Governor Dean Promises Fast Action To Avert Nursing Shortage

[Khephra]

Governor Dean Promises Fast Action To Avert Nursing Shortage
DES MOINES--Governor Dean today proposed a five-point plan to address the current and impending nursing shortage, warning that a failure to address this crisis threatens the quality and availability of health care for years to come.

"According to a recent government report, the nursing shortage will grow from 6% in 2000 to 12% in 2010, resulting in a shortage of approximately one million nurses. This drastic shortage comes at a time that we need nurses more than ever. This is a problem that this country can't afford to ignore--for the sake of patients and families, our health system, and nurses themselves." Governor Dean said in comments to nurses here.

"The symptoms are already with us. Many American hospitals have nurse staff vacancy rates in double digits--some are already over 20%. As the burden on nurses has increased, their health and safety on the job have become threatened. The stress and strain of large patient loads and low staffing take a toll with one result being injury rates higher than those in many heavy industries."

Dean explained the nursing crisis facing the U.S. health care system, citing statistics that the average nurse in America is 44 years old and is also planning to leave his or her current job within a year, and hopes to retire within about 10 years. "We have the perfect equation for disaster: we aren't getting enough young people and too many of those at the height of their competence are leaving," Dean said.

"How do we solve this problem?" Dean asked. "Ask a nurse. I have. And that's how I developed my plan to address the nursing shortage, which will restore new health, vitality, safety, and vigor to the nursing profession."

Governor Dean's plan includes:

1) Banning "mandatory overtime," so nurses aren't forced to work double shifts

2) Improving working conditions and compensation for nurses, by making it easier, safer, and more rewarding for nurses to care for their patients by setting federal minimum staffing ratios that ensure a safe number of nurses to each patient and by providing separate Medicare reimbursement for their services.

3) Opening the door to nursing by improving minority and male recruiting, offering nurses flexible scheduling and part-time work, and improving educational opportunities for nurses.

4) Giving nurses the help they need to do their jobs, by boosting support personnel and reducing paperwork

5) Expanding the role of and compensation for independent nurse practitioners.

Dean also explained that in addition to the above five initiatives, he would work to support other goals to help alleviate the country's nursing crisis, including: bringing nurses to rural areas and other areas of need through the National Health Service Corps and by adopting scholarship and loan forgiveness programs; providing incentives for hospitals and other practice settings to subsidize nursing education and provide internship and residency opportunities for new nurses; increasing pay for nursing school faculty; engaging actively nursing leaders and front line nurses in the development of proactive policy and programs; and reducing medical errors by promoting doctor-nurse communication systems that respect the value, medical knowledge, and skills of nurses.

"Nursing is the heart of a health care system," says Dean. "If you doubt that, ask a doctor. And if any doctor doubts that, ask a patient. Day in, day out, when we are sick, scared, and in the greatest need of support, care, and technically competent help, nurses are the true helpers there, on the front line, relieving suffering and assuring safety. We know from hard research that when nurse staff ratios decrease, so does patient safety. The same happens when nurses are forced to work long beyond normal shift hours."

More information about Governor Dean's position on nursing and other health care issues is available at www.deanforamerica.com. Information about the independent Nurses for Dean is available at www.nurses4dean.com.

Read a letter from Vermont nurses concerning the situation that led the AFL-CIO to present Governor Dean with its inaugural Paul Wellstone Award for his strong support of nurses here in Vermont.

Posted by Mathew Gross at 12:27 PM

http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/002097.html#more

(I've been told by a few mods in the past week that posting Press Releases from candidates IS encouraged in BN. If the policy has changed again and I've missed it then my apologies.)

[AWD]

1. In other news...

Kerry will announce the same 5-point plan in 3 days, then attack Dean for not having a plan.

[blm]

2. Kerry was talking about this 3 years ago.

Nice of you to attack him gratuitously, as usual.

