Nursing and Nursing Education


Book Description

Results are presented of a study of nursing and nursing education that focused on the need for continued federal support of nursing education, ways to attract nurses to medically underserved areas, and approaches to encourage nurses to stay in the profession. Findings are presented on whether the aggregate supply of generalist nurses will be sufficient to meet future demand, and how changes that could occur in the health care system might affect demand. Attention is also directed to: how the current and future supply of nurses may be influenced by the costs of nursing education and the sources of education financing; and education for generalist positions in nursing. In addition, the supply and demand situation for nurses educationally prepared for advanced professional positions in nursing is examined. The influence of employer policies and practices in utilization of nursing resources on demand and supply is also addressed. Finally, areas in which further data and studies are needed to better monitor nursing supply and demand are identified. In addition to 21 recommendations, appendices include information on Nursing Training Act appropriations, state reports on nursing issues, certificates for specialist registered nurses, projections of registered nurse supply and requirements, and doctoral programs in nursing. (SW)




Nursing Staff in Hospitals and Nursing Homes


Book Description

Hospitals and nursing homes are responding to changes in the health care system by modifying staffing levels and the mix of nursing personnel. But do these changes endanger the quality of patient care? Do nursing staff suffer increased rates of injury, illness, or stress because of changing workplace demands? These questions are addressed in Nursing Staff in Hospitals and Nursing Homes, a thorough and authoritative look at today's health care system that also takes a long-term view of staffing needs for nursing as the nation moves into the next century. The committee draws fundamental conclusions about the evolving role of nurses in hospitals and nursing homes and presents recommendations about staffing decisions, nursing training, measurement of quality, reimbursement, and other areas. The volume also discusses work-related injuries, violence toward and abuse of nursing staffs, and stress among nursing personnelâ€"and examines whether these problems are related to staffing levels. Included is a readable overview of the underlying trends in health care that have given rise to urgent questions about nurse staffing: population changes, budget pressures, and the introduction of new technologies. Nursing Staff in Hospitals and Nursing Homes provides a straightforward examination of complex and sensitive issues surround the role and value of nursing on our health care system.




The Future of the Nursing Workforce in the United States


Book Description

The Future of the Nursing Workforce in the United States: Data, Trends and Implications provides a timely, comprehensive, and integrated body of data supported by rich discussion of the forces shaping the nursing workforce in the US. Using plain, jargon free language, the book identifies and describes the key changes in the current nursing workforce and provide insights about what is likely to develop in the future. The Future of the Nursing Workforce offers an in-depth discussion of specific policy options to help employers, educators, and policymakers design and implement actions aimed at strengthening the current and future RN workforce. The only book of its kind, this renowned author team presents extensive data, exhibits and tables on the nurse labor market, how the composition of the workforce is evolving, changes occurring in the work environment where nurses practice their profession, and on the publics opinion of the nursing profession.




Nursing Leadership, Management, and Professional Practice for the LPN/LVN


Book Description

Be prepared for the opportunities that await you! In today’s healthcare environment, the responsibilities and clinical practice of Licensed Practical Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses have expanded far beyond those of traditional settings. Build the knowledge you need to assume the leadership and management roles that you will be asked to fulfill and confidently navigate the increasingly complex environments in which you will practice. An easy-to-read writing style guides you every step of the way—helping you successfully transition from student to professional while still focusing on the humanistic aspects of caring.







The Future of Nursing


Book Description

The Future of Nursing explores how nurses' roles, responsibilities, and education should change significantly to meet the increased demand for care that will be created by health care reform and to advance improvements in America's increasingly complex health system. At more than 3 million in number, nurses make up the single largest segment of the health care work force. They also spend the greatest amount of time in delivering patient care as a profession. Nurses therefore have valuable insights and unique abilities to contribute as partners with other health care professionals in improving the quality and safety of care as envisioned in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enacted this year. Nurses should be fully engaged with other health professionals and assume leadership roles in redesigning care in the United States. To ensure its members are well-prepared, the profession should institute residency training for nurses, increase the percentage of nurses who attain a bachelor's degree to 80 percent by 2020, and double the number who pursue doctorates. Furthermore, regulatory and institutional obstacles-including limits on nurses' scope of practice-should be removed so that the health system can reap the full benefit of nurses' training, skills, and knowledge in patient care. In this book, the Institute of Medicine makes recommendations for an action-oriented blueprint for the future of nursing.




Improving the Quality of Long-Term Care


Book Description

Among the issues confronting America is long-term care for frail, older persons and others with chronic conditions and functional limitations that limit their ability to care for themselves. Improving the Quality of Long-Term Care takes a comprehensive look at the quality of care and quality of life in long-term care, including nursing homes, home health agencies, residential care facilities, family members and a variety of others. This book describes the current state of long-term care, identifying problem areas and offering recommendations for federal and state policymakers. Who uses long-term care? How have the characteristics of this population changed over time? What paths do people follow in long term care? The committee provides the latest information on these and other key questions. This book explores strengths and limitations of available data and research literature especially for settings other than nursing homes, on methods to measure, oversee, and improve the quality of long-term care. The committee makes recommendations on setting and enforcing standards of care, strengthening the caregiving workforce, reimbursement issues, and expanding the knowledge base to guide organizational and individual caregivers in improving the quality of care.




Geriatric Rehabilitation Manual


Book Description

This manual gives step-by-step guidance on the evaluation and treatment of geriatric diseases and disorders. It covers incidence of disorders, diagnostic tests, associated diagnoses, clinical implications for mobility, and rehabilitation techniques. It offers a broad overview of the effects of aging on all body systems. Special geriatric considerations for laboratory assessment, thermoregulations, and pharmacology are also discussed. This manual is a resource for all training clinicians in geriatric care and is a quick-reference guide for students and practitioners in this field.




Primary Care Geriatrics


Book Description

Accompanying CD-ROM contains video learning modules on gait and balance and dizziness, a dermatology quiz, and downloadable cognitive assessment tools, to hone clinical skills. File formats include QuickTime movies, PDFs, and HTML documents.




Nurses as Leaders


Book Description

Integrates the perspectives of contemporary nurse leaders to foster an innovative, collaborative future Encompassing the wisdom of both established and emerging nurse leaders, this expansive book demonstrates proof of theory in action and the influence of our great nursing legacy on today’s luminaries as they carve out new terrain to benefit current and future health care needs. With a far-reaching, ambitious perspective, it is the first text to link the ideas of nurse leaders from very diverse specialty areas including holism, advanced practice, education, policy, global health, journalism, and spiritual communities. The book examines the professional and scholarly accomplishments of these nurse leaders within an historical context, and facilitates succession planning for the next generation through of combination of outcomes-based writing, storytelling and personal reflection. Dozens of expert contributors from practice and theory arenas describe how to develop leadership skills and tactics through the implementation of local, national, and international initiatives. With an eye to creative evolution in education, research and clinical settings, they discuss how emerging nurse leaders can be agents of change—beyond the confines of traditional practice and curricula--through innovation and collaboration. Contributors also relate the circumstances and experiences that sparked their nursing passions, the moral/ethical foundation from which they practice, and inspired messages toward communal, societal, and global impact within nursing of the future. Each chapter author follows a template to ensure continuity and includes end-of-chapter reflection questions. Key Features: Distills the perspectives of current and emerging nurse leaders from a diverse array of specialty areas to unify the collective of nursing. Redefines praxis possibilities in education, research, and practice Outlines contributing nurse leaders’ practical and scholarly accomplishments Describes how to facilitate change through innovation and collaboration Teaches the development of leadership skills and tactics