Reflection on Importance of Nursing Education
The IOM published report, “Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health,” makes recommendations for lifelong learning and achieving higher levels of education.
In 1,000-1,250 words, examine the importance of nursing education and discuss your overall educational goals.
Include the following:
Discuss your options in the job market based on your educational level.
Review the IOM Future of Nursing Recommendations for achieving higher levels of education. Describe what professional certification and advanced degrees (MSN, DNP, etc.) you want to pursue and explain your reasons for wanting to attain the education. Discuss your timeline for accomplishing these goals.
Discuss how increasing your level of education would affect how your competitiveness in the current job market and your role in the future of nursing.
Discuss the relationship of continuing nursing education to competency, attitudes, knowledge, and the ANA Scope and Standards for Practice and Code of Ethics.
Discuss whether continuing nursing education should be mandatory. Provide support for your response.
You are required to cite to a minimum of three sources to complete this assignment.
Sample Answer
Reflection Nursing Education
Nursing is a professional field focused on achieving quality health and wellbeing for individuals and the general community. The profession started early in the 1800s without official training in helping the ailing in recuperating in their illnesses but later put into the education system for advanced training of the nurses for professionalism. The IOM on the future of nursing exploited the importance of continuous nurse education for high levels of empowerment and nursing outcomes. This paper is a personal reflection on the nursing education goals and the future of the nursing profession.
Options in the Job Market
Numerous options in the job market are available for registered nurses with an ADN level of education. Being an RN with an Associate Degree in Nursing, I have the opportunity to practice as a registered clinical nurse in a health center, whose main role is to perform patient assessments, diagnostics, treatments, and patient education. These are vital roles that I can play and apply the knowledge within my level of education. Another job opportunity as an RN is a telehealth nurse whose main role is to communicate with patients and make follow-up education and instructions in ensuring the health and wellbeing of the patients. Other job opportunities that I am qualified for include home-care nurse, triage nurse, and long-term care nurse, among other professions within the scope of practice of an RN. These are key roles attached to my level of education, which includes roles within clinical practice.
Future Education Goal
A higher level of education improves the skills and expertise in practice areas. I would wish to achieve a DNP level of education. I am focused on achieving the doctoral level of education to pursue my dreams of attaining a managerial role in the healthcare system, especially in a Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) position. The DNP level of education improves the skills and expertise of the nurses at different programs. According to Wang et al. (2021), DNP programs provide theoretical and practical knowledge on leadership and management of healthcare facilities, human resources, and processes. This is the knowledge that I would wish to gain in becoming a nurse leader within the healthcare system. Participating in healthcare leadership provides an opportunity to improve healthcare quality through collaborative decision-making. I would also want to achieve the DNP education goal to boost my knowledge and capacity in establishing health issues and advocating for health policies within the healthcare system. Nurses have a responsibility to lead for changes in the healthcare system through policy formulation and advocacy, a highly empowered role through a DNP program. I would want to actively improve the healthcare system through quality healthcare advocacies and policy-making processes. This can be achieved by achieving high education levels for high knowledge and skills in evidence-based healthcare solutions.
Timeline
Completion of the DNP education would take an average of eight years. Since I have an ADN degree, I should undertake an RN-to-MSN program that, according to Brown (2021), takes 2.5 years. After the bridging program, I will also undertake the MSN degree program that takes 2.5 years. The MSN program should thus begin in 2024 and complete the course in 2027. For the DNP program, I will start in mid-2027 and complete it by 2030. , the three education levels are thus predicted and programed to take eight years, considering the time gaps between one program and another.
Importance of increasing Education Level
My level of competence is low, equal to the level of education, and thus the increase in the level of education will equally impact the level of competence. Being an RN with an ADN qualification, I lack enough confidence and competence in leadership. I can currently not solve numerous managerial issues, including financial and human resource management. I have lesser knowledge in managing a health organization and its workforce, and thus increasing the level of education will increase the level of knowledge and skills needed for healthcare management. I am determined to be a nursing leader, and thus the advanced nursing education will boost my skills and competence in managing healthcare resources, problem-solving, and quality improvement programs in the healthcare system. According to Higgins & Newby (2020), an increased level of knowledge through DNP programs enhances the students’ skills and competency to rely on evidence-based approaches in solving problems and in general leadership.
Relationship of continuing education
Educational continuity provides continued knowledge acquisition in building and mentoring the nurses to become highly competent and the knowledge gained from the professional classes. High levels of education increase competency levels with increased levels of specialization and expertise. Also, the level of education influences personal attitudes since the more a person becomes learned, the more they develop a better understanding of the role of diversification both culturally and environmentally. Gaining knowledge through exposure to various educational programs increases the levels of responsibility and accountability in nursing performance, and thus the nurses with a higher level of education are posed to have improved response to nursing standards and ethics. The higher the level of nursing education, the higher the levels of knowledge, specialization, improvement in personal attitude, and establishment of expertise in improving the quality of care and general management.
Should Continuing Nursing Education be Mandatory?
Continuing nursing education is important but should be a personal choice for self-development. It is important to note that the healthcare providers are initially trained to be providing care as professionals with the basics of care. In building a positive attitude among healthcare providers, it is important to motivate the nurses to join higher education levels without being coerced to join in enhancing a positive nursing practice. Every nurse should set their personal goals, depending on what they intend to achieve, without being decided by the education system.
