Congressional Research Service Report

Nurses Activism

Published

This report gets to the meat of the matter. It was requested by and sent to Congress and reaffirms what nurses have known. There may not be a shortage of NUMBERS of nurses, but there is a shortage of nurses willing to work in the current environment.

http://www.ana.org/gova/federal/legis/107/gcrs.htm

Some people complain we do too much research & too many studies but We have to have the research to support our claims. This one is going to pay off, too.

107th Congress

'Maldistribution' of Nurses is More Likely Than Actual Shortage, Report Says

A maldistribution of labor, rather than an actual shortage, is pinpointed as the likely culprit behind the nation's nurse staffing crisis by a new Congressional Research Service (CRS) report* (PDF).

The report, which was released to Congress May 18, noted that available labor market indicators do not indicate "conclusively" that there is "an across-the-board shortage of RNs at the present time." The document further blames "poor personnel decisions" for any spot shortages of nurses that have occurred, rather than a simple lack of available nurse recruits.

However, the report also warns that facilities could face a shortage of nurses by 2010 if "ameliorative actions" are not undertaken.

Highlighting Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) data, the report notes that graduations from nursing education programs will increase between 1998 and 2020 by 13%, compared to 10% between 1976 and 1998. But the report also cautions that while the percentage of nursing education graduations will continue to "increase steadily," by 2020, "assuming no preemptive steps have been taken, the demand for RNs could exceed supply by 20%."

ANA has long supported many of the remedies the report suggests, including increasing wages, improving working conditions and lowering education costs.

Several of these remedies have been incorporated in the Nursing Employment and Education Development (NEED) Act (S 721) and the Nurse Reinvestment Act (S 706 and HR1436), which the ANA worked on closely with members of Congress.

ANA also is working with health care leaders in the Senate and the House on a bill to ban the use of mandatory overtime, along with other number of workforce and staffing initiatives.......... http://www.ana.org/gova/federal/legis/107/gcrs.htm

(the response of nurses to register for & participate in RN Lobby Day in DC for June 26 has been excellent. So much so that we have outgrown the facility we were to use for the meetings. If youve registered, watch your mail for directions to the new meeting place. A second day has been added also - June 28. Transportation will be provided from the hotel.)

"Don't Be Left Out - Register Now for RN Lobby Day

6/18/01

This is a critical time for Nursing in the Nation's Capital. Don't miss this opportunity to impact your practice by being part of our Capitol Hill lobby day which will take place during the House of Delegates meetings. Space is still available at the Thursday session. The morning will begin with a two hour workshop on lobbying techniques. ANA will provide comprehensive training on the legislative process and effective communication strategies that you can use to advance nursing's public policy agenda. The afternoon will be devoted to meetings with your Representative and Senators. You can earn six CE credits. For more information, contact Sheila M. Roit, MPP, RN via e-mail or call 202-651-7090. "

As I stated in another thread, I have just discussed the mandatory overtime issue with Pa Senator Allen Kukovich's office. I feel that passing PA State Bill 989 banning mandatory overtime is just the start. These posts are excellent. I would like to hear from nurses just what they would say to their local legislators if they had a chance to meet face to face with them. Please share - I have directed Kukovich's intern to this site to see what nurses are saying and what their concerns are. I feel this bill will pass and our lawmakers must have the vision to see what the next step is, before it is too late. Banning mandatory overtime will not ease the shortage- we cannot stop there.

Carrie

Sometimes the most simple statements get the point across. Here is mine to our govenor: An exhausted nurse is not the nurse you want to take care of you or your loved ones. The stakes are to high and nurses are the first line of defence in the hospital setting.

CaronRN58

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we did exactly that......on 2 pages in the Nursing Activism/Politics section of this website. I think someone even posted about her meeting with Kukovich... either its towards the end of the first page or its on the second..... go to:

Website Nurses Getting Together In DC for Nurse Lobby Day

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7958&perpage=20&pagenumber=1

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