Changes in Nursing Roles in the 21st Century

As a nurse, the roles you have to play in health care have become more defined and professional in the 21st century following the advent of new technologies, new drugs, changes in health care policies and insurance, as well as the global shortage in nurses and doctors. This has prompted the profession to reinvent itself to enable you to provide satisfactory health care to patients.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice

• Typically, Clinical Nurse Specialists specialized in managing specific diseases and were required to look after the patients under the supervision of a doctor. As a CNS nurse of the 21st century, you can now work in most fields of medicine as a clinician, consultant and a researcher. You can also make a diagnosis as well as order tests and investigations into certain illnesses. Alternatively, you can refer patients to the appropriate consultant, prescribe a large number of drugs and lead a minor injuries unit in the hospital including an Accident and Emergency unit, or A&E.

The Role of the Nurse Practitioners

• Nurse Practitioners are certified to provide health care to patients in outpatient or community settings. The role of the nurse practitioner has been marked with tremendous changes since the 1960s when it was initially started, majorly to help the underserved communities in rural areas. In the 21st century, you can now be stationed anywhere in the state including in rural, suburban, and urban communities, and practice in various departments of the health care system. You can also prescribe drugs, order and interpret diagnostic or laboratory tastes, diagnose patients, treat common illnesses and minor injuries as well as monitor patients with conditions such as asthma, hypertension or diabetes.

Nursing Professional Development Specialist Roles

• Nursing Professional Development Specialists, or Nurse Educators, are registered nurses who teach and prepare trainee nurses to work in the hospital setting. Given the growing shortage of nurse educators and nurses in the 21st century, most nurse educators have resorted to working part time as nurse practitioners as well as nurse educators in strengthening the nursing workforce. The American Nurses Association identifies this as a complex practice; that apart from merely teaching nursing as they used to do, they teach technology and assist nurse researchers in research besides collaborating with physicians.

Certified Nurse-Midwives Roles

• A Certified Nurse-Midwife is a nurse who is trained in both nursing and midwifery. Usually, to qualify as a midwife, you must be certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. In a period leading to the middle of the 20th century, midwives managed women's health while focusing on pregnancy, childbirth, care of the newborn and family planning. But as the 21st century midwife, you can perform additional functions that complement the role of a physician. To be certified as a midwife, you must now go through formal education where you may learn information management, business management and instructional technologies to equip you with the knowledge to work in various departments within the hospital.