The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated total spending of 10% of the global GDP on healthcare systems. The figures amounting to US$ 8.3 trillion until 2018. However, there has been an enormous surge in these numbers globally after the COVID-19 pandemic. With the developing economies allocating a smaller budget to healthcare.
The 2019 pandemic has caused the maximum devastation globally. However, it has also managed to set the healthcare industry on a path to revolution. Healthcare remains the only sector with continuous growth and development, owing to people’s varying medical challenges today. Even so, innovation had been stagnant in certain aspects of the medical industry.
Patients deserve care according to their specific needs. Doctors alleviate their distraught and provide a solution. However, nurses are their caretakers to help them reach that solution. The pandemic also saw nurses stepping up with the doctors as frontline warriors- breaking medical stereotypes and opening innovative pathways for an evolving healthcare system.
Public healthcare can be revolutionized by polishing and empowering the nursing industry. Medical management can hugely benefit by creating nursing command stations and delegating authority to lead medical interventions for better patient care. With that established, you can read further to find out how it can be made possible.
1. Diverse education and training opportunities
You can create awareness and encourage people to opt for nursing in high schools—flexible education opportunities and various training programs to promote the profession of nurses.
To encourage higher education through online master nursing programs for building knowledge and expertise in newer medical technologies and patient care. Many prestigious nursing schools are facilitating students and candidates with similar opportunities. Undoubtedly, the digital arena for e-learning is transforming by leaps and bounds.
A registered nurse (RN) training programs must also incorporate courses for artificial intelligence, data science, and information technology. To prepare nurses for handling rapid technological advancements in medical operations.
2. Build a bigger, stronger team for the future
Medical facilities can’t function without the nursing staff. For an improved and efficient system, the focus must be on building a larger nursing community by recruiting more members to fill the increasingly new and innovative roles. Nurses from different backgrounds, ethnicity, and skill set are necessary for a highly diverse and functional healthcare system
An important aspect that is not only highlighted by these associations but also by several other resources. The nursing staff must adapt for a digital future to eradicate barriers to healthcare enhancement and innovation.
3. Nurse Command Stations
Nurses are essential assets in understanding and suggesting improvements, innovations, and alternatives for enhancing the medical facilities like research, treatments, and diagnostics. Their proximity with the patients and substantial knowledge about the challenges of the medical procedures give them the advantage to analyze the perspective of public health in depth.
Therefore, nurse-led experiments must be encouraged. Nurse-command centers would be highly functional.
Reputed pharmaceuticals and medicine industries like Johnsons & Johnsons, American Nurse Association, and American Organization for Nursing Leadership have taken the initiative to promote and improve medical management by identifying the underlying factors and boost the nursing industry. This venture has highlighted factors that can potentially contribute to this goal.
4. Digital Competence
The world is gradually going digital. We are not only referring to markets, businesses, tourism, etc. Medical facilities and patients are also looking for digital solutions. Technology still is considered a challenge and hindrance in the nursing community. It limits the benefits that they can potentially bring to the patient care and health systems. Technological growth has a tremendous impact on society- evolution and awareness have heightened among people. Staying healthy and looking fit has become a societal trend.
Heavy reliance on social media platforms and google have granted access to a sea of information to the public. In these fast-moving times, people do not have the time to wait in emergency rooms for hours. They are hunting for quick solutions, hacks, and DIYs.
With their limited experience and research, these DIYs could momentarily provide a solution and work as a band-aid in hiding crippling problems. However, these could later turn troublesome for them.
How can nurses cater to patient issues and help solve them digitally?
There is an urgent need to create awareness and educate the nurses on the importance of data analysis systems and data science to analyze, diagnose and treat patients with medical software for greater efficiency and lower energy and time expenditure on their parts.
Artificial intelligence and robotics are significant players in the medical industry. We can see examples of robotic surgeries, telemedicine, drug discovery, and precision medicine.
Now, let’s see how digital technology can benefit nursing practice.
1.Telehealth Apps and Programs- provide daily health monitoring and life coaching for the patients
2.Bed-ridden patients or with severe chronic illnesses can have easy accessibility for daily monitoring and diagnosis.
3. It can help reduce patient trips to emergency rooms and save time.
4.Clinical chatrooms to solve patient queries round the clock
5.Provide physical and emotional counseling for an improved sense of wellbeing.
5. Nurses’ wellbeing and growth
Nurses laboriously plow through immense stress and pressure situations. The pandemic had them worked to their bones, leading them to the brink of physical, mental, and emotional burnout.
Their wellbeing is imperative to the health industry and must be supported and advocated. Paid mandatory leaves to provide them an opportunity to rejuvenate their mental health and purpose. There may be steps to prevent them from feeling demotivated and lacking compassion towards their noble profession.
Final Words
The nursing staff has always revolved around a few key responsibilities. They are involved in pre-and post-operation care, writing and managing patient records, monitoring vitals, and taking samples. However, recent times have opened doorways for better paths and opportunities for nurses; ultimately, impacting the healthcare system.
The nursing community continues to devote selflessly to humanity. It is imperative to utilize all the skills and efforts to the benefit of evolving healthcare industry. While also catering to their personal growth and development.
