In response to Arizona's severe nursing shortage, lawmakers have asked universities to expand the number of students accepted into their nursing programs.
Legislators are looking to double the number of graduating nursing students from 1,000 to 2,000 students by 2007. A bill recommends a partnership between universities and hospitals to develop a resource expansion program to increase the number of nurses in the work field.
The bill was passed in the House on April 8 and is being sent to the Senate appropriations committee for review. The bill would not act as a mandate but as a proposed solution.
Legislators have recommended that universities increase enrollment to 200 students per year. ASU's nursing baccalaureate program currently accepts 160 students each year.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reported in 2000-2001 that there had been a decline in nursing enrollment for baccalaureate programs for six consecutive years and three consecutive years for master's enrollment.
"Right now we have the second to lowest ratio of nurses to population in the nation," said Laurie Lange, vice president of public affairs for the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association.
The AzHHA is in support of the bill because it would allow universities, hospitals and healthcare organizations to work together to find a solution to the crisis, she said.
If the bill passes, the partnership would begin in the year 2004.
Gov. Jane Hull responded to the shortage by forming a task force in February. The task force consists of members of the medical community who are to concentrate on rebuilding the nursing profession.
Hull's spokeswoman Francie Noyes said the task force will submit an interim report in December.
Associate Dean of the College of Nursing Pamela Kidd, who spoke against the bill in a recent House committee hearing, said she is concerned with the proposal's lack of funding for universities.
The bill doesn't allot any funds to aid the program because of the state's estimated $1 billion budget deficit.
Kidd wants to be able to accommodate more students but said it is not a simple task. Funding from the state is essential for universities that agree to take on more nursing students. An increase of students would require more faculty, staff and advising, which ASU does not have readily available.
Kidd is waiting to hear from members of the task force who she said could come up with a more viable solution since they are more involved with the health community.
AzHHA plans to recruit hospitals to voluntarily provide administrative personnel to act as adjunct staff for the first year.
Reach the reporter at joanne.yuan@asu.edu.