Here is some of the legislation he worked on:

April 13, 2001

Nursing Shortage Bills Introduced


Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.), a registered nurse, April 4 introduced the Nurse Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1436), which would provide $116 million annually for the next 2 years to alleviate the growing nursing shortage and also would expand Medicare and Medicaid payments for some nursing education programs. Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Jim Jeffords (R-Vt.) April 5 introduced companion legislation (S. 706). These bills were outlined at a Feb. 14 forum on nursing shortages .

Both bills would direct $20 million per year to state and local awareness campaigns that promote the advantages and rewards of a nursing career. Such efforts would include public service announcements, outreach programs targeted at elementary and secondary school guidance counselors, and interactive web sites -- all with a special focus on attracting individuals from disadvantaged communities and backgrounds. The money also would support programs that provide nursing students with remedial education in math, science, English, and medical terminology, as well as childcare and transportation related to their training.

The Capps legislation also would earmark $46 million per year for developing "education pipelines" that direct students toward careers in nursing and nurse education. A portion of this money would be devoted to scholarship/loan repayment programs for doctoral students who join nursing school faculties upon graduation. Other portions would fund grants and scholarships for nursing education at any level, help nursing schools develop gerontology curricula, fund training partnerships between nursing schools and health care providers, allow the purchase of distance-learning technology, and promote professional mentoring. The Kerry legislation would devote $20 million to educational grants and does not provide any financial incentives for doctoral students to join nursing school faculties.

H.R. 1436 includes $50 million each year for a National Nursing Service Corps Scholarship program (NNSC), framed after the National Health Service Corps, that would pay a student's tuition bill and provide a monthly stipend if the student committed to at least 2 years of service in an area/facility with a nursing shortage. The Senate proposal would authorize $65 million for the NNSC.

Both bills also propose expansion through FY 2006 of Medicare nursing training education payments to qualified non-hospital providers, as well as a temporary increase in the federal matching rate for Medicaid Nurse Aid and Competency Evaluation Programs.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


News Release: November 1, 2001

Senate Legislation Would Ease Nurse Shortage in Long-Term Care

------------------------------------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- The severe shortage of nurses and nurse assistants in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and home health agencies could be reduced, and quality of care would be improved with the passage of health care staffing recruitment and retention legislation that was reported out of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on Nov. 1. The Nurse Recruitment Act was introduced by Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and James Jeffords (I-Vt.). The Nurse Employment and Education Development Act was introduced by Sen. Tim Hutchinson (R-Ark.).

“Long-term care providers are hampered by a tight labor market, non-competitive wage and benefit levels limited by current Medicare and Medicaid rates, negative perceptions of long-term care, and limited opportunities for career achievement,” explained Larry Minnix, president and CEO of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA).

AAHSA supports the provisions in the Kerry-Jeffords and Hutchinson bills to establish a Nurse Corps and recruitment and retention strategies to address the nurse and nurse assistant shortage. “AAHSA strongly encourages the Senate leadership in both parties to include provisions increasing the Medicaid reimbursement for training nurse assistants before this legislation is enacted into law,” Minnix added.

AAHSA believes it is important that the nation take steps now to ensure there are enough nurses and nurse assistants to meet the ongoing staffing needs of long-term care organizations throughout America.

 

###

The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) consists of more than 5,600 not-for-profit nursing homes, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living and senior housing facilities, and community service organizations. More than half of AAHSA’s members are religiously sponsored. Every day, AAHSA members serve one million older persons across the country.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[MaineDem]

3. Thank you; I was going to look for that, too

I knew Kerry was way ahead on this issue.

[blm]

29. You're welcome.

Amazing that not many are familiar with this issue thanks to the media. No wonder AWD thought Dean was ahead on this issue. The media is almost always in "protect Bush mode" and rarely feature Kerry's policies and proposals.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

5. Sorry fella.

I think you'll find what you're looking for at www.freerepublic.com

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ryharrin]

7. You can make cases for some of your points,

which I would probably disagree with, but a shitty doctor? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Where did you come up with that bullshit? Its really sad that people can't come up with logical ways to attack Dean so they have to go after him personally in absurd ways.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

11. If you're going to insult, use better grammar.

It would be "and he takes it in the rear"
I know they have lax spelling at Free Republic, but this is Democratic Underground. We use proper English here.

