Posted: February 9th, 2023

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) conducted a comprehensive study on the future of nursing and released the report “The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity” in 2019. The report focuses on the need for nurses to take a leading role in healthcare transformation, and to address the persistent disparities in health outcomes and access to care. The report also provides recommendations on how to achieve the goal of health equity, including increasing the proportion of nurses with baccalaureate and graduate degrees, and expanding the scope of practice for nurses.

Currently, the nursing workforce is facing a shortage of nurses, particularly in primary care and rural areas. To meet the evolving needs of the profession, nursing education is adapting by increasing the number of baccalaureate-prepared nurses and promoting continuing education for practicing nurses. The role of the nurse in leading change is to advocate for policies and practices that promote health equity, and to provide leadership in improving patient outcomes and the delivery of care.

State-based action coalitions (SACs) are working to implement the recommendations of the NASEM report by addressing the specific needs of their states. SACs are made up of nurses, healthcare leaders, and other stakeholders who collaborate to promote the nursing profession and improve healthcare outcomes. They help advance the goals specified in the NASEM report by implementing initiatives that focus on increasing the proportion of nurses with baccalaureate and graduate degrees, expanding the scope of practice for nurses, and addressing workforce shortages.

In [insert your state], the action coalition is working on initiatives such as increasing the number of baccalaureate-prepared nurses by promoting continuing education and implementing transition-to-practice programs for new graduates. Another initiative is to increase the number of nurses practicing in primary care and rural areas by providing financial incentives and educational opportunities. These initiatives help to advance the nursing profession by increasing the number of highly educated nurses who can provide high-quality care to underserved populations.

Barriers to advancement that currently exist in [insert your state] include a lack of funding for nursing education and workforce development, and a shortage of faculty to teach in nursing programs. Nursing advocates in [insert your state] overcome these barriers by advocating for increased funding for nursing education and workforce development, and by promoting collaboration between nursing programs and healthcare organizations to address the shortage of faculty.

References:

National Academy of Sciences. (2019). The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. National Academies Press.
Campaign for Action: State Action Coalition. Retrieved from https://www.campaignforaction.org/state-action-coalitions/
American Nurses Association. (2020). State of the nursing workforce: Charting the course for the future. Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/~4aee4b/globalassets/docs/practice-policy/workforce/state-of-the-nursing-workforce-2020.pdf