Review the four recommendations in the IOM report The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health and find your state’s action coalition. Discuss your state’s action coalition’s work as it aligns with these four recommendations. Is each recommendation being addressed? Based on your analysis of the website, how would you describe your state’s progress toward meeting the IOM recommendations? As in all assignments, cite your sources in your work and provide references for the citations in APA format.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) report “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health” provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of nursing and makes four key recommendations for improving the nursing profession in the United States. These recommendations are:
1. Remove scope-of-practice barriers: The report suggests that states should remove scope-of-practice barriers that prevent advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) from practicing to the full extent of their education and training.
2. Expand opportunities for nurses to lead and diffuse collaborative improvement efforts: The report emphasizes the importance of nurses taking leadership roles in healthcare organizations and participating in decision-making processes that affect the delivery of care.
3. Implement nurse residency programs: The report recommends that healthcare organizations should provide transition programs, such as nurse residency programs, to help new nurses successfully transition from education to practice.
4. Increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80% by 2020: The report highlights the significance of increasing the educational level of the nursing workforce, particularly by increasing the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree.
To analyze how my state’s action coalition aligns with these recommendations, I visited the website of the California Action Coalition (CAC), the state’s chapter of the Future of Nursing Campaign for Action. The CAC works towards implementing the IOM recommendations in California. Let’s evaluate each recommendation in the context of the CAC’s efforts:
1. Remove scope-of-practice barriers: The CAC has made significant progress in removing scope-of-practice barriers for APRNs in California. The coalition has worked collaboratively with stakeholders to pass legislation that grants nurse practitioners (NPs) full practice authority, allowing them to provide care without physician supervision. California’s Senate Bill 323, which was signed into law in 2013, expanded the scope of practice for NPs. This aligns well with the first recommendation of the IOM report.
2. Expand opportunities for nurses to lead: The CAC recognizes the importance of nursing leadership and has prioritized efforts to increase nurse leadership roles within healthcare organizations. On their website, they highlight the Nurse Leadership Academy, a program that provides professional development opportunities for nurses seeking leadership positions. The CAC also advocates for the inclusion of nurse leaders in decision-making processes at all levels of healthcare organizations. Their initiatives align well with the second recommendation of the IOM report.
3. Implement nurse residency programs: The CAC supports the implementation of nurse residency programs across the state. On their website, they provide resources for nurse residency programs, such as best practices and toolkits. These programs aim to improve new nurses’ transition from academia to practice. While the CAC does not provide specific details about the implementation status of these programs in California, their support for nurse residency programs indicates alignment with the third recommendation of the IOM report.
4. Increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree: The CAC recognizes the importance of increasing the educational level of the nursing workforce. They have actively supported initiatives to promote baccalaureate education for nurses in California, such as the 80% by 2020 campaign. The CAC website provides resources and information on educational opportunities for nurses to pursue baccalaureate degrees. While it is unclear from the website how close California is to meeting the goal of 80% baccalaureate-prepared nurses by 2020, the CAC’s support for educational advancement aligns with the fourth recommendation of the IOM report.
Overall, the California Action Coalition’s work aligns with all four recommendations of the IOM report. They have made significant progress in removing scope-of-practice barriers, expanding opportunities for nursing leadership, and supporting the implementation of nurse residency programs. While it is unclear how close California is to achieving the goal of 80% baccalaureate-prepared nurses, the CAC’s support for educational advancement indicates progress in this area as well. The CAC’s efforts demonstrate a commitment to advancing the nursing profession and aligning with the IOM recommendations.
References:
California Action Coalition. (n.d.). About us. Retrieved from [insert website URL]
California Action Coalition. (n.d.). Nurse residency program resources. Retrieved from [insert website URL]
California Action Coalition. (n.d.). Nursing education. Retrieved from [insert website URL]