The role of State-based action coalitions in advancing IOM goals
The fifty one State-based coalitions led by nurses, business affiliates, consumers, and
health practitioners continue to play role in advancing IOM report goals and addressing health
care costs. The states have formed committees to implement IOM report recommendations by
strengthening nurse education by developing new models of nursing education that aim at
furthering continuous quality improvement initiatives (Stringer, 2019). The action coalitions are
developing workforce demand models that identify faculty shortages. The action coalitions are
advocating for removal of practice barriers at state level and expanded opportunities for
collaboration.
The state based coalitions are expected to advocate for removal of state restrictive
regulations that hinder diversity of practice to ensure nurses practice according to their changing
education system and standards. The coalitions are expected to ensure diversity in nurse
workforce and improve the proportion of nurses with doctorate degrees to 50 percent by 2020
(Thew, 2019).
State action coalition initiatives advancing nursing profession
The Texas Action Coalition spearheads several initiatives aimed at advancing nursing
profession. The first initiative is fostering interprofessional ties with higher education institutions
and nursing schools within the state to increase the percentage of registered nurses with a
baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020 (Campaign for Action (n.d.). The state coalition has
partnered with nursing accrediting bodies and nursing education funders to increase the diversity
of students and prepare a workforce that will meet the needs of a diverse population. The
coalition requires employers to offer advanced degree scholarships and expand clinical
partnerships with training institutions (Campaign for Action (n.d.).
The second initiative spearheaded by the state coalition is removal of barriers that limit
the practice of nurses with advanced degrees and special clinical training. The state coalition is at
the forefront in calling for amendments in restrictive regulations that hinder practice of nurses in
hospice settings, surgical rooms, and acute care settings (Campaign for Action (n.d.). A diversity
of practice permits will ensure nurses maintain direct contact with patients and actively
participate in their treatment planning.
Barriers to initiatives advancements
The Campaign for Action in Texas lists several barriers that include funding and resource
challenges in implementing IOM recommendations. The existing nurse workforce requires
financial resources or funding for their higher education in ensuring the proportion of nurses with
baccalaureate degree meet the 80 percent target by 2020. The nurse advocates are addressing the
challenge by requiring education funders to offer loan forgiveness and scholarships to nursing
students (Campaign for Action (n.d.).
The second barrier is the low representation of nurses in policy decision making despite
the fact that nurses comprise a significant majority of entire healthcare workforce in the state.
The coalition is addressing the barrier by urging health care institutions to support nurse
leadership and management competency development by implementing residency professional
growth and development programs (Thew, 2019).