Letter of Support for Nevada’s Regional Action Coalition

August 4th, 2011

Jennifer Richards, PhD, RN, CNRN
Nevada Alliance for Nursing Excellence
Renown Health
1155 Mill Street
Reno, NV 89502

Dear Dr. Richards:

The Nevada chapter of the National Student Nurses Association (NVSNA) pledges its full support for Nevada’s selection as a Regional Action Coalition (RAC) proposed by the Nevada Alliance for Nursing Excellence (NANE) and the Nevada Health Care Sector Council for the purpose of advancing the recommendations included in the Institute of Medicine’s report on The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health initiative.

This application is very timely in that it coincides with the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board’s recent selection as a grantee for a Planning Grant funded by the U.S. Resources and Services Administration. (HRSA).

The objectives of this grant are being carried out by the Nevada Health Care Sector Council, a board of 26 members appointed by the Governor representative of Nevada’s health care, labor, education, business and government sectors. The principal outcome of the project is to address workforce shortages by attaining a 10-25% increase in the primary care health workforce over a ten year period. The project will also move Nevada forward in developing a system for uniform information and data collection on health professions supply and demand.

The Nevada Health Care Sector Council has identified nursing as one of its primary strategic workforce priorities. The Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action presents an opportunity for nurses to fully participate and provide leadership in the transformation of health care.

As a student nurse and officer of the NVSNA, I believe that it is time for Nevada to advance and become a symbol of organized leadership in the healthcare industry. Our state has historically been divided on too many initiatives due to the industrial and commercial variability that our unique economy supplies. For this division to extend into our healthcare workforce is unsafe, inconsistent, and prevents growth and positive leadership. It is unfortunate to say that all nursing students in Nevada have seen the impact that this has had on the quality of our education. The officers of the NVSNA believe that this coalition will be the vector needed to support the development of Nevada’s healthcare system, promoting positive change and consistency between agencies.

The NVSNA is pleased to offer our strong support and commitment to work in conjunction with the RAC in addressing solutions to the challenges facing the nursing profession and in advancing quality health care for all Nevadans. We are currently planning a state convention in the early part of January and we invite and welcome the RAC to present information to all the student nurses in attendance. We believe that change must begin with those who are preparing to enter the workforce and will be future nursing leaders.

Sincerely,

Christy M. Johnson
Student Nurse, CNA, Northern Vice President of the NVSNA
nvsna.northernvp@gmail.com

Contact: Christopher Figueroa Phone: (702) 271-9546

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 12, 2010

Student nurses opposed to cuts in HIGHER education

Las Vegas, NV, February 12, 2010: The Nevada Student Nurses’ Association (NVSNA), a chapter of the National Student Nurses’ Association, represents thousands of nursing students throughout the state of Nevada is opposed to proposed cuts in higher education funding.

Robert Bacon, NVSNA President and a student at the College of Southern Nevada states, “The State of Nevada has a well-documented shortage of nurses. This shortage is not caused by a lack of nursing students, but rather by a lack in qualified educators. Instructors currently earn, on average, about two-thirds what new graduate nurses earn. This causes many qualified educators to question whether they should teach or whether they should practice their skills. Many opt to practice.”

“The state has mandated clinical class sizes” says Christopher Figueroa, Consultant to the board of directors and Former President of the NVSNA, adding, “This restricts the number of students that can enter a clinical class. If there is a lack of instructors, then schools are limited in the number of students they can admit. This limitation, both in funding and in clinical admission ratios, is what causes the bottleneck in producing highly skilled nurses. Additionally, the population is aging and will require even more nurses in the years to come. The deficit in qualified nurses is expected to grow.”

Bacon adds, “The NVSNA understands the need for fiscal responsibility. However, we do not believe that cutting education, especially in critical need areas like nursing is the correct way to remediate the budget crisis. To cut educator salaries or cut education programs will only aggravate an already serious problem. We urge our legislators to look for other solutions to the State’s budget crisis and we stand strongly opposed to any cuts in higher education.”

Anyone interested in contacting the NVSNA may do so by email at nvsna.president@gmail.com