Nur 391 Vision of the Future of Nursing

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Vision for the Future of Nursing Health care reform and technology are contributing factors affecting the future of nursing. The need for increased and continued education is becoming evident; nurses can no longer use the former mind- set that the correct way to perform a task is that it is tradition. Nurses need to be more flexible and be willing to incorporate new treatment options into their care. Nurses will continue to be guided by the use of nursing theories to promote quality care. Nurses need to become proactive in their education and in developing their leadership skills to remain competitive in their changing roles.
Evidence-Based Practice The use of evidence- based practice dates back to Florence Nightingale, when she noted the cleanliness of the environment had a direct impact on health. Unfortunately, the trend of evidence- based practice (EBP) did not continue, it was not until the 1970s that EBP was reintroduced (Blais & Hayes, p. 184, 2011). The use of EBP is beneficial not only to the nurse, but also to the health care facility and to the patient. Nurses will be held more accountable for their actions; they will need to explain why they deviated from the proven method. Using EBP techniques will reduce the amount of law suits; following EBP supports the positive outcome. A goal of EBP is to provide quality care, which is cost effective. EBP is changing the focus of health care to health promotion and prevention. Studies have shown it is more cost- effective to prevent illness than on the cost of treatment (Swiadek, p. 19, 2009). Nurses will be required to remain current on new technology and treatment options. Research and the use of evidence-based practice are also helping to confirm that nursing is more of a profession than it is a career. “Nursing research enhances the status of nursing as a profession by expanding nursing’s scientific

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