With the current trends in nursing education, several things should be considered to help students prepare for careers. These include Hybrid learning, Telemedicine, and the demand for nurses in the broader community. There are also other factors to keep in mind, such as ensuring that students are prepared to meet the challenges of the nursing profession.
Telemedicine
Telemedicine is one of the changes in nursing education that has been around for over a decade. However, with the rise of the coronavirus pandemic, telehealth has quickly accelerated into a significant player in the healthcare arena.
The health benefits of telehealth include improving patient satisfaction and quality of care. In addition, telehealth can reduce the cost of patient care, especially in rural areas.
Telemedicine can also improve the patient-provider relationship. Nurses can provide more personalized care without adhering to hospital rules or regulations. It is because doctors and nurses are working together in a virtual setting.
While telehealth is nothing new, many nurses still need to prepare to handle the challenges of this technology. Using telehealth correctly requires proper training and etiquette.
Hybrid learning
Hybrid learning in nursing education involves a combination of face-to-face and online learning. It aims to respond to the changing needs of nursing learners. In addition to providing more opportunities for diverse learners, it challenges students to engage with the application of their knowledge and practice.
Blended learning approaches may be effective alternatives to conventional educational methods in nursing. The future of hybrid learning in nursing education is bright. However, much work is still needed to assess the benefits and shortcomings of these new methods.
A recent study by Wolters Kluwer and the National League for Nursing explored the impact of hybrid learning in nursing education. It compared students’ experiences participating in a public healthcare course with those who received traditional lecture-based classroom instruction.
Increasing demand for caregivers
The number of Americans needing long-term care is on the rise. It is partly due to the aging population and the growing prevalence of chronic disease. Despite the increasing demand, a shrinking labor pool of available caregiving professionals is a severe stumbling block.
Thankfully, several tools help providers get the most out of their caregivers. These include financial and other incentives for employers and new and improved work environments for home care employees. However, this is only the beginning. Caregiver burnout is a huge problem for both agencies and their workers. A recent survey found that nearly 70 percent of caregivers reported high turnover.
Need for nurse informatics
Nurse informatics is a field that integrates nursing with information technology. This combination of science and technology is changing how health care is delivered.
Nurse informaticists work as researchers, educators, and software engineers. They help improve healthcare processes, including data recovery and research. They also develop new systems and policies and monitor and manage health-related programs.
Nurses interested in becoming informatics can earn a bachelor’s degree or a bachelor’s in informatics. Then they can pursue a master’s degree in informatics or a doctorate.
Nurse informaticists can also earn certification in healthcare information and management systems. This certification is available through the American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) or other learning institutes. Some colleges offer part-time, online study options.
Need for nurses to assess the health of a whole community
One of the most critical aspects of nursing is working with vulnerable populations. These populations are often isolated, with limited access to social support systems. They are also at a higher risk of developing health problems. Nurses need to be able to assess the health of a whole community.
The concept of social determinants of health (SDOH) is essential in understanding the connection between the physical environment, health behaviors, and socioeconomic factors. Traditionally, it has not been integrated into nursing education curricula. However, recent calls for nurses to be better prepared have led to the developing of programs to address SDOH.
Healthy communities foster a more inclusive definition of health and encourage a holistic approach to improving the quality of life. These communities also use collaborative problem-solving to help change systems that lead to health.
