October 14, 2001
The Honorable Tommy Thompson
Secretary
Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Hubert H. Humphrey Building
Washington, DC 20201
Dear Secretary Thompson:
The undersigned members of the Americans Nursing Shortage Relief (ANSR), representing the 2.7 million registered nurses across our country, would like to thank you for your expressed commitment to alleviate the nursing shortage that is sweeping this nation. As the nation copes with the reality of the tragic events of September 11th, increased consideration is being given to the pursuit of a sound health care system that can respond to any emergency situation. Nurses, who represent the greatest number of health care professionals, play a critical role in the provision of high quality health care in the United States.
As you are aware, we are facing a looming shortage of registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice nurses. Health care facilities are reporting increasing difficulty in filling nursing positions. Press reports of emergency room diversions and the cancellation of elective procedures due to nursing shortfalls are becoming commonplace. In addition, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) projections and other sources confirm that these current shortages are just minor indications of the systemic shortage that will soon confront our health care delivery system. We recognize that the nation is currently at the beginning of the nursing shortage, and symptoms will only intensify with time unless we intervene now.
The nursing shortage is not confined solely to health care providers; a growing, significant shortage of nurse faculty also exists. The average age of a nursing professor is 52, and for associate professors the average age is 49. The impending retirement of these seasoned educators will affect the ability of our schools and universities to meet the educational health care needs of the nation. While educational incentives are important for future practicing nurses, scholarships for doctoral students and other faculty development initiatives are equally important to ensure an adequate cohort of faculty who will instruct the next generation of nurses.
The ANSR Alliance has developed a consensus document, which reflects public policy recommendations that the thirty-four Alliance members agree will make significant strides to address the concerns raised by the nursing shortage. Based on your comments at Georgetown University on September 28th, the work of ANSR would greatly advance the ongoing efforts of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. We are requesting a meeting to discuss the Alliance recommendations and believe that the consensus document can serve as a platform for efforts to address the nursing shortage within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) as well as the Department of Labor. The nursing community is committed to working in concert with the DHHS on policy recommendations to ensure an adequate nurse workforce for the nation.
Thank you for your consideration of this request for a meeting. In order to schedule the meeting and facilitate communication to the Alliance members, please contact Melinda Mercer Ray, MSN, RN, Director, Health Policy and Legislative Affairs with the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses at 202-261-2405.
Sincerely,
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
American Association of Critical Care Nurses
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
American College of Nurse Practitioners
American College of Nurse-Midwives
American Nephrology Nurses Association
American Nurses Association
American Organization of Nurse Executives
American Psychiatric Nurses Association
Association of periOperative Registered Nurses
Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Emergency Nurses Association
National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
National Association of Neonatal Nurses
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
National Association of School Nurses
National Black Nurses Association, Inc.
National Conference of Gerontological Nurse Practitioners
National League for Nursing
National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties
National Student Nurse’s Association
Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs
Oncology Nursing Society
Regional Nursing Centers Consortium
Cc: Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation - Bobby Jindal.
