Subject: - Advance Nursing Practice

UNIT I - NURSING AS A PROFESSION

ASSIGNMENT
ON

FUTURISTIC NURSING

SUBMITTED TO SUBMITTED BY

Mrs. SUNITA NAIR RAJU RAM PARIHAR

Lecturer M.Sc. Nursing (Previous)
Govt. College Of Nursing, Jaipur Batch – 2010-11
 FUTURISTIC NURSING

Nursing profession has a rich history characterized by compassion, dedication

and service. It exists today has come a long way, withstanding the ups and downs that

social, political, economic religious, cultural, technological changes have put forward.

As society's culture continues to experience change, the profession of nursing is

undergoing continuous evolution.

The future of nursing holds a myriad of changes and challenges. These

changes and challenges include both external forces as well as influences from within

the profession as the role of the nurse is further defined. The changes are inevitable

and should be embraced. It is the responsibility of nurses to shape the future rather

than merely react to the shifts in the tide. Nurses will be positioned to appropriately

respond if they adopt an attitude of expectancy, recognize challenges as opportunities,

and are adequately prepared to take an active role in shaping the future of profession.

NURSING’S FUTURE CHALLENGES

The change in health care delivery systems has also afforded nurses a wider

range of functionality. Although independence have been cultivated through expanded

roles.
 Trends towards downsizing and the current nursing shortage have increased

the use of non-licensed personnel in many healthcare arenas. This will continue to

force the nursing profession to identify, clarify, and communicate its scope of

practice.

ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY

The explosive growth of technology will continue to have an impact on health

care delivery. The advancements in telemedicine will link clinicians with patients

across great distances. The growth of this technology will change the way nurses

function, and lead to the development of new nursing roles. Electronic medical

records are expected to replace conventional modes of documentation. X-ray films

will be a thing of the past; x-ray images will be transmitted by computers and saved

on floppy disc for retrieval and reviewing. As consumers become more educated

about health promotion, there will be an elevated demand for alternative and

complementary health care choices.

The promotion of advanced directives, organ donation, and comfort

measures for the terminally ill will lead to elevation in hospice care providers. Care

modalities which include pain management, spirituality assessment and bereavement

counseling will be incorporated into health care organizations and nursing education

curriculums. Nursing research will greatly contribute in developing and implementing

these therapy options.

WORK ENVIRONMENTS

Working conditions for nurses are also changing. There is a gradual change

towards shorter and more convenient hours of duty, better accommodations and higher

salaries.

Nursing's dissatisfaction with the workplace environment is another issue that

must be faced when considering the profession's future. This dissatisfaction was

multifaceted and included issues such as workplace violence, inability to attend

continuing education programs due to heavy workloads, exhaustion, and inability to

provide safe patient care. Mee and Robinson (2003) state that "nurses need work

environments with strong professional practice models that value their work and

recognize their impact on patient outcomes.

NURSING SHORTAGE

Manpower shortages in health care professions impact the utilization of

nurses and advanced practice nurses. This is a particularly important area in times of

nursing shortage to be sure that less qualified health care workers are not used to

substitute for the sake of expedience and reduced costs. At the same time we need to

explore whether more collaborative programs of care can be developed effectively, so

that we are not holding on to outmoded ideas of the profession but can develop newer

modes, such as advanced practice nursing, to work in interdisciplinary collaboration.

Collaborative rather than competitive strategies can strengthen quality of care by

better utilizing the expertise of each participant.

GLOBALIZATION

Factors contributing to globalization include advances in information

technology and communications, international travel and commerce, the growth of

multinational corporations. Future nurses will face the challenge of maintaining a

holistic approach to client care in an environment of growing specialization. Focus on

health promotion, maintenance, and revitalization will continue to grow.

COSTS CONTROL CHALLENGE

In 1970s, 1980s, and 1990 governmental budget deficits reached all-time

high. Government spends re money on health care system.

Societies poor, homeless, elderly, substance abuse, AIDS and mentally ill

patients are increased into country. The major question yet to be answered is “How

can we pay for health care for these people and the numbers are expected to be

increased?

The central and state governments are seeking to answer that question. The

next decades will see hospital closing is record numbers, pressures continuing to

mount from business community forcing changes in financial health Care reforms.

THE NURSING PROFESSION IN 21ST CENTURY

This is a time of confusion within health care systems all around the world.

The economic downturn in the global society has impacted on health care. In many

places services have been cut and access to services reduced. In addition, new diseases

such as AIDS, Cancer SARS and the threat of bio-terrorism have entered our lives.

New technologies and treatments occur rapidly, but are often expensive and these
advances can be difficult to finance. Patients are moved out of hospital rapidly, and

those that remain are more acutely ill than they have been in the past. Those

discharged patients often need more assistance at home and in the community than in

previous years, and those services can also be expensive. Nurses are a vital part of the

health care system, but nursing shortages have appeared in many areas,

The nursing profession needs to begin to recognize new trends and patterns in

21st century that are emerging in health care.

NURSING PRACTICE

1. The Practice in a cost containment environment (cost-effective and high quality

care)

2. The mission of health care is being redefined.

3. Environment for bed side care are changing.

4. Care is shifting from hospital based to community based care.

5. Hospital nursing will continue to become more selective and specialized.

6. Collaborative, interdisciplinary practice models will come into vogue in all setting.

7. Communication, computers and information networks will erase boundaries

created by distance and inaccessibility to physical facilities.

8. Greater emphasis will be placed on the ethical component of care.

NURSING EDUCATION

1. Major curriculum changes for graduate nursing education will be necessary.

2. Educational pathway for advance practice nurses in clinical practice will become

more distinct.

3. Distance education will assist nurses in lifelong learning

NURSING RESEARCH

1. Research priority will be outcome measurement studies that demonstrate cost

effective care.

2. Emphasis will be on collaborative, milti-displinary and multicenter research

studies.

3. Development of stronger Evidence base through rigorous methods and multiple,

confirmatory strategies.

CONCLUSION

Clearly, nursing's future does indeed include manifold opportunities and

challenges. The profession must not be complacent but it must become proactive in

shaping its future, otherwise someone else will do it for us. We can say that “The time

is short, resources are scarce, and issues are critical". Nursing must act now in a

unified voice with a resolved spirit to determine its own destiny.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Potter, Patricia A. & Perry, Anne Griffin “Fundamentals of Nursing” Mosby

Publisher, Edition 6th (June, 2004), page no - 22-23
2. Futuristic Nursing, www.scribd.com/doc/30794600/Futuristic-Nursing
3. A Dialogue on the Future of Nursing Practice,
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4065/is_200707/ai_n21032864/pg_5/
4. Nursing Continuing Education for the 21st Century,
http://ezinearticles.com/?Nursing-Continuing-Education-For-the-21st-
Century&id=177052

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