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Congressional Staff to be Briefed on Nurse Faculty Shortage

August 31, 2004

Industry Leader Credits Hard Work, Determination, Licensing Fees as Keys to its Success

Baltimore, Md. – The Americans for Nursing Shortage Relief Alliance, an alliance comprised of over 50 nursing organizations, in cooperation with Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), will brief U.S. Congressional staff members on the nation's growing nurse faculty shortage at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 8, at 902 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. A staunch supporter of nursing education, Sen. Mikulski has worked continuously for funding increases in Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act as amended by the Nurse Reinvestment Act, and has helped champion that act through the Senate.

Janet D. Allan, PhD, RN, CS, FAAN, dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing, will moderate the panel discussion, “The Other Side of the Nursing Shortage: The Faculty Crisis.” Topics of discussion include: Current Nursing Shortage Statistics, The Faculty Shortage in the Clinical and Academic Arenas, Diversity and Healthcare, and Innovative Ways to Address the Problem.

The briefing comes at a time when our nation is facing a critical and growing shortage of nursing faculty, which most people are not aware of. In 2003, baccalaureate nursing programs turned away nearly 16,000 qualified applicants across the country, primarily due to lack of faculty. Maryland baccalaureate and associate degree nursing programs turned away 1,850 qualified applicants.

For more information about the briefing, contact Vanessa Kearney at 202-626-2250 orvkearney@aha.org.