Emerging Trends are Making an Impact on Nursing

With advancing technology, a large population of aging patients, and changes in legislation, the nursing industry must evolve and adapt if they wish to keep up with the current trends and continue to provide the best level of patient care.

Here are 6 emerging trends that are changing the future of nursing in a positive direction.

1. Shifting Demographics

It should come as no surprise that the U.S. population is aging. As a person’s age progresses, so does their need for healthcare. For nurses, this means that they must familiarize themselves with the common diagnoses and issues that plague older adults at a much greater rate. In addition, they also need to know how to communicate with older adults and their relatives about their care plans, preventative healthcare, and tips on healthy aging.

2. Shift to Community Based Healthcare

As baby boomers age, they are expected to seek out healthcare services in close proximity to their homes. This trend will bring about a strong demand for community-based nursing in the future. Baby boomers are predicted to shy away from institutional, hospital type facilities, and instead opt for healthcare services in the comfort of their own homes.

3. Increasing Number of Insured Individuals

With the Affordable Care Act, more Americans than ever before now have access to healthcare services. As the number of patients increases, so does the need for more healthcare facilities and qualified healthcare workers. Fortunately, this trend will provide numerous career opportunities for nurses to meet the growing demand for qualified healthcare workers.

4. Advancing Technology

Advances in healthcare certainly aren’t a new trend, but it’s one that continues to be of utmost importance every year. Nurses can expect to see an increased reliance on both portable and mobile technologies as well as a focus on telemedicine, which is particularly important in rural and underdeveloped areas. Telemedicine allows patients the ability to interact with doctors remotely via an interface, which is crucial for those who don’t live in close proximity to a certain specialist or healthcare facility.

5. Rising Focus on Preventative Care

The importance of preventative care has become another trend for the future of healthcare. Health insurance companies, as well as patients, have become increasingly aware of the connection between using preventative measures to sustain a healthy lifestyle and avoiding or preventing future health risks, such as certain diseases or chronic, problematic health conditions from occurring. For nurses, this means an increased demand for their services in areas such as working with nutritionists, chiropractors, physical therapists, and other healthcare providers that focus on healthy, natural living and preventative care.

6. Growing Need for Education

Healthcare workers will need to develop a new skill set in order to keep up with the ever-evolving demands of tomorrow’s healthcare needs. The challenge will be finding nurses with the right skill set, especially as nursing becomes more community-based and less hospital centric. Continuing nursing education is vital to adapting to healthcare trends and changes as well as maintaining a competitive edge.

Speaking of education, if you are ready to take the next step in your own nursing career, consider enrolling in Athena Career Academy’s LPN to RN program. In just one year, nurses with their LPN license can become a Registered Nurse. While the future of nursing might look a bit hectic and overwhelming, these changes are actually good opportunities you don’t want to miss out on. Contact Athena Career Academy and develop the skills you need to advance your nursing career today.