Dear Governor Lingle and State Legislators:
The Hawai’i State Center for Nursing is pleased to submit this report summarizing
our activities and accomplishments over the past year.
The Center was established by the Legislature in 2003 by Act 198 (HB 422 HD2,
SD2, CD1, SB2072). The Center’s functions are to:
1) Collect and analyze data and to prepare and disseminate written reports
and recommendations regarding the current and future status and trends of
the nursing workforce;
2) Conduct research on best practices and quality outcomes;
3) Develop a plan for implementing strategies to recruit and retain nurses;
4) Research, analyze and report data related to the retention of the nursing
workforce.
The strategic plan which was developed by the Advisory Board in 2004 incorporates
these functions.
The Center has continued operations with a full complement of staff including an
Executive Director, two half time PhD Nurse Researchers and an Administrative
Assistant. The Advisory Board provides active oversight of all activities and guidance
in the accomplishment of Center goals.
In 2007, the Center has focused on the following activities:
1. A supply survey was completed in collaboration with the Board of Nursing.
This online survey was also sent, along with general information on the
nursing shortage, via hard copy to all registered nurses listed as licensed
in Hawai’i. A forty percent response rate was achieved and provides
demographic details of the current nursing workforce and projected
shortage. A full report is being printed.
2. A Fact Sheet on Hawai’i’s nursing shortage has been updated to provide
the most recent data on the nursing shortage.
3. The annual Educational Capacity Report on the educational capacity of
100% of the schools of nursing in Hawai’i was completed and distributed
to stakeholders.
4. The Hawai’i Partners in Nursing Project funded by the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation continues to be implemented. This partnership
between the HMSA Foundation and the Hawaii State Center for Nursing
focuses on recruitment and retention of nurses in the long term care setting. Nine statewide partners have worked diligently to implement all
three arms of the project.
5. A 5-year longitudinal study of new graduate registered nurses is ongoing.
This study will identify issues in new graduate turnover and best practices
in retention.
6. A Nurse Leadership Training Program was developed and conducted as a
pilot program for two groups of staff nurses (a total of 71) from acute care
hospitals representing Hawai’i, Maui, Kauai and Oahu. Successful
feedback has resulted in interest and support from hospitals and health
systems allowing the program to become self sustaining.
7. The Center was an active participant in the 5th Annual Conference of
State Nursing workforce Centers, “Taking the long View”. We were
honored to be part of a distinguished group of nursing leaders and
presented our Hawai’i Partners in Nursing project on two panels and a
poster session.
8. The Advisory Board held a one day retreat to update the Strategic Plan.
Additional stakeholder input and feedback will be gathered over the next
year.
9. A New Graduate Nurse Internship Program is being developed with a
standardized curriculum for preceptor training and education. A consultant
and the originator of the Vermont Nurse Internship Project, is engaged to
conduct a workshop for representatives of acute care hospitals statewide.
A pilot project is in the design phase.
10. A Nursing Workforce Summit was held in December, 2007 to include
statewide stakeholders in developing strategies for a stronger nursing
workforce. There were 107 registered nurses from across the state who
participated including 30 from the neighbor islands. Specific goals are
being identified for future action.
The Advisory Board and the staff of the Hawai’i State Center for Nursing would like
to thank Dean Mary Boland at the University of Hawai’i School of Nursing and Dental
Hygiene for her collaboration, guidance and support.
Respectfully Submitted by,
Joan White, MBA, RN
Chair, Advisory Board
Hawai’i State Center for Nursing
Barbara P. Mathews, MS, APRN, CNAA
Executive Director
Hawai’i State Center for Nursing |
