In response to rapid changes to our nation’s healthcare system, the nursing profession has had to evolve. Once perceived primarily as a direct patient caregiver and advocate”“a role that is still essential to healthcare”“nurses are increasingly serving in roles that reflect the complexities of this new system. Nurses with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) will be in high demand to fill these new roles.
Why Healthcare Needs MSN Nurses
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), authorities both inside and outside the nursing profession”“including the Institute of Medicine and the Tri-Council for Nursing”“are calling for nurses to pursue advanced education. The increase in the number of Americans seeking healthcare, largely due to such factors as healthcare reform, an aging population and a rise in chronic illnesses, has put stress on the current system. Newer models of care delivery put nurses at the forefront of these changes.
In their “The Future of Nursing” report, The Institute of Medicine (which changed its name in 2015 to National Academy of Medicine [NAM]) says, “Nurses should be full partners with physicians and other healthcare professionals in redesigning healthcare in the United States.” They believe nurses are needed to identify problems and areas of system waste, devise and implement improvement plans, track improvements, make necessary adjustment to achieve goals, and advise on health policy decisions.
The Value of Education in Nursing
An increase in the number of people seeking healthcare puts additional stress on the system. Nurses with advanced degrees, including MSN nurses, are in a prime position to relieve this burden by replacing physicians in certain roles. The AACN cites examples of advanced practice nurses (APNs) serving in the place of physicians: certified nurse anesthetists who administer anesthetic during surgery; nurse practitioners who provide treatment for a child’s earache; and clinical nurse specialists who make the decision for a patient to continue hospital recovery at an intermediate-care facility. The AACN also cites a study that estimates that using APNs could save the United States as much as 8.75 billion dollars annually.
Nurses who have completed one of the online MSN programs have many career opportunities as the healthcare system changes and improves. The AACN’s “Your Guide to Graduate Nursing Programs” outlines the myriad career paths available for advanced practice nurses. For instance, nurse administrators take on leadership roles to facilitate the delivery of quality care. Clinical nurse leaders coordinate patient care, exercising clinical judgment and advocating for patients. Nurses who focus on public policy can work at federal, state, and local levels, providing expert analysis and advice.
Nurses at all education levels are essential to accommodating rapid change in our nation’s health system. Those with core nursing skills, as provided by associate or bachelor’s degrees in nursing, are needed to provide direct patient care. But as the need for quality healthcare increases and the system becomes more complex, advanced practice nurses, including MSN nurses, will fill more critical positions.
Learn more about the Lamar University online MSN in Nursing Administration program.
Sources:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
