Considering today’s forces, trends, and issues that influence curriculum development and the changing demands in healthcaredelivery, discuss how you think the nursing curricula needs to change in order to prepare nurse graduates for their future role as practicing nurses. Cite two current references (published within the last five years) to support your discussion.
Sample Answer
Preparing Nurse Graduates for the Future: Evolving Nursing Curricula
Introduction
The field of nursing is constantly evolving due to the forces, trends, and issues that shape healthcare delivery. To ensure nurse graduates are well-prepared for their future role as practicing nurses, nursing curricula need to adapt and change accordingly. In this essay, we will discuss how nursing curricula should be modified to meet the changing demands in healthcare delivery. Two current references published within the last five years will be cited to support the discussion.
Emphasizing Interprofessional Collaboration
One important change that nursing curricula need to incorporate is a stronger emphasis on interprofessional collaboration. In today’s healthcare landscape, teamwork and collaboration among healthcare professionals are essential for providing safe and effective patient care. According to a study by Reeves et al. (2017), interprofessional collaboration has been shown to improve patient outcomes, enhance communication, and increase satisfaction among healthcare professionals. By integrating interprofessional education (IPE) into nursing curricula, nurse graduates can develop the necessary skills to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams.
IPE can be implemented through various strategies such as team-based projects, shadowing experiences, or simulated interprofessional simulations. These activities allow nursing students to collaborate with students from other healthcare disciplines, such as medicine, pharmacy, or social work. By working together, students gain a better understanding of each other’s roles and responsibilities, learn how to communicate effectively, and develop a shared sense of accountability for patient care. By incorporating IPE into nursing curricula, nurse graduates will be better prepared to navigate the complex healthcare environment and provide comprehensive patient-centered care.
Integrating Technology and Informatics
Another crucial aspect that nursing curricula need to address is the integration of technology and informatics. The advancement of technology has significantly impacted healthcare delivery, and nurses must be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to utilize these technologies effectively. A study by Topaz et al. (2018) highlights the importance of integrating informatics competencies into nursing education to prepare nurse graduates for the digital age.
Nursing curricula should include courses or modules that focus on health information systems, electronic health records (EHRs), telehealth, and other emerging technologies. Students should be exposed to practical experiences that allow them to navigate EHRs, analyze data, and use technology to enhance patient care. Additionally, integrating simulation-based training with technology can provide nurse graduates with realistic hands-on experiences in a safe and controlled environment. By incorporating these elements into nursing curricula, nurse graduates will be well-prepared to adapt and utilize technology to improve patient outcomes and enhance healthcare delivery.
Conclusion
In summary, nursing curricula must adapt to meet the changing demands in healthcare delivery. By emphasizing interprofessional collaboration and integrating technology and informatics, nurse graduates will be better prepared for their future role as practicing nurses. Incorporating interprofessional education into nursing curricula develops teamwork skills and enhances communication among healthcare professionals. Integrating technology and informatics prepares nurse graduates to utilize emerging technologies effectively. By implementing these changes, nursing curricula can keep pace with the evolving healthcare landscape and produce competent and adaptable nurse graduates.
References:
Reeves, S., Fletcher, S., Barr, H., Birch, I., Boet, S., Davies, N., … & Kitto, S. (2017). A BEME systematic review of the effects of interprofessional education: BEME Guide No. 39. Medical Teacher, 39(2), 163-184.
Topaz, M., Ronquillo, C., Peltonen, L. M., Pruinelli, L., Sarmiento, R. F., Badger, M. K., … & Lewis, A. (2018). Nurse informaticians report low satisfaction and multi-level concerns with electronic health records: Results from an international survey. AMIA Annual Symposium Proceedings (Vol. 2017, p. 1612). American Medical Informatics Association.