Nursing Ambassadors
Collectively and individually, nurses will define the future of the profession

By Carol Bradley, MSN, RN, California Editor
November 19, 2001

As many efforts abound to address the long-term shortage of registered nurses in California, and many interested parties want a say in the direction taken, one thing remains true: Nurses, and only nurses, will define the future path and direction of our profession. While input and dollars are welcome, it needs to be nurses who ultimately set the course for what our profession will become. There is no doubt that we have our work cut out for us.

There is a new furor of interest by many, both inside and outside of nursing, to address the growing nurse shortage. It will require a great deal of effort on the part of the nursing community to ensure that this dramatic increase in attention is not limited to simply increasing the number of nurses. We also need to ensure that significant effort is channeled into improving the quality of the work environment and economic rewards of our profession. Keep reminding everyone that there are no quick fixes.

Fortunately, one of the best things about the California nursing community is that while we are small in number, we are mighty and rich with talent, energy and a commitment to our profession. We already have proved our ability to tackle challenges and forge a new path. We have a multitude of evidence that speaks to previous accomplishments, including efforts of the California Strategic Planning Committee for Nursing, California Nursing Outcomes Project, the Coalition for Nursing Careers in California and many others. Today's challenge, however, will require even more from us.

Throughout the state, we have seen many efforts to increase recruitment of young people into nursing, expand our nursing educational programs and improve the work environment of practicing nurses. Many hospitals have demonstrated a commitment to addressing the shortage by providing significant funding to local schools of nursing to support faculty positions, enrollment expansions and student scholarships. Through the support of the California Nurses Association and other groups, nursing education received at least some legislative assistance for our community college programs last year. (Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara, co-authored AB 87, which appropriates $4 million to increase the number of nursing classes in California community colleges.)

However, these important efforts can be viewed as only short-term solutions, which ultimately must be addressed by our federal government and state Legislature. Despite the efforts of many, our nursing education infrastructure is simply not supported with adequate resources to meet today's demand for nurses, let alone that of the future. Now it is time to direct our collective energy toward building and strengthening our workforce. It is time to mobilize all California nurses to assist in this task. We each need to serve as ambassadors for our profession.

For our part, NURSEWEEK has embarked on a national research study to further explore the career intentions of nurses and how the work environment might be improved. We look forward to providing you with the results of this effort next year. As individuals, we cannot underestimate our ability to influence the understanding and image of our profession within the public eye and that of young people evaluating career options. We only have to look at our schools, churches and community activities to find places where we can begin to change the image of nursing.

First, reassess how you project your profession to others. Can you be an enthusiastic advocate for nursing as a career choice? Be willing to give some time to being an ambassador of nursing by mentoring nursing students or serving as a role model in a high school science class or some other workforce-building activity. Secondly, visit your local, state and federal representatives. Make sure they know how much nursing needs their support on the legislative front. There is no question that it will take each one of us to ensure that nursing gets its fair share of legislative attention. Lastly, commit to work with your co-workers to help your leaders create a compelling and rewarding work environment for nurses. We are all part of the solution.

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