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April 2, 2001 Washington Panel formed to explore hospital workforce shortage A commission of health care experts will tackle the workforce shortage in hospitals, the American Hospital Association has announced. The commission will have its first meeting in the next couple of weeks, and will present a final report at the AHA’s annual meeting in April 2002. The report will outline strategies to increase recruitment, retention and development of qualified caregivers in hospitals. Peter Butler, president and CEO of Methodist Health Care System in Houston, was named chairman of the commission. "This is one of the most significant issues facing every hospital," Butler said in an AHA news release. "The report developed by this commission over the next year will be the road map to guide us through the next generation."
Austin, Texas Texas newspapers increase coverage of nursing shortage Last week, the Amarillo Globe-News published a series of articles about nursing and the nursing shortage. The articles covered ways that hospitals, nurses and politicians are working to address the shortage. Early in March, the San Antonio Express-News published an editorial that supported a legislative initiative to double the number of nursing graduates by 2007. Another editorial in favor of the proposal appeared March 17 in the Houston Chronicle. Last week, the Texas Hospital Association mailed CEOs and hospitals packets of information about the nursing shortage. The packet included ideas for stories in the local media.
Washington Coalition advises pay boost for nursing home RNs Nursing homes throughout the country are in the midst of a staffing crisis that threatens to jeopardize the quality of life for their residents, according to the Campaign for Quality Care, a coalition of consumer advocates, health care professionals and long-term care providers. The group has issued a statement calling for changes in Medicare and Medicaid payment systems to allow for higher wages and better benefits for nurses. "We believe the [staffing] crisis can be alleviated or resolved by changes in our public policies, professional practices and education," the organization said in a statement. To request a copy of the Campaign for Quality Care Consensus Statement, call (202) 508-9432, or visit www.aahsa.org.
Washington Nursing shortage causes nationwide ER shutdowns The number of Americans who visit hospital emergency rooms is increasing, yet nursing shortages and financial cuts are forcing ERs to shut down, according to a report by the American Hospital Association. The number of ER visits has risen 15 percent since 1990, yet more than 800 emergency departments closed between 1990 and 1999, the report said. To address the nursing shortage, the association recommends two tactics: First, the government should give grants to encourage nursing careers. Second, tax incentives should be established for people who go school to become nurses or lab technicians.
Long Beach, Calif. E-service helps hospitals cope with shortage E-Staff Inc. has developed a new online communication, scheduling and training service that could help hospitals cope with the nursing shortage. Nurses can visit the site at www.e2staff.com to shop for shifts and facilitate continuing training and maintenance of credentials. The site is being tested at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. The site will help hospitals manage their staff in a more flexible way, which will control their temporary staffing costs, according to a press release by E-Staff Inc. For nurses, the service will cut the amount of time spent on daily hospital communication and shift scheduling.
Pasadena, Calif. Kaiser launches scholarship program Kaiser Permanente has launched the $280,000 Deloras Jones RN Scholarship Program that will provide financial aid to nursing students throughout California. The program will award more than 100 scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 each. Nursing students are eligible if they are enrolled for the 2001-02 academic year in an accredited California nursing program and are planning to graduate no earlier than December. Scholarships will be awarded in the following categories: affiliate (one $1,000 award for each Kaiser Permanente-affiliated campus), nursing as a second career, underrepresented groups in nursing such as minority and male nurses, academic excellence (requires a 3.9 minimum GPA), and graduate/doctoral studies (master’s or Ph.D. student). To request an application packet, students should contact their school’s financial aid office or call (510) 987-4950. ~compiled by Heather Stringer |
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