Nursing Profession Paper

As the nursing profession moves forward, factors that support nursing education, research, and practice are critical in driving improvement in patient outcomes. This discussion board will explore how the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) contribute to nursing excellence. These two health care organizations use various avenues to impact the quality of nursing care by supporting education, practice, and research (Ohio University).
The IOM, now known as the Health and Medicine Division (HMD) of the National Academies, is a private, non-profit organization which focuses on solving health-related issues by conducting rigorous, independent, scientific research. It shares the information gained from these studies with policy makers and organizations in an effort to improve health by providing direction for

future policy and further research. Results from the HMD’s research are critical to bedside practice because the information adds to nursing’s body of knowledge and can be accessed for evidence-based practice. The HMD plays a role in nursing education by providing information from studies which can be used to change nursing curriculum. It also plays a role in nursing research because study findings can provide a springboard to drive further health care research. The HMD provides the biggest impact to nursing excellence by being a resource to health care systems. The data provided by its research is used to solve health-related issues around the globe. This organization is worth supporting because its research is independently evaluated and the information it provides is essential to improving nursing practice (National Academies, 2018).
The AACN is a non-profit organization which impacts the quality of nursing care by providing standards and guidelines for nursing degree programs.

It also strives to improve and support nursing research and practice. The AACN’s largest influence on nursing practice stems from its systematic accreditation system which ensures a standard of nursing education across the nation. Besides the work in accreditation, the AACN plays a role in education through its work with government agencies ensuring academic funding and spotlighting the need for nursing faculty. The AACN supports nursing research by actively lobbying policy makers to ensure adequate research funding. In its various functions, the AACN advocates for research and education and its standardized educational guidelines are resources for nursing schools and hospital systems. Supporting this organization is essential because it directly impacts the quality of nursing care by ensuring standardized nursing education and influencing the funding of nursing research by working with government agencies (American Association of Colleges of Nursing,

2018).
Local organizations also invest in nursing excellence. I work for the OSU Medical Center and it pays for continuing education, conducts research, and develops practice guidelines for evidence-based practice. Much research has shown that supporting these areas improves patient outcomes. A study of 21 university hospitals which looked at CHF mortality, postoperative DVT/PE, and failure to rescue, found that hospitals with a higher percentage of BSN-prepared nurses had better outcomes in all three of these areas (Blegen, Goode, & Park, 2013). So a nurse who continues their education can directly impact how well a patient does in a hospital setting.
In conclusion, organizations that focus on supporting research, education, and practice will continue to impact global health by generating information. The AACN, HMD and organizations like them are critical to improving patient outcomes. In an era in which funding is decreasing, we must put pressure on policy makers to continue investing in research and education. Patient advocacy should be our mission because our patients’ lives depend on it.