The State of Nursing in the

Commonwealth

Shirley Gibson, MSHA, RN President

Virginia Nurses Association

OBJECTIVES

To review the status of the nursing shortage

To describe national trends and the effect on the state

To discuss the current work of nursing in the Commonwealth

Environmental Scan Shortage

Staffing

Unions

Competency

Resources

Virginia’s Nursing Shortage

Recession blip - nothing has changed to radically impact the demographics of the shortage

VNA has not changed its messaging

Virginia will be short 20,000 nurses by 2020

One in three citizens in the Commonwealth will not have a nurse when they need one

Safe Staffing Safe Staffing Advisory Council (SSAC)

Representatives from various practice sites and regions

VHHA, AARP VA, VANHA

ANA Safe Staffing Saves Lives Campaign

VNA’s messaging is there is no one solution and ratios will not solve this

Collaboration is key

Safe Staffing Collaboration on white paper

− VNA− VONE− VHHA

VNA Calls− Staff Nurses Provide − Sounding board− Redirect in the organization− Provide ways to open dialogue

Unions ANA MOU not renewed

− UAN − Center for American Nurses

Nurses-National Nurses Organizing Committee− UAN− CAN-NNOC (AFL-CIO)− MNA

Employee Free Choice act

SSAC and Conflict Engagement program are key message focuses that can counter the union

Good News – Progress on Education Capacity

State Council of Higher Education Report 2004

Recommended an increase of 900 and was achieved

Education Summit Team− RWJ/AARP/Center to Champion

Nursing in America

May 22, 2009 - Round Table

Good News – Progress on Quantifying Supply and Demand

Workforce Investment Act grant

Department of Health Professions – Healthcare Workforce Data Center

Advisory Committee− Physician Committee− Nursing Committee− Data Committee

Touch-points on the Minimum Data Set

Competency AARP VA – studying continuing

education requirements for nurses as well as other health care professionals

AARP VA grant to the Board of Nursing for an education workshop around this issue

Continuing education does not equal competency

National Trends Impacting Virginia

ANA− New CEO –Marla Weston, PhD, RN

Federal stimulus funds that may be available for HIT, workforce etc.

National appointment of nurse− Mary Wakefield, Administrator Health

Resources and Service Administration

Health care reform

Virginia Nurses Association

So what is VNA doing ?

The SIR Report Nurses feel unsupported in the

workplace

Whether they are a member or a non-member they feel like VNA is the voice for nursing

Evidence based messaging and strategic planning

Working together is key

Nurses feel unsupported in the workplace

Whether they are a member or a non-member they feel like VNA is the voice for nursing

Evidence based messaging and strategic planning

Working together is key

Nurses feel unsupported in the workplace

Whether they are a member or a non-member they feel like VNA is the voice for nursing

Evidence based messaging and strategic planning

Working together is key

Collaboration Continues Resource allocation remains a

challenge for all organizations doing the work of nursing

Aggregate work to share resources− VCNP is now a council of VNA− VNA/VMC partnership to advance the

philosophy of Magnet forces for nursing

− Strong alignment with VPN− Collaborating with VONE, VHHA,

AARP VA and others on safe staffing− VCNE – vision

Resources ANA, The Center for American

Nurses, and VNA will continue to be your resource for advocacy and information

VNA committed to distilling and disseminating information that is useful to the nursing community

Center For American Nurses Create healthy work environments

through:− Advocacy− Education− Research

If you are a member of ANA/VNA you are a member of the Center for American Nurses  

Center’s Priority Issues Conflict engagement

− HRSA is a grant partner− Conflict engagement module

Healthy work environments VNA received grants to address

minimal left and green working environments

NIEP grant - nurse investor education program grants for seminars and workshops

Center Products And Services

Legal Resource Center – new!− Legal Basics for Nurses webinars− Nurses First – new online journal

LEAD Summit 2009 – June 11 to June 13 in Orlando

Co-branding and partnership opportunities such as the Career Center

VNA members on Center board− Terri Haller, treasurer− Becky Bowers-Lanier, director at large

Virginia Nurses Association

The mission of VNA is to provide advocacy and education for Registered Nurses to advance

professional practice and influence the delivery of quality care

VNA’s Strategic Plan

Legislative Advocacy and Public Policy

Image

Empower nurses to attain a positive work environment

#1 Goal: Public Policy And Legislative Advocacy

Objectives

− Enhance recognition of the nursing profession

− Ensure a positive legislative and regulatory climate for nursing practice

#2 Goal: Enhance Image For VNA

Objectives

− Develop and communicate messaging that distinguishes VNA

− Use data driven methods to determine marketing and communications strategies

#3 Goal Attain A Positive Work Environment

Objectives

− Promote evidence based nursing practice to achieve nursing excellence

− Empower nurses to attain a positive work environment

Virginia Nurses Foundation Purpose is to award scholarships for

nursing education in Virginia as well as research grants

2008 Gala collaboration with the Virginia Magnet Consortium to recognize nursing excellence in Virginia

Education Day Friday, October 16

Save the date – Saturday, October 17, 2009

Nurse Leadership Institute A strategy for retention

Funded for the next five years with a grant from the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation and funds from the nursing community

Next class of cohorts is forming

The VirginiaMagnet

Consortium

VA Magnet Consortium Workforce Development

New Knowledge and Research

Professional Engagement, Professional Development and Recognition of Nursing

Guiding and Mentoring other Organizations

The NPR Membership Argument

All this work is already being done…

why do I need to belong?

Belonging IS Important! More nurses belonging to nursing

associations….− Gives additional power to the

association when speaking in front of Congress and other regulatory bodies

− Gives additional funds for associations to do work on behalf of the profession

− Puts nursing in a position to direct health care policy versus reacting to it

Plus Membership Gives You A voice in the decisions being made

for the profession – practice is local

Discounts and benefits as a member including CE and certification classes

Access to members only information

A chance to interact with nurses around the country

Your voice should be heard!

Gubernatorial election

Kitchen Cabinet

Nurse - PAC

Join And Lift Up Your Voice!