Saturday, May 26, 2007

Dozens Picket ?Hospital’s Use of ‘Traveling Nurses’

Dozens picket hospital’s use of ‘traveling nurses’

01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, July 14, 2007
By Felice J. Freyer

Journal Medical Writer

Dozens of union members picketed outside Women & Infants Hospital yesterday to protest the hiring of three “traveling nurses” to fill empty shifts in the neonatal intensive-care unit.

The traveling nurses work for an agency that provides temporary nurses to hospitals. The hospital hired the three nurses for 12 weeks starting June 18, but so far only one was needed to fill a single, 12-hour shift in the neonatal intensive-care unit, according to Paula Gillette, senior vice president for patient-care services. Otherwise they have been standing by, working administrative duties.

Gillette said that the hospital did not have serious staffing problems, but she feared that some shifts would be hard to fill in the NICU. She said she hired the travelers to make sure there would be no mandatory overtime.

But Wendy Laprade, a labor-room nurse and union leader, said the hospital had avoided hiring travelers until now, and the decision hit a nerve. “The only time there were travelers in this building was when they were scabs,” she said, recalling the bitter contract dispute in the winter of 1998-99. In that dispute, the union staged a one-day walkout, the hospital refused to let them return for 29 more days, and traveling nurses were brought into to replace them.

“Would you want to be cared for by a nurse with one foot out the door?” The union represents about 1,700 hospital employees, including 700 nurses.

“This is about them making bad choices for the patients at Women & Infants,” Laprade said. “We’ve got a commitment to the community and to our patients.”

Laprade said that by staffing with travelers instead of mandatory overtime, “they’re replacing one bad thing with another.... We truly, honest-to-God believe that it’s bad for patients.” The hospital, instead, should hire enough nurses to fill every shift, she said.

Gillette acknowledged that nurses who’ve devoted their careers to Women & Infants have a deeper commitment to the hospital than a temporary worker. But the travelers, she said, are carefully selected. “We only accept people who are highly qualified and skilled.”

The protest comes as the hospital and the union begin to negotiate a contract; the current one will expire in November. One bargaining session has been held. The union is working with a new team at the hospital, which has recently hired a new chief operating officer and human-resources director. Gillette is also new, having started April 1 to replace Mary Dowd Struck, who retired.

The summer is a difficult time for staffing at Women & Infants because births increase at the same time that staffers want vacations.

Under a new agreement with the union, the hospital offers incentives for nurses to volunteer for overtime, to avoid mandating people to work extra shifts. The program has worked well, but Gillette still feared staff shortages in the NICU, she said. Gillette said she exhausted every other alternative before turning to the travelers.ravelers.

“We think they’re testing the water with it,” Laprade said. “We want them to know it’s not going to fly.”

Said Gillette, “The challenge is coming up with a plan that satisfies universally everyone.”

ffreyer@projo.com

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Tuesday, May 22, 2007

La- Louisana Nursing Shortage

Initiative targets nursing shortage

A critical shortage of nurses is being addressed in Louisiana. Those nursing students who stay in the state after graduating and work full time won't have to pay the interest on their college loans. The interest relief is made possible by the Louisiana Education Loan Authority.

Too little attention has been paid by government at the state and national level to the shortage of registered nurses and its effect on the quality of health care. In a recent issue of Health Affairs, experts estimated that the nationwide shortage will increase to 340,000 by the year 2020. Several national surveys report that the shortage is having a negative effect on patient care and undermining the quality-of-care goals set by the Institute of Medicine and the National Quality Forum.


A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that nurses experience greater job dissatisfaction and emotional exhaustion when they are responsible for more patients than they can care for.

It is an extremely serious situation that is steadily worsening.

Part of the problem is a shortage of faculty members at nursing schools throughout the nation. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing says 42,866 applicants were turned away by nursing schools in 2006 because of an insufficient number of faculty members, clinical sites and classroom space. Budget constraints were also a factor.

Like other parts of the country, the situation in Louisiana is severe. According to estimates by the Louisiana Health Works Commission, the state needs to fill 4,000 to 5,000 positions for registered nurses and 2,500 for licensed practical nurses. As hospitals in the New Orleans area recover from Hurricane Katrina and resume full operation, those numbers will increase significantly.

The move by the Louisiana Education Loan Authority is not the complete answer but is an important step toward dealing with the shortage of registered nurses. As it is being implemented, other approaches need to be studied. A program in Pennsylvania called "Nursing Loan Forgiveness for Healthier Futures" is having a positive effect. Nursing students who meet certain guidelines may receive forgiveness for up to 25 percent of eligible debt during a three-year period. Participating employers can match the forgiveness contribution.

There are a number of requirements that must be met by those seeking loan forgiveness. Prominent among them is the stipulation that, upon graduation, students work in health-care facilities in Pennsylvania.

