Assignment Question
Review the national academy medicine 2021 report the future of nursing 2020-2030 charting a path to achieve health equity located in the topic resources
Assignment Answer
The “Future of Nursing 2020–2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity” report, commissioned by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on behalf of the National Academy of Medicine, provides a comprehensive overview of the critical role of nurses in advancing health equity in the United States (National Academy of Medicine, 2021). This visionary report takes into account the evolving healthcare landscape and the transformative decade ahead, focusing on key areas that need attention to empower nurses and enable them to address the challenges of the future.
The Essential Role of Nurses
At the heart of the report lies the recognition that nurses are not just healthcare professionals; they are the linchpins connecting health, education, and communities. Nurses, totaling nearly 4 million in the United States, work across a multitude of settings and professional levels, making them the largest group within the healthcare profession (National Academy of Medicine, 2021). They serve as the primary point of contact for individuals from diverse backgrounds seeking care. Their significance cannot be overstated.
Advancing Health Equity
Health equity, the cornerstone of a thriving nation, necessitates that everyone, irrespective of their background or socioeconomic status, has the opportunity to lead a healthy life. Nurses have always been, and will continue to be, central to realizing this goal. The path to health equity is illuminated by the critical contributions of nurses; however, to effectively advance this mission, nurses require robust education, supportive work environments, and autonomy (National Academy of Medicine, 2021).
Health equity, a term often discussed in public health circles, refers to the absence of disparities in health and the provision of fair opportunities for individuals to reach their full health potential. Achieving health equity involves addressing the structural and individual determinants of health that affect people’s lives and opportunities. It also involves mitigating the social determinants of health (SDOH), which are the conditions in which people live, work, and age, and that have a significant impact on their health outcomes (National Academy of Medicine, 2021).
The Role of Nursing in Advancing Health Equity
Nurses, as the backbone of healthcare, are uniquely positioned to advance health equity. They serve multiple roles in acute care, community, and public health settings, all of which allow them to influence both medical and social factors that impact health outcomes, health equity, and healthcare equity. These roles encompass care coordination, advocacy for patients and communities, and fostering trust and engagement in the healthcare system (National Academy of Medicine, 2021).
To illustrate, a community nurse working in a underserved area not only provides medical care but also addresses social determinants of health. They might work with local organizations to ensure families have access to healthy food, assist in securing safe housing, and provide education on preventive health measures. These actions go beyond traditional healthcare and align with the broader goals of achieving health equity.
Challenges in the Decade Ahead
The report anticipates significant challenges that the nursing workforce will face in the coming decade. These challenges are multidimensional and encompass both external and internal factors. The external factors include demographic shifts, such as the aging population, increasing behavioral and mental health conditions, and growing disparities in access to primary healthcare. Furthermore, physician shortages and other sociodemographic elements contribute to the mounting pressure on the nursing workforce (National Academy of Medicine, 2021).
Nurses must not only address these challenges but also work within a healthcare system that is often disjointed. They provide the essential function of care coordination, which is instrumental in ensuring the continuity of care, advocating for patients, and fostering trust and engagement with the healthcare system.
Lifting Barriers to Nursing Practice
One of the barriers to nursing practice, especially for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), has been state-level regulations that restrict their scope of practice. While the past two decades have witnessed progress in dismantling these barriers, 27 states still do not grant full practice authority for nurse practitioners. This means that despite their education and training, APRNs in these states face restrictions on their ability to provide the full range of healthcare services they are qualified to deliver (National Academy of Medicine, 2021).
Eliminating these restrictions is essential for unleashing the full potential of nurses to address complex health and social needs. These restrictions have practical implications. In states with full practice authority, nurse practitioners can independently diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication, increasing access to care, especially in underserved areas.
Moreover, it’s not just APRNs who face such restrictions. Registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) also encounter institutional barriers that limit them from working to the extent of their education and training. The removal of these barriers can significantly improve the healthcare system’s ability to provide high-quality care.
Designing Better Payment Models
The report underlines the need for payment models that reflect the changing landscape of healthcare. The existing payment systems do not adequately address social needs and social determinants of health (SDOH). These determinants encompass various environmental factors that affect health, such as housing, education, income, and access to healthy food. To make the necessary progress towards health equity, payment systems must support team-based care, effective communication, and evidence-based interventions that reduce health disparities (National Academy of Medicine, 2021).
New payment models, including accountable care organizations, accountable health communities, and value-based payments, offer the flexibility required to address SDOH and advance health equity. By incentivizing healthcare organizations to focus on these issues, these models can significantly enhance the contribution of nurses to improving care and health outcomes.
Strengthening Nursing Education
The future of nursing education should be oriented toward preparing students to promote health equity, reduce health disparities, and enhance the health and well-being of the population. This implies rethinking and redesigning nursing education to incorporate elements that align with these goals. Community-based education, including experiences in schools, workplaces, home health care, and public health clinics, provides nursing students with an understanding of the diverse care environments they will encounter in their careers (National Academy of Medicine, 2021).
Moreover, telework settings are becoming increasingly relevant in the healthcare landscape, and nursing students need to develop skills for effective collaboration in these virtual environments. As the population grows more diverse, nursing schools should proactively recruit and support students and faculty who reflect the populations they serve. This requires holistic efforts to mentor and sponsor students and faculty from a wide range of backgrounds, ensuring that nursing is truly representative of society’s diversity (National Academy of Medicine, 2021).
Valuing Community and Public Health Nursing
Community and public health nurses occupy pivotal roles in the healthcare system and play an integral part in advancing health equity. One example of this is school nurses who serve as the frontline healthcare providers in educational settings. These nurses are not just responsible for treating minor injuries and illnesses; they bridge the gap between the education and healthcare systems (National Academy of Medicine, 2021).
