Importance Of Nursing Education And Overall Education Goals Paper

Importance Of Nursing Education And Overall Education Goals Paper

Reflection Paper

Professional nursing education is a formalized approach to specialized nursing training through which aspiring and practicing nurses learn to apply unique nursing techniques even as they acquire content knowledge. In fact, it is leveraged to play a significant role in administering new and continuing nursing structures. Although the education content is what nurses are expected to learn, the education helps them to acquire the competencies needed for proper professional behavior and practice (Butts & Rich, 2018). This reflection paper discusses the importance of nursing education and overall education goals Importance Of Nursing Education And Overall Education Goals Paper.

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Job Options Based on Education Level

I practice as a registered nurse (RN) with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) qualification. I am enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, an undergraduate-level degree for RNs that introduces nursing topics within the health care systems, such as health promotion, safety and quality, public health, research, and patient care technology. Completing the BSN program will allow me to advance my nursing skills while unlocking the option of continuing to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). BSN qualifications continue to focus primarily on providing patient care (such as coordinating care with other health professionals, providing health education and counseling, taking histories, and performing physical exams) as is the case with the ADN qualifications. However, the BSN program exposes nurses to more advanced topics in public health, research and leadership. This allows nurses with BSN qualifications to go a step further than ADN in accessing a broader career path that includes taking on administrative positions that leverage leadership skills in education, consulting and research (DeNisco & Beauvais, 2020).

I can pursue five job options with BSN qualifications. First, nurse health coach who guides patients in making healthy lifestyle choices in daily living, health care and careers, speak with other medical personnel on behalf of patients, and negotiate patient insurance claims. Second, clinical research nurse who studies diseases and disorders with a view to developing new medications and treatments. Third, forensic nurse who works with law enforcement personnel to collect and analyze evidence for criminal investigations. Fourth, nurse informaticist who focuses on the data aspect of health care to improve patient outcomes. Fifth, health policy nurse who is consulted in the creation of health policies that affect nursing and public health (St. Catherine University, 2020).

Goals for Professional Education

Earning a BSN unlocks the option of continuing with nursing education to earn a MSN within four years of graduating with the BSN, an upgrade that would take about two years. A MSN is an advanced, post-graduate nursing degree that provides advanced training and skills for specialized roles as a nurse administrator or nurse practitioner. In fact, the MSN program advances the skills earned in the BSN program while developing core areas in informatics, policy and advocacy, quality and safety, evidence-based practice, inter-professional collaboration, program evaluation for improving patient outcomes, and organizational leadership. MSN qualifications are important because they lead to specialized nursing roles such as jobs as a nurse consultant, nurse anesthetist, and advanced nurses practitioner. In fact, pursuing a MSN qualification is a commitment to constantly learning and improving nursing skills and education. The nursing profession is always evolving, and being a nurse requires continuous development to fulfill the evolving nursing roles. The MSN qualifications will empower me to provide nursing services at a higher level than the BSN as I would have acquired more in-depth nursing expertise. In essence, MSN qualifications will open up more jobs than BSN qualifications as it allows for certification in advanced practice registered nurse specialties (Ervin & Kulbok, 2018).

Increase Level of Education and Effect on Competitiveness

Increasing level of education implies pursing more advanced education levels and qualifications. This has an important effect on career advancement over the long-term. Advanced education levels brings more career opportunities than those available for persons with lower levels of education. The additional knowledge and training puts the individual closer to obtaining certification in a variety of nursing specialties. In addition, increasing the level of education comes with deeper understanding of nursing skills as the individual is better prepared to handle professional practice requirements than persons with lower levels of education. That is because advanced education is an indication that the individual has been through a rigorous curriculum that covers advanced topics (Joel, 2018).

