CHALLENGES IN NURSING EDUCATION

Nursing professionals may believe, nursing today is advanced in the spheres of practice, research, education and administration. Nursing has moved from a traditional approach with no sound training, based on scientific background to the latest theoretical based concepts and evidence-based practice. Nursing image has changed from the hand-maiden’s role to the current Advanced Nurse Practitioner role. Nursing practice faces a number of challenges including a growing population of hospitalized patients, who are older, and more acutely ill, increasing healthcare costs and the need to stay current with rapid advances in medical knowledge and technology. These challenges are complicated by an existing shortage of nurses, an aging nurse workforce, shortage of nursing faculty members, and prospects of a worsening nurse shortage. In addition, new models of overall healthcare delivery are being developed that will impact the workforce and care delivery. Nursing education must keep pace with practice innovations and other changes in the healthcare delivery system. Education has tended to adopt advancement in the practice environment; therefore one can more easily integrate change.