Nursing in the 21st century: trends, challenges and opportunities (examples from Canada, Italy and Chile)

• Fulvia Baldassarre

Abstract

Objective: to explore the most recent healthcare trends that have an impact on the present and future of nursing, to review some of the opportunities and challenges related to nursing practice and educa­tion, and to present some of the possible strategies for overcoming current challenges. Method: an environmental scan involving a search of web sites, professional journals and interviews with experts. Specific examples for practice and education were drawn from three countries: Canada, Italy and Chile.

Results: trends such as socio-demographic changes, decentralization and privatization, technological advances and globalization along with rising costs and higher public expectations are creating a situa­tion of instability in healthcare systems. As a result many nurses migrate or leave their jobs causing a worldwide shortage, and for many, poor working conditions and the inability to appropriately use their skills to effectively change patient outcomes, are daily challenges. The development of policies for training and education, interprofessional collab­oration and support from professional organizations are possible strategies to improve this situation. Conclusions: Canada, Chile and Italy are examples of countries that have created, each in their own ways, opportunities for nurses to obtain university education, and to have access to graduate programs. Improvement in the quality of both basic and continuing education as well as the use of evidence-based practice are strategies that would enable nurses, as more qualified members of a multidisci-plinary team, to participate in the improvement of current healthcare systems.

Keywords:• Nursing • Educational policy in nursing education • Modern tendencies in public health care

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