Nursing Trends That Will Shape Healthcare Sector
Over the years, the nursing profession has been serving the healthcare industry to its full potential and expertise. The field of nursing is one of the largest healthcare profession in the United States.
Records from the bureau of labour statistics reveal more than three million registered nurses in 2019. Nursing has a lot of potential for further growth, expanding further.
No matter how advanced the world has become, the healthcare industry plays a vital role in keeping diseases at bay and providing high-quality services to patients. The past few years have made the healthcare industry a booming place with many opportunities for healthcare professionals.
The recent pandemic has highlighted the crucial roles that healthcare professionals have been playing in our lives. Had it not been for doctors and nurses, it wouldn’t have been possible to contain the virus and prevent its further spread.
Healthcare services have become an integral part of our lives, and they are indeed indispensable. With the passage of time and transformations in technology, the healthcare industry underwent many transitions that have reshaped its services altogether.
The end of 2019 has changed the definition of what we once used to call everyday life. The risk is still prevalent, and keeping the safety precautions in mind, the field of nursing has transformed significantly.
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How to Become a Nurse?
You will find nurses contributing in different healthcare fields and outside the hospital settings.
From working in hospitals to nursing homes or law firms, nurses are everywhere. You can enter the profession of nursing with a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
If you want to progress further, you can enroll in a master of science in nursing online programs to explore more career opportunities.
A master’s degree can help you hone your skills and gain more expertise to stand out in your field. While updating your knowledge, it is vital to keep yourself updated on the following trends in nursing.
Telemedicine and Telehealth
With a COVID-19 pandemic at hand, the healthcare industry also witnessed a significant shift in its operations. With COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospitals, it was riskier for other patients to seek their health issues.
Many hospitals had to shut down their other departments to prevent more patients from contracting the virus. Hospitals were a haven for those infected with a virus, but it was also a hotspot for other cases.
Patients with chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, and cancer have to stay at home while facing a delay in their scheduled treatments.
Many hospital management decided to shift to telehealth and telemedicine to assist the people in need of medical assistance while keeping them safe from the virus outbreak.
Telehealth services increased in 2020 due to pandemic, but it was not without issues; one of the primary concerns of patients’ telehealth is their privacy.
The hospital administrations have ensured that the medium they use for telehealth shall abide by all the rules and regulations related to patient confidentiality.
Demand for Specializations
You only need a bachelor’s degree to become a nurse, but nursing has advanced a lot. The year 2021 is more of a pre-pandemic year, and we are yet to find solutions to build immunity against the COVID-19 virus.
The lockdown and isolation had taken a toll on our mental and physical well-being. While staying at home and looking at the increasing COVID case, we all had become paranoid and anxious.
The nursing field is open for nurses, but you can easily get along with the changing nursing trend if you have a specialization in a particular area. It enables nurses to hone their skills and expertise in a specific area.
It also ensures the patients and hospital administration that nurses are knowledgeable and experienced in their field.
Community Outpatient Settings
Another trend that has taken a surge in the healthcare industry is shifting from inpatient to outpatient settings. The gap that has been there for years is slowly closing.
The shift from inpatient to outpatient settings has helped control healthcare costs and make space for advanced healthcare technologies. Nurses working in outpatient settings are now focusing on the broader aspects of health and well-being.
Working in outpatient settings allows nurses to take initiatives for the community’s wellness by providing preventive and restorative care. Doing so will also decrease the unnecessary visits to the hospitals leading to reduced healthcare costs.
Nurses Navigators on the Rise
Nurse navigators refer to nurses using their medical knowledge and their people management skills to guide patients towards recovery. Nurses navigators help patients with smooth transitions and care.
They educate patients to understand their ailments, diagnosis, and preventive measures to speed up the recovery process. Nurses navigators play a vital role in helping the older population facing chronic health issues.
These navigators can work as self-employed individuals or work for an insurance company, different physician groups, or medical facilities.
Demand for Doctoral Education
With the world and healthcare industry moving towards advancements, nurses cannot progress with their primary vocational education.
The number of enrollments in the DNP or doctor of nursing practice has increased in the past few years. The physician shortage in the healthcare industry is not unusual.
o fulfill the gap of direct healthcare providers, nurses are enrolling in doctoral programs. The future of nursing entails a mandate to have a sufficient number of doctorally prepared nurses.
This demand will continue to enhance the quality of healthcare services and meet patient satisfaction demands efficiently.
Conclusion
The WHO reports that 20.7 million nurses are working worldwide. Comparing this number to the overall population, it seems not enough.
The comparison highlights the global shortage of nurses. If we are to compensate for the deficiency, we need 19 million more nurses by the end of 2030.
The healthcare industry has growth potential, and the field of nursing has expanded enormously. Preparing beforehand to accommodate the emerging trends in the healthcare industry can help nurses enhance patient care service quality and the healthcare industry altogether.