[Wellong]

35. Ha!

I know they have lax spelling at Free Republic, but this is Democratic Underground. We use proper English here.

That is one of the funniest things I have seen here in a long time. Misspelling and poor grammer run rampant on DU. Just as it does on every message board I have ever visited. And I personally am probably one of the worst offenders when it comes to spelling.

[BiggJawn]

12. And this makes him bad in WHAT way?

Boy, did YOU ever land on the wrong board...
That sound? Oh, nothing...Just an "Alert" cap being busted on yo ass...

[KoKo]

10. This is excellent! It's been a big problem the last 15 years and is of

crisis proportions.. It would also help the job situation for many. The situation is so bad that we've been importing nurses from Kenya here in NC!

I'm so glad to see this. He's talking about a real health care issue which no other candidate has addressed.

[blm]

14. wrong, KoKo...Kerry has been on it for three years.

Please see above posts. The media is keeping his real record from coming through. People should start asking themselves why the media does that.

[Larkspur]

15. Kerry may have been on it for years, but he's got negligible results

to show for his touting of it, or was he just using it as a campaign issue, not a problem that has to be resolved?

[blm]

19. That's absurd.

You have to make up a slam at Kerry where there is none. Just like the corporate media.

[Merlin]

13. Healthcare is Cousin Howard's secret weapon

* has let healthcare spin dangerously out of control. We are very close to crisis, and with aging baby boomers on deck. Stand by. It's gonna get very exciting in this field!

Go Howard!

[Larkspur]

16. When I got the survey from the Dean Campaign last year, this issue was

one that I asked about.

Glad that Dean has addressed it and being the frontrunner and a doctor, this issue will get more needed attention.

[Heddi]

17. As a nursing student, the ONE thing that needs to be done

is to expand nursing programs in schools across the country.

Right now, at my school, they allow 30 nursing applicants to enter the RN program 3 quarters out of the year.

Every quarter, they have over TWO HUNDRED applicants.

The requirements to get into a nursing program are set so high that it's basically impossible to get in unless you have a 4.0 GPA in EVERY SINGLE CLASS YOU TAKE.

In addition to that, you pretty much have to be an LPN or EMT for at least 2 years to get the "extra points" needed to get in.

My GPA right now in pre-nursing prereq's (Bio, MicroBio, Chem, Anatomy, Physiology, etc) is a 3.75---and that's not good enough to get in at my school.

There are several schools in the immediate vicinity that has nursing programs, but they're either like my school and have such high requirements that it's impossible to get in, or they only enter students once a year, and their lists are filled up for the next 4-5 years.

My school, in particular, can't expand their nursing program because they don't have the room to expand. They don't have the $$ to hire additional instructors---and why would a nurse be an instructor anyways? To teach, they have to have their masters---in the field, they can easily make $60k+ a year---as a teacher, they'd only be PT faculty and make MAYBE---MAYBE $30k a year.

I'm going to school with TONS of people who are trying to get into the nursing program at my school, as well as other schools. I find it hard to believe that someone who has a 3.8 GPA is 'unfit' to be a nurse---

There are SHITLOADS of people who want to be nurses, and who are sacrificing TONS of money taking and re-taking and re-takign classes just to get 1 GPA higher than they did last time---I knew people who were taking Biology for the FIFTH TIME just so they could get a higher grade=---is that a useful expendature of their time and money? Of the school's time and money? I hardly think so.

ALLOW the people who WANT to be nurses to BE nurses---the country would be in a great deal better shape if they facilitated the process of getting into nursing schools.

And pisses me off---at my school, there are at LEAST 15 programs for various Web Master, IT Tech, Computer Guru type degrees---HELLO!!! There is not a shortage of people in those fields. Yet pre-nursing classes like Biology and Physiology and Microbiolgy keep getting cancelled every single quarter b/c they don't have the space for the students, nor the funds for the teachers. So you've got people who have been waiting 6 months or more just to get into a basic biology class.

