Compare and contrast the two major IOM reports on nursing

1. Answers will vary but should include reference to the following:

The IOM 2004 report uses a different approach than its 2011 report. The first report focuses on nurses practicing acute care, primarily staff nurses who are the front line of defense against errors and act to improve care. The 2011 report does not focus so much on acute care but rather looks to the future, noting that nurses will move out of acute care. Although it is clear that nurses will always be needed in acute care, the report does not focus on this. The recommendations from the 2004 IOM report include:

•   Adopt transformational leadership and evidence-based management.
•   Maximize the capability of the workforce.
•   Understand the work processes so they can be improved.
•   Create and sustain cultures of safety.

The Future of Nursing report focuses on expanding nurses’ roles in a redesigned healthcare system. In comparing these eight recommendations with the concerns of the 2004 IOM report on nursing, it is easy to see that the later 2011 report focuses more on education and advanced practice with concerns about scope of practice.

3. The 2004 report focuses on nurses practicing acute care, primarily staff nurses who are the front line of defense against errors and act to improve care. The 2011 report does not focus so much on acute care but rather looks to the future, noting that nurses will move out of acute care and focuses more on education and advanced practice with concerns about scope of practice.