DQ 2: Describe one innovative health care delivery model that incorporates an interdisciplinary care delivery team

 DQ 2: Describe one innovative health care delivery model that incorporates an interdisciplinary care delivery team

One of the initiatives established by the Institute of Medicines report on nursing was to increase the amount of baccalaureate level nurses in the workforce to 80% by 2020 (Thomas, 2018). The reason behind this recommendation is because research has shown that there is a strong correlation between level of nursing education and positive patient outcomes. BSN programs emphasize the development of critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills that are necessary for the level of decision making that happens within the field of nursing (Thomas, 2018). These decision making skills are associated with better patient outcomes and reduced morbidity and mortality. For example, a study published in 2014 found that a 10% increase in BSN nurses was associated with lowering patient mortality rates by 10.9% (AACN, 2019). Furthermore, a cross-sectional study published in 2013 found that hospitals with a higher percentage of BSN nurses had lower rates of congestive heart failure mortality, hospital acquired ulcers, post operative complications and an overall shorter length of stay (AACN, 2019). This findings are significant and warrant the push towards increasing the number of BSN prepared nurses.

In my experience I do think it depends more on the person than the degree. Someone with drive to become the best nurse they can be will likely end up pursuing higher levels of education in order to keep up with a constantly evolving medical field, if they have the opportunity to. I agree that BSN prepared nurses have had more opportunity to develop skills in research and evidence-based practice which is beneficial to patient outcomes. On the other hand, many classmates in my ADN program had other jobs or careers before nursing and/or had families and children at home. I believe this is probably more so true of ADN programs than BSN programs due to cost, competitiveness, schedule flexibility etc. This gives them valuable life experiences that cannot necessarily be taught in school that helps shape them into well rounded nurses. This is why I think RN to BSN programs are especially valuable and I agree nurses should strive to pursue higher levels of education.

References:

American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN]. (2019, April). The impact of education on nursing practice. http://www.aacnnursing.org/News-Information/Fact-Sheets/Impact-of-Educaton

Thomas, J. (2018). Professional development. In Trends in Health Care: A Nursing Perspective. Grand Canyon University (Ed). https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs440vn/trends-in-health-care-a-nursing-perspective/v1.1/#/chapter/3