The Future of Nursing Report: Policy Implications for Nursing

October 5, 2010, heralded the release of the Institute of Medicine's report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, a seminal report of evidence calling for a transformation of the U. S. healthcare delivery system in which nursing is posited as an equal and vital actor at every step of the policy and point-of-care process. Four key recommendations are offered for an action-oriented transformation of the nursing profession to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the American public, including nursing scope of practice, education levels, full partners in healthcare redesign, and workforce planning and policy. The evidence calls for nurses to serve as visionary leaders and participants in broad clinical and policy arenas along with executives, researchers, regulators, academia, and philanthropic and governmental organizations. Study recommendations have implications for all stakeholders in healthcare, including nurses caring for patients with obesity.