Practice Standards: IOM Amanda Fredricks Jeanette Voelker Stephanie McCarthy

Nursing Practice Standards Every nurse starts out learning this acronym to assist in the planning of care for their patients: A-Assessment D-Diagnosis P-Planning I-Implementation E-Evaluation

ADPIE By using this acronym, nurses can effectively develop a plan of care and deliver care needed to the individuals they are caring for.

What is the IOM? “The Institute of Medicine (IOM) is an independent, nonprofit organization that works outside of government to provide unbiased and authoritative advice to decision makers and the public,” (IOM).

Nurses should practice to the full extent of their education and training. The IOM recommends that nurses utilize all skills they have acquired to provide superior quality care. When entering a field in nursing, on the job training is always provided to allow nurses in depth understanding for the population they are caring for (Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2010, p. 1).

IOM Recommendations To allow nurses to practice to their full capability, the IOM has made recommendations to achieve this. Some of them related to the first key message listed in the previous slide are:  Remove scope of practice barriers- By doing this, nurses may use all of the knowledge/skills they have acquired through their education and profession to give exceptional care.  Expand opportunities for nurses to lead and diffuse collaborative improvement efforts- This allows nurses to share their knowledge with other disciplines providing care to their patients, so they can develop the most effective plan of care with the best outcome keeping the patient in mind.  Ensure that nurses engage in lifelong learning- With continued education, comes new skills and education. This is key since healthcare is forever evolving, (Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2010, pgs. 1-3).

Nurses should achieve a higher level of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression.  According to the IOM, “an improved education system is necessary to ensure that the current and future generations of nurses can deliver safe, quality, patient-centered care across all settings” (National academic press [NAP], 2011, p. 30).  In order to fulfill the recommendation by the IOM, employers in healthcare are requiring that nurses be BSN graduates. Current ADN nurses are encouraged to re-enter the education system to complete BSN requirements.  Doubling the number of nurses with doctorate degrees will also allow for future nurse educators to meet the demands of diversified influences.  Annual competencies and continuing education are expanding, which allow for nurses to further and to improve their education in areas of practice.

Nurses should be full partners, with physicians and other health professionals, in redesigning health care in the United States.  The IOM states that, “strong leadership is critical if the vision of a transformed health care system is to be realized” (Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2010, p. 3).  Nurses must work collaboratively along side other health care professionals to deliver high quality health care. Nurses must play a more active role on committees and boards in order to help improve patient care.  Employers are encouraged to offer leadership training and mentoring programs for nursing staff that wish to become active leaders in health care.

Effective workforce planning and policy making requires better data collection and an improved information infrastructure  According to the IOM, “Planning for fundamental, wide-ranging changes in the education and deployment of the nursing workforce will require comprehensive data on the numbers and types of health professionals – including nurses – currently available and required to meet future needs.”  The IOM also states, “Once an improved infrastructure for collecting and analyzing workforce data is in place, systematic assessment and projection of workforce requirements y role, skill, mix, region, and demographics will be needed to inform changes in nursing practice and education.”

Individual Slide Everything needs to have guidelines as to how it is supposed to be done. The same applies to nursing practice. Expectations are clear as to how nurses should perform their duties. The IOM recommendations of extended education to stay current in nursing, and working to your full potential has motivated me to take into consideration every decision I make in my nursing practice and analyze it for full benefit. -Amanda Fredricks

Individual Slide Growth is inevitable. The IOM standards of Practice influenced my growth to further my education in order to be a better patient advocate and health care leader. To follow the IOM recommendations, my employer (Spectrum Health) also has required that ADN nurses have their BSN degree by the year I feel in order for me to provide the quality care patients deserve in this growing health care environment, I know that my educational growth will enable me to provide best care practice. Healthcare is never the same thing twice, nurses must adjust to meet these changes, this includes education as well as the care we provide. -Jeanette Voelker RN

Individual Slide The IOM recommendations have influenced my practice as a nurse by urging me to continue my education. Completing my BSN gives me a better understanding and ability to better care for my patients in whatever setting they may be in. This has also helped me to develop a better relationship with physicians and other healthcare personnel. I feel more comfortable in making recommendations for patient care and being able to communicate patient needs with the physicians. -Stephanie McCarthy

Conclusion  In conclusion, the future of healthcare is changing. These recommendations will help the nursing profession to transition and grow along with these changes. As nurses we must be willing to follow these guidelines to further build nursing as a profession.

References  Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. (2014). About the IOM. Retrieved from  Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. (2010). The Future of Nursing. Retrieved from of-Nursing/Future%20of%20Nursing%202010%20Recommendations.pdf. of-Nursing/Future%20of%20Nursing%202010%20Recommendations.pdf  Institute of Medicine. (2010). Future of Nursing, Report Brief. Retrieved from Nursing/Future%20of%20Nursing%202010%20Report%20Brief.pdf  National Academic Press. (2011). The future of nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Retrieved from  Spectrum Health. (n.d.).  Munson Healthcare. (n.d.).