Nursing education has come a long way in the last few decades. The number of nurses with bachelor’s and master’s degrees is higher than ever. The number of nurses with a bachelor’s degree rose to nearly 55% between 2012 and 2016. In 1971 this number was just 22.9%.
This improvement in nursing education can be attributed to several factors. As healthcare has evolved over the years, it has become apparent that the quality of nurses joining the practice every year must improve.
Curriculums have been rewritten to equip nurses with the skills they need to provide a high standard of care. Teaching methodologies have improved, allowing students to learn in immersive environments that impart practical skills.
Institutions have also recognized the need to support nursing students in different ways.
Many have lower tuition fees, offer easier payment terms, and provide dedicated advisors who work with students throughout their course to provide career guidance and counseling. Many also offer hybrid programs that allow students to learn on-campus and online.
ABSN programs in Missouri, such as the one offered by Rockhurst University, combine online learning with an on-campus residency. Students benefit from the flexibility and convenience of online coursework but, at some point in their course, are required to attend on-campus classes for at least ten days. They also get practical experience from clinical practice in an institution close to them.
Many factors have come together to allow this type of hybrid learning and as you enroll, it is a good idea to know what they are. It gives you a deeper appreciation of the training you get.
Factors that have influenced nursing education
Improved curriculums
Healthcare reform in America has led to an evolution in healthcare delivery. As recently as the 70s and 80s, it was widely believed that the doctor knew it all. Nurses had minor roles; they made patients comfortable and dispensed medications as instructed by the doctor.
Today it’s all about patient-centered care. Instead of a single doctor providing every aspect of treatment, patients are seen by teams. This has expanded the role of the nurse. They are allowed to diagnose, give medical opinions, and if they have the proper training, they can issue prescriptions.
Curriculums have evolved to accommodate the expanded role of the nurse. They are no longer taught merely to be caregivers. Today’s nursing schools turn out nurses who are highly competent in treating patients.
Institutional support
Institutions have done a great deal to get nursing education where it is today. They have invested in better facilities, increased enrollment numbers, and offered nursing students student aid, guidance and counseling, and other resources to help them complete their training successfully.
Many nursing schools now have fully equipped labs and support research to advance nursing.
They also collaborate with organizations to provide tuition assistance to nursing students, and they play an important role in providing career advice during nursing training to enable students easy transition into employment.
Better teaching methodologies
One of the most significant shifts in nursing education is online learning. It has allowed many practitioners to go back to school without sacrificing their careers.
Hundreds of thousands of nurses have online bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Every year, many more take advantage of the flexibility online courses offer to improve their skills and climb the career ladder.
Even on-campus learning has undergone a revolution. It is more interactive, and students don’t just sit in lecture halls and take notes. They are active participants in every lesson and have opportunities to explore new ideas together.
Specialization
Nursing is no longer the general specialty that it was back in the day. Today, any nurse can specialize in whatever field of medicine they want.
We have nurses specializing in elder care, family medicine, pediatrics, oncology, chronic illnesses, cardiac medicine, and many other fields. They can also complete certification programs in either Spanish or English and become certified caregivers with training in various medical procedures.
Every student nurse who enrolls in higher education gets a chance to specialize, and those who do tend to earn more than those who don’t.
Today’s nurses can also become managers by gaining a master’s degree.
Improvement in accreditation and regulation
As access and quality of healthcare have evolved, accreditation standards have become better defined. They reflect the improved level of learning and the new roles that nurses embrace today.
For example, family nurse practitioners can write prescriptions in many states. Nurses in many places are also authorized to provide home healthcare without the supervision of a doctor.
Higher demand for nurses
The demand for nurses has also had an impact on nursing education. As it has risen, universities and colleges have realized that they have to turn out students faster. Courses that took four years to complete in the past can now be done in two or three years.
For young people who are looking to get into a career quickly, this has been a big draw. They can complete a degree program in a fraction of the time it takes many of their counterparts and work in a profession that pays well.
Investment in research
As more money is poured into nursing education research, the country has improved the quality of nurses who join the job market every year. It has allowed us to discover the best methods of instruction, improve curriculums and provide a better learning environment.
Why should these things matter to you?
If all you aim to do is learn the basics of nursing, these factors that influence nursing education may not mean much to you.
However, if you plan to climb the career ladder and become the kind of nurse who makes a difference at the institutional level, these factors are important.
They help shape policy in nursing education so that we can keep putting out highly qualified nursing professionals.
Conclusion
Nursing education has improved significantly in the last few decades. Today’s practitioners learn more than basic patient care. They know how to diagnose and treat disease, and some are allowed to write prescriptions for their patients. They can care for patients without a doctor’s supervision.
