Becoming a Registered Nurse
Where do Nurses Work?
WHY IS NURSING EDUCATION
CHANGING?
TO MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
Registered nurses are facing increasingly complex demands, which require a broad-based bachelor's degree preparation. This includes general arts and science courses and an introduction to other disciplines, as well as a major focus on nursing. Below are some examples of the trends and issues currently occurring in the health care delivery system and in society.
Working in collaborative relationships with other team members
The nurse must be able to communicate with other health care team members such as the dietician, the physiotherapist, the physician and the social worker. She or he must understand the roles of the other partners and be able to communicate the role of nursing. Nurses often co-ordinate the activities of a variety of disciplines for the benefit of patients.
Patients today are consumers of health care. They are more knowledgeable about health care and about their rights. The nursing care plan must reflect the knowledge of the normal physical and mental functioning of the person or group, the possible risks or disease processes, the cultural background of the patient and the implications of this for nursing care. The nurse must also be aware of both ethical and legal issues and be knowledgeable about the law as they relate to specifics such as patients' consent for treatment, nursing practice and hospital services.
New roles and responsibilities
Health care is changing to place more emphasis on keeping people healthy. This will require nurses to be able to plan and implement health promotion programs for whole groups or communities. This new approach is called primary health care and will also involve more nurses working independently and only referring patients to other health professionals when necessary.
New health care delivery systems
New systems of organizing care are being developed both in institutions and in community care that involve nurses in new roles such as case manager, program manager or community developer. These new roles are in addition to the numerous administrative functions that many nurses perform now such as participating on boards, chairing committees, budget planning and personnel planning.
Nursing research is finding better and more cost-effective ways to care for patients. More nursing research will be needed as the health care system evolves. While only some nurses will direct programs of research, all nurses will need to participate in research, read and apply research findings.
Requirements for a degree
The Canadian Nurses Association believes that the competencies required by new registered nurses to meet client health needs are most effectively and economically achieved through
baccalaureate education. The goal of having a baccalaureate requirement for entry into nursing has been adopted throughout Canada by all provincial and territorial nurses' associations. The decision was taken based on trends affecting health care in Canada and the changing role of the nurse.
Today's choices
Students in Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, and the territories can still choose either a diploma or a degree program to prepare for a career in nursing but they must be aware of the trend toward a university level of education. In all other provinces students must choose to obtain a baccalaureate degree in nursing to prepare for a career. Diploma graduates who are already practising as the requirement changes will be able to continue without mandatory upgrading. Diploma graduates who wish to study for a degree can apply to university, or institute schools of nursing that offer special and shortened programs for registered nurses. Specialty courses are currently open to both diploma- and baccalaureate-prepared nurses. Please be aware that more career opportunities and graduate study will be open to nurses with a baccalaureate degree in nursing.
Related Links
April 2001
