The Future
of the Nursing Profession By Sophia Peters What is the future of nursing
careers? Predictions are that in 10 or 20 years, it will look nothing
like it does today! With new technologies and drugs, changes in insurance
and health care policies, and the shortage in nurses, the profession
will have to reinvest itself. Many nursing functions will be automated.
For example, documentation and updating
patient records, smart beds to monitor vital signs, bar codes, and
automatic medicine carts could reduce the time and errors in dispensing
medications, and voice-activated technology would eliminate the need
to constantly write things down. Other nursing task such as serving
meals will be taken over by aides. This would give nurses more time
to provide a human touch to their patients. As a result of nursing
shortages, healthcare facilities will be forced to use their nurses
judiciously. Nurses will spend more time at the bedside as educators
and care coordinators to refocus on the patient. With the lengths
of patient stays shortening, nurses will have to make the best use
of a shrinking amount of time hospital stays. Nurses will also spend
more time in administration and supervision positions. They will need
to know how to access knowledge and transfer it to the patient and
their loved ones. The changes in technology will possibly attract
more men and minorities into the profession. Greater emphasis must
be placed on supporting click
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