School nurses often serve as the link between students’ health and the broader community health issues. They play a critical role in identifying health disparities and facilitating access to care for students and their families. For this reason, the report emphasizes the need for more school nurses to have the practice authority and payment structures that enable them to address complex health and social needs effectively.
Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of population-based skills in nursing. As healthcare has shifted towards addressing public health emergencies, community and public health nurses have become instrumental in handling issues such as infection control and prevention, person-centered care, and team-based care. These skills align with the strengths of community and public health nurses and underscore their significance in the evolving healthcare landscape (National Academy of Medicine, 2021).
Fostering Nurses’ Roles as Leaders and Advocates
The report emphasizes the need for a new generation of nurse leaders who can effectively address issues of diversity and equity. These leaders should be able to leverage the increasing evidence linking social determinants of health to health status. Such a generation of leaders requires nurses in all roles and settings to engage in a collaborative system of leadership. This collaborative approach acknowledges the history of racism within the nursing profession and healthcare system and seeks to mitigate the effects of discrimination and implicit bias on health (National Academy of Medicine, 2021).
Nurse leaders are not confined to those in administrative positions. Clinical nurses, educators, and researchers all have a role to play in shaping the healthcare landscape. The collaboration of nurses across various domains and specialties can lead to a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system. Leadership in nursing is not solely about managing organizations; it is about driving change and advocating for the most vulnerable populations in society.
Preparing Nurses to Respond to Disasters
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities within the U.S. healthcare system. The fragmentation and disparities in the healthcare system have led to significant excess mortality and morbidity, with communities of color disproportionately affected. These communities face a combination of disadvantages, including racism, poverty, workplace hazards, limited access to healthcare, and pre-existing health conditions (National Academy of Medicine, 2021).
Articulating the roles and responsibilities of nurses in disaster response and public health emergency management is crucial for the nation’s preparedness and resilience. Nurses are at the forefront of disaster response, and their capabilities extend beyond just providing medical care. They are also instrumental in public health and community outreach efforts, contributing to the overall preparedness and effectiveness of disaster response (National Academy of Medicine, 2021).
Supporting the Health and Well-Being of Nurses
The well-being of nurses is inextricably linked to the quality and safety of care they provide. This symbiotic relationship underscores the importance of addressing the systems, structures, and policies that create workplace hazards and stressors. The pandemic has amplified these challenges, shedding light on the day-to-day demands and sacrifices made by nurses.
Nurses often grapple with unrealistic workloads, insufficient resources and protective equipment, the constant risk of infection, and the emotional and moral burdens of caring for patients with new and unpredictable diseases. The mental and emotional toll is profound, and it can result in burnout, fatigue, and poor physical and mental health among the nursing workforce (National Academy of Medicine, 2021).
To effectively address the social determinants of health (SDOH) that affect the population, nurses must first feel healthy, well, and supported. Policymakers, nursing employers, nursing schools, nurse leaders, and nursing associations all have a role in achieving this goal. The health and well-being of nurses directly influence the quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness of care, as well as the performance of healthcare organizations and systems (National Academy of Medicine, 2021).
Conclusion
In conclusion, nurses are the heartbeat of healthcare, and their roles are integral to the health and well-being of individuals and communities. The report “The Future of Nursing 2020–2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity” outlines the critical role of nurses and offers a comprehensive roadmap for strengthening the nursing profession to meet the challenges of the future. The report highlights the need to empower nurses through education, leadership, the removal of practice barriers, better payment models, and support for their well-being.
The healthcare landscape is constantly evolving, and the demands on nurses are ever-increasing. The COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated both the existing challenges and the new ones that nurses face. However, it has also provided an opportunity to rethink and reshape the nursing profession. Policymakers and healthcare leaders must seize this moment to support, strengthen, and transform the largest segment of the healthcare workforce. By doing so, nurses can continue to be the bridge builders and collaborators who connect with people, communities, and organizations to promote health and well-being. Through their tireless dedication, nurses can help chart the course to good health and well-being for all in the United States. This report, therefore, serves as a guiding light for the future of nursing and the pursuit of health equity.
References
National Academy of Medicine. (2021). The Future of Nursing 2020–2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. [PDF]. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the “Future of Nursing 2020–2030” report, and who commissioned it?
The “Future of Nursing 2020–2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity” report was commissioned by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on behalf of the National Academy of Medicine. It provides a roadmap for the nursing profession to address health equity challenges in the coming decade.
2. What is the role of nurses in advancing health equity, as outlined in the report?
Nurses play a critical role in advancing health equity by addressing structural and individual determinants of health, influencing medical and social factors that drive health outcomes, and serving as advocates for patients and communities.
3. How does the report address the challenges facing the nursing workforce in the coming decade?
The report identifies challenges such as an aging population, behavioral and mental health conditions, physician shortages, and disparities in access to primary healthcare. It emphasizes the need for care coordination and advocacy to ensure seamless care.
4. What are the barriers to nursing practice discussed in the report, and why is it important to lift them?
The report highlights barriers, such as state-level regulations limiting the scope of practice for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Lifting these restrictions is crucial to enabling nurses to provide a wider range of high-quality healthcare services, especially for individuals with complex health and social needs.
5. How can nurses contribute to addressing social determinants of health and advancing health equity through new payment models?
The report suggests that payment models, like accountable care organizations and value-based payments, can enable nurses to address social determinants of health (SDOH) by supporting team-based care, communication, and proven interventions that reduce health disparities. These models allow nurses to make essential contributions to improving care and outcomes for all patients.
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