Interprofessional education: an essential strategy to accomplish the future of nursing goals.

The Institute of Medicine's Future of Nursing report has called for broad changes in the nursing profession for the benefit of society. Interprofessional education is one strategy to improve nursing education and enhance the role of nurses as collaborative leaders in the health care system. These are important lessons that have been learned from recent interprofessional educational initiatives and some encouraging examples of successful initiatives that are breaking down barriers across professional schools. The ultimate beneficiary of these changes will be our patients, who will receive better care. Copyright 2011, SLACK Incorporated.