The aim of this goal is to increase health outcomes, patient safety, and deliver quality care based on the correlation that having trained workforce enables individuals meet high demands and competencies in technological tools, health policies, system improvements, and exemplify leadership qualities. Furthermore, having a residency program in which nursing graduates have the opportunity to transition from nursing school to practice, as discussed in the IOM report, will sharpen the nurse’s skills and shift the focus on acute care to care developed in community settings. Through a residency program, nurses are more prepared for the high demands in the evolving health care system and are more knowledgeable in their abilities in applying what was learned in their schooling while reducing errors. Although the idea is great, there are extraneous factors to consider as …show more content…
However, the scope of practice acts as a barrier to nurses with an advanced degrees, particularly advanced practicing registered nurses (APRNs). APRNs are RNs who have obtained a master’s or doctorate degree in nursing, and have passed a national certification exam at which they are qualified to work as a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, or a nurse midwife at which they deliver primary care and preventive care to the public (ANA, n.d.). APRNs are also certified to “assess, diagnose, manage patient problems, order tests, and prescribe medications” (NCSBN, n.d.), so they deserve to have the right to exercise their knowledge to the fullest of their capacity. This limitation imposed by the scope of practice is what the IOM report mentions, because health care professionals, like APRNs, are obligated to work within state limits and not based on acquired education and training. With the cooperation of Congress and the legislature, the nursing practice can evolve to adequately deliver optimal care to patients, especially since more individuals are eligible to receive health insurance from the Affordable Care Act. Lifting the barriers that the scope of practice creates will enable more certified nurses with advanced degrees to deliver quality care while