by It’s hard to conceptual and digest the many nuanced needs and changes that the healthcare reform presents. One area that needs attention and change is in the nursing profession. As the Institute of Medicine has recently explained in a report, the responsibilities and education of nurses need to undergo a monumental change to meet the imminent demands of care with the new reform.New residency programs need to be put into place to help nurses to become completely engaged with other health care experts and to take on significant roles within the new care system in America. Institute of Medicine Committee Vice Chair Linda Burnes Bolten said, “Transforming the nursing profession is a crucial element to achieving the nation’s vision of an effective, affordable health care system that is accessible and responsive to all.”Nurses actually make up the largest single section of the health care personnel in America, with over 3 million nurses working today. Nurses also interact with patients and deliver patient care more than do other health professionals. This patient exposure means that they have a unique role to play in improving the quality and safety of care with the Affordable Care Act. With millions of extra patients having access to health coverage with the health care reforms, the role and education of nurses needs to be reevaluated and enhanced in a systematic, thought-out manner.
