Nursing2011, April 2011

Forging forward: Future of Nursing special
Nursing Management, March 2011

From the Editors: The Future of Nursing
Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal, January/March 2011

Through a Holistic Lens: Walking the Talk: Using Recent Institute of Medicine Recommendations to Expand Our Horizons: A Call to Courage
Holistic Nursing Practice, March/April 2011

From the Editor: The Future of Nursing and Holistic Care
Holistic Nursing Practice, March/April 2011

In the News: The Future of Nursing—Making Waves
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, February 2011

Editorial:This is The Decade For Nursing
Gastroenterology Nursing, January/February 2011

Editorial: Leading change, advancing health
Nursing2011 Critical Care, January 2011

Regulatory readiness: The IOM's vision for transforming nursing
Nursing Management, December 2010

AJN Reports: Report on the Future of Nursing
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, December 2010
Click here for more information on AJN.

Editorial: An 'Action-Oriented Blueprint' for the Future of Nursing
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, December 2010
Click here for more information on AJN.

Editor's Memo: Happy history-making holidays!
The Nurse Practitioner: The American Journal of Primary Health Care, December 2010

Editorial: Lofty goals...yes, we can
Nursing Management, November 2010

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