Dec 12, 2016

Charting Nursing's Future Library

Charting Nursing’s Future, a series of policy briefs launched in 2005, covers a range of issues related to nursing, including education, the shortage of nurses, diversity in the workforce, and the role of nurses in quality initiatives and the Culture of Health. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has produced more than two dozen of the pieces, which are designed to educate and inform the public, including legislators, policymakers, hospital executives, and nursing education leaders. Below is a list and brief descriptions of each issue.

Since August 2017, the briefs now appear as news on the Campaign’s blog.

Nursing Interventions at the Start of Life
June 27, 2017| Issue Brief

Nurses have long pioneered programs to influence health and well-being at the start of life, but despite these programs’ success, they are far from universal.


The Case for Removing Barriers to APRN Practice
March 6, 2017| Issue Brief
The IOM issued The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, which called for the removal of laws, regulations and policies that prevent APRNs from providing the full scope of health care services they are educated and trained to provide.


Boon or Bane?
December 7, 2016 | Issue Brief
This report explores the challenges associated with three health care technologies—electronic health records, alarms, and lifting devices—that are intended to help nurses and others provide effective care.


When Disaster Strikes
May 1, 2016 | Issue Brief
Experts agree that we can expect more natural disasters, terrorist events and novel infectious diseases in our lifetimes. This issue brief highlights the crucial role of nurses and interprofessional communication in preparation for emergencies.


The Changing Face of Nursing
January 20, 2016 | Issue Brief
Experts believe a more diverse health care workforce is needed to improve the quality of patient care as the U.S. becomes more demographically diverse. A range of strategies for diversifying the nursing workforce have proved effective.


The Value of Nursing in Building a Culture of Health (Part 2)
September 1, 2015 | Issue Brief
Across the country, nurses are promoting a Culture of Health by helping employers create work environments that improve and protect employee health. Nurses play a crucial role in identifying hazards, delivering urgent care and promoting well-being.


The Value of Nursing in Building a Culture of Health (Part 1)
April 2, 2015 | Issue Brief
This policy brief showcases nurses’ roles in recognizing and addressing the social determinants of health, and their present-day contributions to prevention and health-promotion.


Addressing the Looming Demand for Care as Americans Age: How Nurses are Reshaping Long-Term Services and Supports
January 1, 2015 | Report
Nurses play an important role in designing and implementing programs that improve health care options for older Americans.


Innovation in Clinical Nursing Education: Retooling the Old Model for a 21st-Century Workforce
September 24, 2014 | Issue Brief
Health care has evolved toward population health, care coordination, and other innovative practices. Though nursing education still emphasizes hospital-based care, many educators are striving to transform clinical education.


Ten Years After Keeping Patients Safe: Have Nurses’ Work Environments Been Transformed?
March 3, 2014 | Issue Brief
This issue examines progress made in the 10 years since the IOM’s “Keeping Patients Safe” report.


The Case for Academic Progression
September 1, 2013 | Issue Brief
This issue explores why nurses should advance their education and the strategies that make this feasible.


Improving Patient Access to High-Quality Care
June 1, 2013 | Issue Brief
This issue focuses on advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).


Celebrating a Sustained Commitment to Improving Health and Health Care Through Nursing: RWJF Marks Its 40th Anniversary
January 1, 2013 | Issue Brief
This issue celebrates four decades of RWJF investments targeting nursing’s ability to improve care and strengthen the nursing profession.


Implementing the Future of Nursing Report – Part III
July 1, 2012 | Issue Brief
This brief shows how nurses are solving some of primary care’s most pressing challenges.


Implementing the IOM Future of Nursing Report – Part II
November 1, 2011 | Issue Brief
Implementing the IOM Future of Nursing Report–Part II


Implementing the IOM Future of Nursing Report – Part 1
August 1, 2011 | Issue Brief
The August 2011 issue of Charting Nursing’s Future focuses on how to dramatically increase the formal education of America’s nursing workforce by 2020.


Addressing the Quality and Safety Gap – Part III
November 1, 2010 | Issue Brief
The impact of the built environment on patient outcomes and the role of nurses in designing health care facilities.


Unlocking the Potential of School Nursing
August 1, 2010 | Issue Brief
A new brief from the series highlights the vital role school nurses play, and the funding challenge schools confront supporting nurses’ work keeping children healthy.


Expanding America’s Capacity to Educate Nurses
May 1, 2010 | Issue Brief
The May 2010 issue focuses on state-level partnerships designed to increase the capacity of nursing schools.


Perspectives on Pay for Performance in Nursing
November 1, 2009 | Issue Brief
The November 2009 issue offers the perspectives of leading experts on the challenges and possibilities of pay for performance in nursing.


Addressing the Quality and Safety Gap – Part I
July 1, 2009 | Issue Brief
The July 2009, Part 1, issue addresses the quality and safety gap.


Addressing the Quality and Safety Gap – Part II
July 1, 2009 | Issue Brief
This issue, the second in a miniseries on quality and safety, examines the role of nurses in designing, implementing, and educating clinicians to use HITs


Nursing’s Prescription for a Reformed Health System
March 1, 2009 | Issue Brief
The March 2009 issue examines nursing’s prescription for a reformed health system.


Strengthening Public Health Nursing – Part I
September 1, 2008 | Report
The September 2008, part 1, issue focuses on strengthening public health nursing.


Strengthening Public Health Nursing – Part II
September 1, 2008 | Issue Brief
The September 2008, part 2, issue focuses on strengthening public health nursing.


New Research Provides Solutions to the Nursing Shortage
April 1, 2008 | Issue Brief
The April 2008 issue shows how new research provides solutions to the nursing shortage.


Facts and Controversies about Nursing Staffing Policies
October 1, 2007 | Issue Brief
The October 2007 issue examines facts and controversies about nurse staffing policy.


The Nursing Faculty Shortage
April 1, 2007 | Issue Brief
Growth in the ranks of nursing faculty is not keeping pace with declines due to faculty retirements and a growing demand for nursing education.


New Research that Illuminates Policy Issues
September 1, 2006 | Issue Brief
This issue shows how the health care system can improve retention of older and experienced nurses.


Addressing the Nursing Shortage – Part II
February 1, 2006 | Issue Brief
Partnerships among governments, schools, and employers are getting results.


Addressing the Nursing Shortage – Part I
January 1, 2005 | Issue Brief
Issue 1 of the series shows how state nursing workforce centers collect and assess data needed for policy change.