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, 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 Virginia Magnet 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!