Cut back the computer classes and focus on the nursing classes---that's where the need is. That's why there are over 200 students EACH QUARTER trying to fill 30 slots.

The desire is there. They're just not able to meet the need due to money restrictions

[Malva Zebrina]

18. wanna know something?

there has always been a nursing shortage and there has always been double shifts and complete fatigue and burn out. I am an old time nurse who nursed as a career for thirty five years in all sorts of diversified, postions--with more than half the amount of credits it took to gain a degree in nursing after attending a three year school, including summers, and gaining my license. When there was decreed to be a "shortage" imports from Ireland were utilized to fill the hospitals with nurses they could pay less to-they came in droves-and those were glad to get it compared to what pay they got in Ireland (and other places)

Nurses have never had any representation in labor. They (we) were actually taught, in those , what seems as midieval days, that going on strike was "unethical"--so we ran back and forth , up and down the the halls of hospital carrying an obscene patient load, while the cafeteria workers, and the kitchen workers who were unionized, went on strike without the slightest bit of guilt over abandoning the sick and infirm. and they got their raises, while we worked double shifts. Then, we were jerked around by those who decided that nurses needed a college education in order to be good nurses. Uh huh--a three year hospital affiliated school cost me five hundred dollars for three years--and the college course cost in the thousands. Uh huh. They were wussy--I have retired without any pension whatsoever, in spite of complete loyalty to hospital employers. Nurses need a union--period.

[Heddi]

20. In washington, Nurses are Unionized

or at least that's what I understand---a gal I'm going to school with has a sister who's a nurse and I'm pretty sure she said that she (the sister) was unionized.

It sucked in South Carolina, I used to work in kitchens as a chef--there were NO restaurant unions there! Talk about abusing your workforce---scheduling people for 39.75 hours JUST so we wouldn't be avail for benefits, then working us shitloads of overtime, much of it off the clock---it was horrible.

Tell me about nursing---I can't wait to start being a nurse :)

[Malva Zebrina]

21. My advice

is that you go on and pursue the more lucrative MD postion where you will get the money you deserve for all of your efforts, or at least the respect you certainly do deserve--do not pursue the nurse practitioner position=-it is going nowhere, imo--go for the MD, the doctor postion. Go for it. At least then you do have a chance at some sort of monetary gain that will make up for your time and your monetary investment in your career, if you must open your own health care office or clinic. Then you will have leverage and you will have the potential to be making some good money. It is foolish to assume that you are actually "helping" anyone in their health needs if you cannot even make eneough to help yourself or your family with the money you make and the effort you put into it as a nurse, not to mention the money you put into your college nursing education--and the effort that often burns you out because of it's high demands. I was very idealistic and now have ended up with nothing but memories and no money after thirty five years of service to the sick.

Become a doctor or open your own business using your degree and yhour talents as a nurse--you can open a business for home health care for instance and recruit or train home health aids -- working for others in a hospital situation, as a nurse imo, will keep you in a certain salary range that is not compatible with your efforts and your willingness to help heal--not to mention the demands on you and your physical health in order that they make the money off of you.

Do not get caught up in the "angel of mercy" schitck. Doctors don't--why should nurses?

[dixielib]

23. Bah humbug!

No, no, no! Nurses are not less-educated doctors. It is an entirely different occupation! I'm sorry you ended your career unfulfilled! What a pity! I didn't become an "angel of mercy" for the money or for the recognition but found out it was there AFTER I got there. Nurses can make very nice money if they are well educated but not have to take 24/7 responsibility for their patients. Doctors and nurses have entirely different occupations. Their approach to patients is entirely different. I chose my path and it is very rewarding! I see few docs with the same approach.

