Panel Discussion

This session will provide an overview of the nursing "shortage" that is projected to increase in the next decade. It will discuss recent research and policy alternatives and examine short and long-term solutions. The session will include a focus on the California experience with the RN patient safety law requiring minimun RN-to-Patient ratios which have improved quality of care and nurse recruitment and retention in California hospitals. It will also address the work of RNs Working Together, America's largest organization of working RNs with nearly a quarter of a million members from 10 AFL-CIO unions, in promoting safe nurse staffing.

Session Objectives: 1) Analyze and discuss the situation of hospital nurses and the "shortage". 2) Describe and discuss recent research and policy alternatives that suggest new directions for recruiting and retraining nurses. 3) Describe and discuss a conceptual model of the inter-relationships between nurse staffing and patient, nurse and financial outcomes. 4) Evaluate and discuss the California experience with the RN patient safety law requiring minimum RN-to-patient ratios. 5) Discuss the work of RNs Working Together, America's largest organization of working RNs with nearly a quarter of a million members from 10 AFL-CIO unions, in promoting safe nurse staffing.

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing