Nursing

Future Trends and Challenges in Nursing
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Abstract
Nursing as a profession has evolved over the last three hundred years. Some previously uncommon practices in the industry become mainstream, while others, hitherto relevant, are now obsolete. For instance, according to Brooker & Waugh (33), in the 1700s, it was a common practice for nursing personnel to attend to an invalid from the latter’s residence. These nurses were often untrained, and most duties revolved around post-maternal care.
Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, considered the profession to be both a science and an art, in the sense that it required formal education but with creativity and proactiveness being vital elements in the successful practice (Brooker & Waugh, 34). This principle has been a beacon of in the industry, up to date. Fast forward to the 21st century, every aspect of humans’ existence continues to evolve. Among these aspects are politics and government, economics, demography, education, and technology. These factors have played a significant role in the current state of nursing, presenting both challenges and solutions, and will continue to do so: impacting the industry in ways which were previously unimaginable.
In today’s world, nursing has become an integral part of medical care, with hospitals demanding an ever-expanding number of nurses. It is an honor to be part of the nursing fraternity at such a defining moment in history.

However, this comes with an increased sense of duty to steer the industry into the future, through challenges such as the acute shortage of nursing personnel and the increasing cost of medical care (Heller et al., 4).
Mitigating the problem arising from the shortage of nurses would involve broadening the reach of nursing education to recruit more people into the profession. Incorporation of technology, even more than has been done today, would also be a vital addition. For instance, technologically advanced nursing equipment would assist the nurses in the performance of their routine tasks, such as drug administration, leaving the nurses to deal with the jobs that require their proactive involvement.
The nursing industry’s belief in Nightingale’s mantra of science and art would be tested to the limits when it comes to curbing the increasing cost of medical care. Often, the nursing-related expenses rise due to factors well beyond the control of the industry, such as macroeconomics, political influences as well as demographical factors. Therefore, nurses will have to explore cost-conscious yet effective approaches. This requires extensive research, with the aim of bridging the gap that exists between the financial power and medical needs of the population. Moreover, at its core, nursing looks out for the welfare of humanity, candid negotiations between the nursing industry and the relevant stakeholders can bring forth revised terms for medical care, such as reduced drug costs and improved medical insurance covers.
These solutions are among those that I look forward to implementing, with the hope of making a positive impact in the field that is plagued by many challenges for the foreseeable future.
References
Barbara R. Heller, Marla T. Oros, and Jane Durney-Crowley (2010). The Future of Nursing Education: Ten Trends to Watch.
Chris Brooker, Anne Waugh (2012). Health, Nursing and Healthcare Systems.