[Malva Zebrina]

24. Oh bullshit--they are less educated doctors by all measurements

I did not end my career unfulfilled and to say so shows exactly how compassionate and understanding you as a nurse are, if indeed you are a nurse. and if you are a nurse, I suggest that with attitudes like that, you probably do not have the finest reputation for compassion and caring. That is a totally ignorant and assine remark as well as a judgement that you cannot ever possibly justify-Sheesh--what a poor and pathetic statement you post toward those who have dedicated many of their years to service of the sick and ill. That is an indication of a pugnacious, unfulfilled person.

[dixielib]

26. I am neither poor nor unprepared for retirement

I may not have achieved your 30 years of experience yet...i have two years to go to do that, but I have put money into my retirement and so has the hospital I have worked for. I hate "corporate america" but that is another discussion entirely.

[newyawker99]

32. Hi dixielib!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Heddi]

33. well, I wish I could become a doctor

however, i'm almost 30 and don't look to spend an additional 12 years in school, and plus, I'm not that good at Chemistry and Math, and had a hard enough time passing Chem 101 and 201----

Alas, not all of us are cut out to be Dr's (much to my husband's chagrin)

[pmbryant]

34. Why not?

Nursing sounds plenty difficult to me, and you're clearly going to be an excellent nurse someday soon. How much more difficult can being a doctor be?

(Me, personally, I have absolutely no clue.)

:shrug:

--Peter

[dixielib]

22. Heddi, nursing is great!

I received my degree in nursing in 1975 and have never regretted a day I spent in the field. You laugh, you cry, you hurt, you swell with pride. You will have experiences no other career will give you. You will see the best of folks and the worst. Your greatest rewards will be when you see the worst and let that person retain their dignity, or give them dignity they have never known. Keep your head when things are going wrong, then let yourself cry when you get home.

Dr. Dean and Mr. Kerry are to be commended for their support of nurses...they are recognizing folks that many take for granted. I have worked the double shifts, the extra days. I have spent hours getting paperwork done after my shift was "over". (But don't get me started on paperwork...the bane of our existance.)

Hang in there, be glad your school has high standards...your patients deserve it!

[Rose Siding]

25. Thanks, dixilib

It's nice to see such uplifting encouragement. You sound like the kind of nurses I've been fortunate to have had.

Welcome to DU :hi:

*FYI:
http://nurses4dean.com/

[Malva Zebrina]

27. laugh and cry and swell with pride

It is all very humble and deserving of great accolades--but you are working your ass off and not being compensated monetarily for your efforts and your investment in your education, then you have fallen prey to the emotional schtick of the saintly "angel of mercy" label. What exactly are they teaching young students nurses these days? The same crap of sacrifice and humbleness? Doctors do not sacrifice themselves for this--why should nurses? Why do you not have the same independance and the same professional opportunities? OK, be satsified with double shifts and all of it--for the sake of your saintly martyrdom--I still say, for a young woman who is smart, go for the MD and not the nurse--you will always be under the thumb of the institution you work for--an employee subject to the employer the health institution--MD's generally as a rule are not in that position--they will, in fact in many cases, actually own and BE the institution you will work for as the saintly nurseand the will see to it that you stay there. Why not go for the higher career if you are going to invest that much time and money in it?

[surfermaw]

28. Sounds similar to Edwards

Edwards, ideas went a little deeper, to helping nursing students help to pay fot their education....much better if I remember correctly

[goforit]

30. Whooo hooo DEAN!!!!........WE need people who care!!!...NOW!!!!

Just because Kerry/Gepthart/Edwards are attacking him non stop,
is just gonna make people like me give Dean more money!!!

GO DEAN!!!!!!

[Nottingham]

31. It is a CRISIS! and it isn't being addressed!

Its Only going to get Worse :bounce:

[GinaMaria]

36. it is a crisis

it's a huge mess, but I have to tell you after 6 years away from the profession, I can't imagine going back to it.

There are more women in med school than nursing school now. The gender disparity in the nursing profession never evened out like people had thought or hoped it would.

I'm not sure what the solution is, but we are headed for trouble if we don't come up with something. This isn't a job that can be automated with computers.

Peace