9 Things To Know About Nursing In 2022
In the past couple of years, the pandemic led to huge changes in the nursing field. So here’s all you need to know about nursing in 2022.
Nurses are the most respectable and trusted healthcare providers all over the world. Their extensive coursework and rigorous training allow them to work in almost any healthcare division.
From caring for patients with mild health conditions to working in ICUs, nurses dominate the healthcare field by a considerable percentage.
Like every other career, the nursing practice goes through various changes with time. Each year, new trends emerge which facilitate the nurses in providing quality healthcare.
In the past few years, dramatic changes occurred due to the onset of covid-19. Let’s have a look at nine trends we expect to see in 2022 that can transform the field of nursing.
How Nursing Has Changed In 2022
Here is how nursing changed nowadays, especially amidst the Covid-19 pandemic:
1. Higher Demand For Specialized Nurses
Nursing programs for registered nurses (RNs) are quite comprehensive on their own. In the past, few nurses went back to school for an advanced degree in a particular specialization.
Nowadays, the demand for specialized nurses is continuing to rise. This is due to shortages of healthcare personnel on a global level.
RNs usually go for an MSN degree to become nurse practitioners. This allows them a certain level of independence in their practice.
Different healthcare facilities are in dire need of specific nurse practitioners. Mental health facilities look for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners to care for mentally ill patients.
Similarly, hospice care demands geriatric care nurse practitioners to care for old people with chronic illnesses.
2. Online Nursing Programs To Become More Popular
As the demand for specialized nurses grows with each passing year, online nursing programs become more popular. Covid restrictions lent a hand in this growing popularity as well.
Many registered nurses enrolled in higher degrees like an online RN to BSN program to level up their nursing careers. An online degree program allows them to continue their full-time job while pursuing their education.
3. Virtual Simulations For Nursing Schools
Nurses who started their education pre-pandemic had to endure the transition from on-campus to online education when covid restrictions were put in place.
This made the education systems realize the importance of incorporating the latest education technology for better academic experiences online.
One of the educational trends we see in nursing schools is virtual simulation. It is expected to make ground-breaking progress in the coming year.
Nursing is a practical field. Nurses have to learn to handle surgeries, dress wounds, administer intravenous injections, etc.
Virtual simulations allow the students to practice such procedures in virtual reality while taking classes online.
4. Nurse Education Becomes A Top Priority
The world is going through a nurse shortage crisis. Due to this, it is the need of the hour to educate and train more nurses. We expect to see nurse education becoming the most sought-out field in the future.
More nurses will be expected to pursue educational technology so they can educate and train the new nurses in a better way. For this purpose, nurse educators will have to be up-to-date with the technological advancements in nursing.
5. Better Work Environment For Nurses
Burnout is common in nurses. This is due to the high-pressure working conditions and long work hours.
Nurse shortage has also contributed to more burnout cases among nurses when they are forced to work extra hours to make up for the shortage.
To counter this, many healthcare facilities have started to take appropriate steps. The mental and physical health of nurses has become a top priority.
Healthcare facilities offer more paid leaves and vacation days, as well as mental health insurance to their nurses. They also strive to hire more staff and divide the workload equally among them.
6. Job Prospects For Nurses Have Considerably Increased
Following the nurse shortage situation, job prospects for nurses continue to increase.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 2 million new jobs opened for registered nurses in 2020 alone. Each year, approximately 194,500 new jobs open for nurses, and the number is projected to increase with each passing year.
More and more students are projected to opt for nursing in the coming years. It is expected that nursing will become the most popular career choice in 2022.
7. Home Healthcare Trend Has Gained Popularity
With pandemic restrictions in place for the past two years, many people are unable to leave their homes in cases of medical emergencies.
Hospitals and clinics have become crowded with covid-19 patients. Healthcare professionals issued a warning to stay at home to avoid catching the lethal virus.
To solve this problem, many nurses make house calls for their patients. These patients include people with mild health conditions. Old people who have difficulty moving also receive house calls from nurses.
In 2022, we expect to see more and more nurses providing healthcare to our doorsteps. This also helps them observe the environments of their patients. They can easily educate the family members on how to care for the patient at home.
8. Technological Transformation For Approachable Healthcare
People want a more approachable healthcare system. In remote areas, many people have difficulty during medical emergencies.
They either have to wait for professionals to arrive, or they have to commute a long way to reach a healthcare facility. Either way, it is extremely inconvenient for the patients as well as their families.
Technology has paved the way to deal with this problem. With the introduction of telehealth, many people can communicate with nurses regarding their medical condition and work towards a solution.
9. Artificial Intelligence Transforming The Field Of Nursing
Artificial intelligence has broken barriers in many fields, including nursing.
A technology called Zero User Interface (Zero UI) reduces screen time for nurses and consequently makes it easy for them to use technology. Language processing tools allow the devices to recognize the voice commands.
The Takeaway
Knowing the latest trends can help you improve your practice to a considerable degree. As science and technology evolve, we continue to see new and exciting trends more frequently than ever.
These trends significantly transform nursing and make it better. Keeping track of these trends can help us improvise our practice and do our part to make a difference.