Having advanced education has a significant effect on competitiveness within the job market. That is because advanced education is an indication of qualified labor, showing that the individual would increase the productivity and performance of the organization. Although persons with advanced level of education are likely to demand higher salaries, they make up for that with advanced knowledge that acts as a propulsive force in the process creating better systems and providing sustainable development. For this reason, advanced education level is targeted for strengthening knowledge that in turn strengthens change by transferring the knowledge into organization performance and competitiveness. This makes higher education levels crucial in developing new systems, implementing new management systems and technologies at the point where strategical decisions are taken in the organization. Within the health care industry, particularly, medical personnel with higher levels of education are preferred because they are better able to adapt to the changing needs of the health care industry (Joel, 2018)Importance Of Nursing Education And Overall Education Goals Paper.

Relationship of Continuing Nursing Education to Competency

Continuing nursing education has a significant effect on different aspects of nursing practice. First, it improves competency by offering nurses the opportunity to learn and advance their own professional skills and techniques. Second, it improves attitudes towards nursing practice by challenging the outlook and allowing for critical analysis that improves clinical reasoning to allow for greater accuracy. Third, it improves knowledge by enabling nurses to acquire advanced skills with a better understanding of nursing. Fourth, it is a condition for licensure. This is especially the case in license renewal where nurses are typically require to complete continuing education for job-specific certifications to indicate that they can complete the professional roles associated with the job in terms of scope and standards for practice as well as code of ethics (Zaccagnini & Pechacek, 2019).

Mandatory Continuing Nursing Education

Continuing nursing education should be mandatory. That is because nursing is a lifelong nursing process, and engaging in continuing nursing education offers nurses the opportunity to learn and advance their techniques in safe patient care. A nurse cannot learn everything at once as the nursing is constantly evolving and improving through advancements in knowledge and technology. Continuing education ensures that these advancements are communicated to facilitate positive patient outcomes and evidence-based care. In fact, it is an effective, popular way of propagating the advancements and changes (Joel, 2018).

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Nursing is constantly evolving, and there have been changes in nursing techniques to match the evolution. Continuing education allows nurses to know the changes and their justifications. This awareness empowers nurses to match the evolutions through changes in the way they practice and the patient outcomes. In essence, continuing education positively affects patient outcomes and care quality by providing nurses with the necessary opportunities to improve the knowledge and skills applied in nursing practice (Joel, 2018).

References

Butts, J., & Rich, K. (Eds.) (2018). Philosophies and Theories for Advanced Nursing Practice (3^rd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC.

DeNisco, S. M. & Beauvais, A. M. (2020). Advanced Practice Nursing: Essential Knowledge for the Profession (4^th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC.

Ervin, N. E., & Kulbok, P. A. (2018). Advanced Public and Community Health Nursing Practice: Population Assessment, Program Planning, and Evaluation (2^nd ed.). Springer Publishing Company.

Joel, L. A. (2018). Advanced Practice Nursing: Essentials for Role Development (4^th ed.). F.A. Davis Company.

St. Catherine University (2020, Dec. 15). What Can You Do With a BSN? 7 Careers Beyond Bedside Nursing. https://www.stkate.edu/academics/healthcare-degrees/what-can-you-do-with-a-bsn

Zaccagnini, M., & Pechacek, J. M. (Eds.) (2019). The Doctor of Nursing Practice Essentials: A New Model for Advanced Practice Nursing (4^th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC.

The IOM published report, “Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health,” makes recommendations for lifelong learning and achieving higher levels of education.

In 1,000-1,250 words, examine the importance of nursing education and discuss your overall educational goals.

Include the following:

Discuss your options in the job market based on your educational level.
Review the IOM Future of Nursing Recommendations for achieving higher levels of education. Describe what professional certification and advanced degrees (MSN, DNP, etc.) you want to pursue and explain your reasons for wanting to attain the education. Discuss your timeline for accomplishing these goals.
Discuss how increasing your level of education would affect how your competitiveness in the current job market and your role in the future of nursing.
Discuss the relationship of continuing nursing education to competency, attitudes, knowledge, and the ANA Scope and Standards for Practice and Code of Ethics.
Discuss whether continuing nursing education should be mandatory. Provide support for your response.

You are required to cite a minimum of three sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years, appropriate for the assignment criteria, and relevant to nursing practice.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion Importance Of Nursing Education And Overall Education Goals Paper.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.