A-1977 & S-2553A - Creating a More Highly Qualified Nursing Workforce

This bill is on the Assembly Higher Education Committee agenda for Tuesday June 5, 2012. Support is needed for passage this year!

This bill would require future entrants into the nursing profession to understand and agree to obtain a BS degree 10 years after they have obtained RN licensure. The bill ensures the future health of New York State residents. This bill would not close any associate degree nursing program. The bill would not negatively impact on the nursing shortage, as all currently licensed RNs would be grandfathered

If you are a resident of NYS, please consider contacting your legislators and asking them to support this initiative.

If you need to know who your legislators are go to NYONE's home page,  click on CAPWIZ, and follow the prompts!  NYONEL

The NYONE CAPWIZ system includes the following information that can be included in an email when informing legislators. NYONEL

Advances in science and increasing patient complexity have accelerated the need for nurses with better skills and knowledge to manage a challenging and increasingly diverse healthcare environment. The Institute of Medicine Report on the Future of Nursing calls for 80% of RNs to hold baccalaureate degrees by 2020. They did so not to enhance nursing’s status but to improve healthcare.

Significant research, both in the United State and in Canada has demonstrated that for each 10% increase in the number of BS prepared RNs in a hospital, there is a 5% decrease in preventable deaths! For New York, that translates into 6,000 fewer surgical deaths each year if 60% of the RNs were prepared at the BS level. Lower rates of deaths from congested heart failure, fewer hospital acquired pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections, respiratory infection and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are all linked to higher percentages of BS prepared nurses.

Decreases in death and morbidity lead to less expenditures in health care.  For example, savings of over $17 million each year are projected for a reduction of just 10% in NYS hospital acquired pressure ulcers.  Additionally, with the reduction of the length of stay by 0.2 days, there is a potential capacity for 400,000 additional patient days—increasing revenue for facilities. BS prepared nurses stay in their positions longer and thus reduce staff-turnover. Every 1% reduction in RN turnover saves the State $12.9 million.  With rising health care costs, these benefits cannot be ignored. (06/04/2012)