Many other states are developing programs to deal with the nursing shortage. It is encouraging that Louisiana has taken a significant step. More is needed, however. We recommend that the governor create a qualified task force to examine programs in other states and to develop recommendations specific to Louisiana's needs.

We must deal with the problem or face a continuing decline in the quality of health care.

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Sunday, May 20, 2007

Nursing Shortage in Florida

Nurses essential to quality care but we face huge shortage
By JUDITH HUSSEY
COMMUNITY VOICES

Nurses are a wonderful resource and a valuable commodity that is shrinking. We need to promote a positive image and appreciation for the things that they so quietly do. The silent assessments and communication of observations that nurses routinely do, are often overlooked by patients, visitors and even other staff members.

Nurses spend more time with patients than any other health care professional. Nurses are with the patient through diagnosis, treatment and end of life care. Nurses perform as caretakers, advocates, supporters and friends. Let's take a look at a few of the concerns from the nurses themselves:

· IMAGE: What do you picture when you visualize a nurse? Is it someone standing at the bedside taking vital signs? Holding a patient's hand? Emptying a bedpan? What you may not realize is that the nurse is assessing the patient's orientation, level of consciousness, breathing pattern, skin turgor, mobility, level of comfort and coping skills while performing any of these tasks. The nurse's assessments are vital to the care of the patient.

· STAFF/PATIENT RATIO: Many studies have demonstrated problems with patient outcomes directly proportional to the number of patients for which each nurse is responsible. Some states are adopting limitations on the number of patients (usually 5 maximum) that a nurse should routinely care for each shift. The trend that seems more acceptable is that the charge nurse should assess the acuity of the floor and assign the ratio accordingly. This can be a difficult task to justify to administration that looks at numbers and doesn't understand the process. Many acuity tools have been tried in the past and failed as too difficult or time consuming.

· EDUCATION COSTS: Many nurses are still paying student loans; but the salaries or tuition reimbursements are pale in comparison to the education costs. Some hospitals have led an initiative by offering an educational program for nurses in exchange for a work commitment. The state of Florida is attempting to implement a loan forgiveness program for nurses, but it needs more money budgeted and less red tape. President Bush has proposed millions to develop programs including the Nurse Reinvestment Act. This includes $32 million for student loan repayments and scholarships, $21 million for nursing diversity programs and $8 million for geriatric nurse education and nurse faculty loan repayment programs. These measures have been fueled by the knowledge that the number of new nurses will not keep up with the demand as the baby boomers reach retirement.

Health and Human Services has stated that up to 2,000 volunteer nurses would need to be mobilized in the event of a mass smallpox vaccination or other widespread health event such as a bioterrorist attack. What are we waiting for? We need new strategies to enhance the image and awareness of what a professional nurse does for the community, for all of us, 24/7, nights, weekends and holidays. An investment in nurse education and retention programs now will produce significant results in the years ahead.

Hussey, R.N., B.S.N., O.C.N., lives in Port Orange.

Boomer Shortfall

· There are 2.7 million active licensed nurses in the United States today.

· The average age of a nurse today is about 50.

· More than 2.9 million R.N.s will be employed by 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

· Despite that increase, the Department of Health and Human Services reports that a nursing shortage already exists and predicts it will grow as baby boomers age to 12 percent in 2010; 20 percent by 2015; and 29 percent by 2020.

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Friday, May 18, 2007

Conn. Projected to Have Second Worst Nursing Shortage in the Nation

Conn. projected to have second worst nursing shortage in nation

Posted May 17, 20074:45 PM
(Wallingford-WTNH)_Hospitals throughout Connecticut are experiencing vacancy rates of between 6 and 11 percent for critical healthcare professionals, a situation that is expected to worsen in the next decade.
According to a new report released today by the Connecticut Hospital Association, projections are that by 2020 Connecticut will be facing a shortage of 22,400 nurses. That would give Connecticut the distinction of having the second worst nursing shortage in the nation, second only to Alaska.
The shortage of critical healthcare professionals goes beyond nursing, however. Hospitals are also facing shortages of pharmacists, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, and other critical caregivers.
The report points out that the aging of the population is placing more demands on the healthcare system at a time when there is a shrinking and aging pool of workers. In fact, during the years 2004 and 2005, approximately 2,000 qualified applicants were turned away from Connecticut nursing schools due to a shortage of qualified faculty.

Is Victoria experiencing a nursing shortage?

Is Victoria experiencing a nursing shortage?
Average vacancy rate for registered nurses in Texas is about 11 percent
May 18, 2007 - Posted at 12:00 a.m.
BY GABE SEMENZA - VICTORIA ADVOCATE
Want the good news? If you're thinking about a Victoria nursing career, you'll have job security. The bad news? There's a reason for that.

"Texas faces a severe shortage of registered nurses," said Dr. Dan Stultz, CEO of the Texas Hospital Association. "The average hospital vacancy rate for registered nurses is about 11 percent, while specialty areas face even higher vacancy rates. The U.S. Department of Labor projects more new jobs for registered nurses than for any other occupation through 2012."

