The COVID-19 crisis has undoubtedly emphasized the critical role nurses play in providing needed patient care, and a new report details some broader trends impacting the national healthcare system and nursing workforce.
The research from Wolters Kluwer was based on an independent survey of more than 350 U.S. nurses, and takes a closer look at the “next-generation nurse,” defined as nurses practicing less than 10 years and who are poised to influence the next two to three decades of healthcare.
Six distinct characteristics of next-generation nurses revealed in the data include:
1. Champions of consistency: 89 percent believe they would see better outcomes if there was more consistency in care practice.
2. Proponents of value: 71 percent report that value-based care models are having a positive impact on treatment.
3. Care equalizers: A top 5 nursing priority is social determinants of health (SDOH); these nurses advocate for more patient data so they can deliver first-class care for all
4. ‘Tuned in’ to the medication crisis: 80 percent report it is likely there would be a drop in the use of incorrect medications if providers could tackle variability challenges.
5. Tech savvy by nature: 84 percent believe specialized systems that provide treatment recommendations and integrate with EHRs improve how care is delivered.
6. Patient’s advocate: 72 percent say we must do better to involve patients so that they become more empowered to participate in their own care.
“COVID-19 has put a spotlight on the critical role nurses play in providing needed patient care. But it has also shown how much the healthcare system stands to lose if the current nursing shortage continues and clinical training doesn’t keep pace with nursing in today’s world,” Anne Dabrow Woods, R.N., chief nurse of health learning, research and practice, Wolters Kluwer, said in a statement. “The survey findings are a wake-up call for hospitals and nurse leaders whose workforces are transforming rapidly, leaving knowledge and training gaps in their wake.”
One finding that sticks out, according to nursing leaders, is that nurses earlier in their career are embracing a patient-centered approach to care that is inclusive of SDOH. “Next-generation nurses’ emphasis on social determinants of health will be increasingly important post- COVID-19 as public health, community health and primary health come together. But they will need the guidance of experienced nurses to fully understand cost variability and various challenges to clinical practice,” added Dabrow Woods. “How healthcare institutions respond to the differences between these nurse populations is crucial to the future of the profession.”
What’s more, the data revealed where next-generation nurses have blind spots compared to those nurses who are more experienced. The biggest gaps include cost variation and the important role of evidence. Seventy-three percent of next-generation nurses recognize there are pricing differences for the same treatment or procedure compared to 90 percent of experienced nurses. Their lack of awareness presents both challenges and opportunities for today’s healthcare organizations, according to the researchers.
“The varying viewpoints are a signal to hospitals and schools of nursing, which must recognize that the global workforce of nursing is rapidly transitioning and their education, training, retention strategies and availability of technology and tools must keep pace. This next-generation of caregivers is making their mark and are poised to sustain the profession while navigating changing care models in the face of new and unprecedented challenges in the healthcare system,” added Julie Stegman, vice president, nursing segment, health learning, research and practice, Wolters Kluwer.
