In November 2010, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published “The Future of Nursing: Driving Change, Promoting Health.” This special report examined the current state of nursing and the changing landscape of the American healthcare system and offered recommendations for the future role nurses should play. The committee that published the report, the Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, divided it into three parts. Part II of the study focused on transforming the nursing profession to improve the American healthcare system. To achieve this transformation, the committee recommended that nurses achieve higher levels of education and training, practice that education and training to the fullest extent, and take on a greater leadership role (Heller, Oros, & Durney-Crowley, 2013). Nursing is unique among healthcare professions in America because there are many educational paths that lead to an entry-level license to practice. Currently, there are three types of programs: diploma programs offered through hospitals, ADN degree programs through junior or community colleges, and BSN degree programs. While these pathways offer different opportunities for people to become nurses, the study recommends establishing a more uniform educational process. “Nursing education should serve as a platform for continuous lifelong learning and include opportunities for a seamless transition to higher degree programs. Accreditation, licensing, and certification organizations must mandate demonstrated mastery of core skills and competencies to complement the completion of degree programs and written examinations” (IOM, 2010, p. 163). The report recommends that nurses with ADN degrees and diplomas start B...... middle of document ......www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/The-Future-of-Nursing-Leading-Change- Advancing -Health.aspxLaurant M, Reeves D, Hermens R, Braspenning J, Grol R, Sibbald B, (2009). Replacing doctors with nurses in primary care (review). The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Retrieved from: http://www.bibliotecacochrane.com/pdf/CD001271.pdfThe New England Journal of Medicine (2013). Doctors' and nurses' perspectives on primary care. Retrieved from: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1212938Trossman, S (2010). IOM report calls for more nurse leaders across healthcare. The American nurse. November-December 2010, page. 1. Retrieved from: http://www.theamericannurse.org/index.php/2010/11/30/iom-report-calls-for-more-nurse-leaders-throughout-health-care/2010).