But nursing shortages can spur a decline in the quality of care to patients. Maybe that's why Texas lawmakers are wrestling with two versions of the state's two-year budget - a House plan that allocates $14 million to funding nurse recruitment and training, and a Senate plan that earmarks $6.7 million.

While lawmakers tussle, Victoria hospitals grapple with recruiting and retaining nurses of their own. Even so, local experts say Victoria has it pretty good.

"No, we don't have a shortage," said Diane Burke, nursing director at Citizens Medical Center. "I say we have just a handful of vacancies." more

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Sunday, May 13, 2007

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Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Bill to prohibit forced overtime for nurses

Bill to prohibit forced overtime for nurses
http://www.eveningsun.com/localnews/ci_5747300
Hospitals would be prohibited from forcing nurses to work overtime under a bill that won preliminary approval in the House last week.

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Efforts underway to ease America's nursing shortage

Liz O'Connor, 24, of Brandon, Fla., has always enjoyed helping others. So when Liz reached college age, it seemed only natural that she would pursue a career as a registered nurse.

It's an excellent choice on her part, because nurses are in great demand and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the United States has an acute shortage of nurses that is expected to intensify as baby boomers age and require more health care.

The latest projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that more than 1.2 million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2014. The numbers are high, in part, because many nurses in the workforce are approaching retirement. In fact, a recent survey indicates that 55 percent of nurses working today intend to retire between 2011 and 2020.

Compounding the problem is the fact that nursing colleges and universities across the country are struggling to expand enrollment levels. According to AACN's report on 2005-2006 Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing, U.S. nursing schools turned away 41,683 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate programs in nursing in 2005 due to budget constraints, and an insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites and classrooms.

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Friday, May 4, 2007

Maine, Other States Face Shortage Of Nurses

AUGUSTA, Maine -- As baby boomers age, a shortage of nurses across the nation is expected to get worse, according to a national nurses' organization.

Maine will not avoid that shortage. Dr. Barbara Higgins is chairwoman of nursing at Husson College in Bangor. Higgins said there's a shortage now, but it will hit the hardest in the next 10 to 15 years.

That's because the graying baby boomer generation will need more care. At the same time, current nurses, and those who teach nursing, are getting older as well.


The American Association of Colleges of Nursing said the shortage of registered nurses will increase to 340,000 by 2020. The good news is that the number is much smaller than earlier projections of more than twice that figure.

The nurses' association also said enrollment across the country has been increasing for the past six years. That's the case at Maine's Husson College, which is also seeing more than a 50 percent increase in its graduation rate.

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Oregon Nursing Shortage Addressed in Senate

(SALEM) - The Senate Health Policy Committee, chaired by Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson (D-Gresham), unanimously passed out legislation yesterday that will address Oregon’s nursing shortage by integrating higher education with the workforce needs of local communities.

Senate Bill 4, which Monnes Anderson co-sponsored with Senator Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin), will help Oregon confront the estimated need for 59,000 new healthcare workers by 2014.

“Senate Bill 4 will provide Oregon schools with the resources they need to educate more nurses and deliver the quality medical care Oregonians deserve,” said Senator Monnes Anderson, who has been a working public health nurse for over 25 years and has seen patient wait time increase for non-emergent care.

“Senate Bill 4 is an investment in Oregon education, Oregon communities, and Oregon’s long term future,” said Senator Devlin.

“This bill is a win-win situation. We can support living wage jobs that are vital to an economically sustainable future and, while doing so, we can provide better healthcare for Oregonians,” said Senator Alan Bates, a family physician and supporter of the bill.

Senate Bill 4 creates the Oregon Nursing Shortage Committee, which is charged with adopting criteria and awarding grants to increase the capacity of Oregon’s nursing workforce and the capacity of nursing education programs statewide.

[url=http://technorati.com/tag/[nurses]][nursing shortage][/url]

Related

Nursing Shortage Expected To Get Worse

Web Editor: Aaron Roberts, Reporter
Created: 4/30/2007 5:25:31 PM

Maine is not immune to the shortage of nurses across the country. Maine hospitals and healthcare providers have fewer nurses now than they did in years past.

It is estimated that between now and 2020, half a million to one million new nurses will be needed to fill the shortage.

Dr. Barbara Higgins, Husson College's Chair of Nursing, says there is a shortage now, but that shortage will hit the hardest in the next 10 to 15 years.

Higgins says not only will the baby boomer generation need more care, but current nurses are aging, and so are those who teach nursing.

Still, enrollment across the country has been on the rise for the last six years, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Husson College is seeing increased enrollment, and a more than 50% increase in its graduation rate.

Higgins says Husson and other nursing schools work together with local hospitals and healthcare providers to help new nurses fill the job vacancies.