Healthcare is transforming rapidly, with medical advances and potent drugs now capable of addressing complex health challenges. Nursing is also witnessing its own revolution, from the way students acquire the necessary skills to how they implement their learning in hospitals and community clinics.
As a career option, nursing has maintained its appeal over the years. A BMC Medical Education study highlights the factors motivating students to pursue this profession, like social prestige and financial stability. Many students also appreciated the ability to start earning quickly after graduation.
In the coming years, the profession is expected to evolve and grow to meet the demands of a changing society. Understanding these likely changes will help students and nursing professionals equip themselves with the required skills to make career progress.
A More Gender-Balanced Profession
When Chandler from the popular TV show Friends ridiculed a male nurse, it aroused strong feelings in many viewers. What does anyone’s gender have to do with their job as a nurse? Be that as it may, recent statistics show that nursing remains a women-dominated profession. A Nursing in Practice survey found that 95% of today’s nurses are women.
Late last year, a Nursing Research in Practice study found that male nursing students had unwelcome experiences during their clinical rotations, particularly in the labor and delivery units. These perceptions potentially stem from cultural biases and gender stereotypes.
In the next decade, it is likely that awareness about the dangers of such stereotyping will grow. Nurses face a severe workload, which makes keeping men away from the role a substantial obstacle to healthcare. Students can expect the profession to become more diverse and inclusive as people realize that nursing skills connect to training and empathy, not outdated gender assumptions.
The Online Shift for Advanced Nursing Studies
The current global economy is volatile and pressurized, which makes full-scope growth in many careers challenging. More students consider advanced training and certification programs to enhance their earning potential. In nursing, this has become more accessible because of the availability of affordable online courses.
For instance, students can pursue post-master’s FNP certificate online programs to become more independent in their careers. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that family nurse practitioners can earn considerably more than registered nurses. They can also enjoy greater job satisfaction. Moreover, the agency predicts that nurse practitioner positions will increase tremendously by 2032.
The foremost advantage of an online format is the flexibility and adaptability it offers students. That said, you must check the availability of residency experiences and clinical placement support. Many of these courses are affordable, making them cost-effective for passionate healthcare professionals with limited resources.
As Carson-Newman University notes, advanced nursing programs help you serve community members of different genders and age groups. You may be able to assume the role of a sole primary care provider in some regions, working on educating patients and managing chronic conditions throughout their lifespan.
Working in Collaborative Healthcare Teams
Another exciting change nursing students can expect in the near future is being part of interdepartmental teams. Healthcare is increasingly following an integrated approach, building teams comprising professionals with different skill sets for better patient care.
For example, nurses may work closely with physicians, psychologists, and occupational therapists. Such a team can identify and address a patient’s concerns better than possible by working in silos.
Nursing students can prepare for this changing dynamic by enhancing their interpersonal caliber and other soft skills such as communication. Being a part of a multidisciplinary team requires the confidence to interact with your colleagues, regardless of their position in the hierarchy. You should be able to assert your views and share recommendations based on your interactions with the patient and previous experience.
Increasing Focus on Mental Health
Nurses have always played a substantial part in helping patients recover mentally—a challenging proposition after life-altering illnesses or accidents. In the future, their involvement in mental wellness is likely to increase.
A JAMA Network study finds that mental health issues have become more prevalent from 2011 to 2022. The CDC reports that mental distress is common in around 33% of people with disabilities. The conditions seem to worsen with smoking, obesity, and inadequate sleep.
Addressing this situation will require the involvement of more medical professionals, from therapists to nurses. Consequently, psychiatric nursing is emerging as a highly relevant profession. It needs an amalgam of technical and non-technical skills, from talk-based therapy to trauma-informed care.
As nursing evolves, giving these specialty fields their due importance will be imperative to train students and remove pre-existing stigmas. For example, some professionals may mistakenly believe that mental health nursing is inferior to generalist nursing—an attitude that can impact learning and workplace dynamics.
It seems likely that the next decade will be a time of transformation and discovery for nursing—a time you can use to advance personal growth and public health. Staying abreast of the ongoing changes and preparing for them can help you become more adept in your nursing career.
