Importance of Nursing Education and Overall Educational Goals Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example

Importance of Nursing Education and Overall Educational Goals Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example

In an era characterized by an aging population and diverse illnesses, nursing education continues to manage population health through training and raising qualified and knowledgeable healthcare personnel. According to the World Health Organization, the population of individuals aged over 60 is expected to double from 12% to 22%, outnumbering children below five years and affecting the health and social systems (WHO, 2018). Furthermore, evidence-based research indicates that old age is associated with reduced independence and is characterized by immobility, frailty, declined physical or cognitive functioning, which necessitates assisted living and constant medical attention (Fuster, 2017). Consequently, this paper elucidates my commitment to lifelong learning and the framework I plan to use to improve my knowledge and widen my competence.(Importance of Nursing Education and Overall Educational Goals Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

Job Options for Nursing Undergraduates

With the increasing demand for qualified nursing personnel, the nursing field provides a wide range of opportunities for nursing students and individuals with nursing degrees. Nursing students are attached for practicum at different levels and in different settings to assist qualified and experienced nurses and physicians with their routine practices. In addition, nurse students are assured of practical knowledge gain, increased competence, and future contribution to public health through formal employment following their graduation through the practicum.(Importance of Nursing Education and Overall Educational Goals Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

As a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) student, I have the opportunity to follow the traditional nursing education route by earning Masters of Science in Nursing followed by a Doctor of Philosophy and become a nurse researcher and practitioner or educator. Similarly, my short-term goals, just as those set for nursing education, are to finish my BNS, develop my practical understanding of diverse health needs, increase my leadership ability, and contribute to the advancement of nursing science through research to increase the capability of health personnel to provide safe and quality health care. Consequently, I would aim to pursue MNS and Ph.D. as my long-term goals.(Importance of Nursing Education and Overall Educational Goals Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

A Review of the IOM Future of Nursing Recommendations

Among the IOM’s key messages is the need for higher educational achievement and training for nurses. The report recommends that an improved education system is necessary for nurses to pursue higher levels of nursing education (IOM, 2011). Implementation of the IOM recommendation will ensure that the health sector addresses the needs of an expanding health care system, alleviate infrastructure shortages, nursing PCPs, and researchers, and respond to patients’ changing requirements. In this regard, the government and allied functions and institutions need to expand the education system’s capacity and update the nursing education curriculum. In line with the need for higher education, I want to pursue my MSN after two years of practice as a BSN graduate.(Importance of Nursing Education and Overall Educational Goals Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

Consequently, I have a long-term goal of pursuing my Ph.D. after two years of graduation with MSN. My intention to pursue MSN and Ph.D. is driven by the desire to remain abreast with current nursing knowledge and contribute to new nursing approaches and technology. Besides, with the advanced nursing qualifications, I will obtain specialized and progressive skills to apply in a specific field, particularly in geriatric nursing. Therefore, my long term-tern primary goal is to be part of advanced care nursing and contribute to managing conditions associated with old age.(Importance of Nursing Education and Overall Educational Goals Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

Level of Nursing Education, Competitiveness, and Current Job Market

Most healthcare providers prefer hiring nurses with baccalaureate degrees and above due to the correlation between nursing education and patient mortality rates in the current nursing scope. In this regard, pursuing a BSN and a Ph.D. will provide me with the theoretical, i.e., teaching and research, and practical skills that health care providers look for when hiring nursing specialists. Therefore, I will be an educationist, a researcher, and a practitioner within the nursing profession.(Importance of Nursing Education and Overall Educational Goals Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

The Relationship between Continuing Nursing Education; Competency, Attitudes, Knowledge, and the ANA Scope and Standards for Practice and Code of Ethics.

Studies have shown that nursing education plays a critical role in patient safety and quality of care. By increasing my level of education, I will enhance my nursing and associated leadership skills crucial to delivering quality and safe care to patients. Besides, I will improve my understanding of contemporary and prospective nursing practices to the benefit of patients. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), a higher level of nursing education is associated with higher nursing competency, leadership ability, effective communication, and professional integration (Rosseter, 2019). Equally, higher levels of nursing education contribute to a more assertive professional, critical thinking, problem-solving, and research evaluation skills.(Importance of Nursing Education and Overall Educational Goals Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

Moreover, higher levels of nursing education will enhance my mastery of nursing practice, thus, minimal medication errors, procedural violations, and higher proficiency in nursing diagnosis and evaluation of interventions (Rosseter, 2019). These competencies contribute to better patient health outcomes and lower mortality rates. In addition, nursing competencies contribute to efficiency in decision-making and nursing interventions in clinical settings. With the upsurge in diverse illnesses, increasing my level of nursing education will enable me to manage critical cases presented in health care settings because of the remarkable sophistication of the American healthcare system and the deployment of new technologies.(Importance of Nursing Education and Overall Educational Goals Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

Continuing nursing education provides opportunities for specialized and competent practice crucial for efficient nursing practice. The ANA Scope and Standards for Practice and Code of Ethics stipulate that healthcare systems should serve patients’ interests by employing healthcare experts with different specialties to achieve universal care (American Nurses Association, 2017). As a result, a professional’s scope of practice must reflect their actual expertise, allowing them to promote high professionalism and an ethical clinical setting. Equally, nursing education increases nurses’ safety, health, and wellness while advocating for their rights and the public.(Importance of Nursing Education and Overall Educational Goals Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

Should Continuing Nursing Education Be Mandatory?

I believe that continuing nursing education should be mandatory. First, continuing nursing education enables nurses to remain relevant with the advances in care and treatment. Secondly, advancing nursing education provides nurses with the opportunity to explore other nursing specialties and attain specialization. Considering the increasing diversity of illnesses and the aging population, there is a need for well-trained and specialized nurses to manage specific clinical situations. For example, geriatric nurses are well-positioned to manage medical conditions associated with old age. Lastly, the healthcare field is constantly evolving, and the application of technology in the management of certain diseases and healthcare functions are common. In this regard, continuing higher education increases nurses’ research and innovation ability crucial to effective adoption of technology for clinical practice.(Importance of Nursing Education and Overall Educational Goals Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

 References

American-Nurses-Association. (2017). American Nurses Association Recognition of a Nursing Specialty, Approval of a Specialty Nursing Scope of Practice Statement, Acknowledgment of Specialty Nursing Standards of Practice, and Affirmation of Focused Practice Competencies(Importance of Nursing Education and Overall Educational Goals Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example). Retrieved 13 July 2021, from https://www.nursingworld.org/~49d755/globalassets/practiceandpolicy/scope-of-practice/3sc-booklet-2021-june.pdf

Fuster, V. (2017). Changing demographics: a new approach to global health care due to the aging population.(Importance of Nursing Education and Overall Educational Goals Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example) 10.1016/j.jacc.2017.05.013

Institute of Medicine (IOM) (2011). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. National Academies Press (US)(Importance of Nursing Education and Overall Educational Goals Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example). https://doi.org/10.17226/12956.

Rosseter, R. J. (2019). Fact sheet: The impact of education on nursing practice. American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 1-12. (Importance of Nursing Education and Overall Educational Goals Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)Retrieved 13 July, from https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/News/Factsheets/Education-Impact-Fact-Sheet.pdf  

World Health Organization. (February 2018). Aging and health. Retrieved 13 July 2021,(Importance of Nursing Education and Overall Educational Goals Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example) from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health