WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor

No. 25

(House Joint Resolution No. 53)

A House Joint Resolution concerning

A Task Force to Study the Crisis in Nursing

FOR the purpose of requesting the Governor to establish a Task
Force to examine ways to retain working nurses, to attract
inactive nurses back into the profession, and to promote
nursing as a profession in our secondary schools.

WHEREAS, The percentage of unfilled staff nursing positions
in United States hospitals more than doubled in the past year;
and

WHEREAS, Working conditions in hospitals, nursing homes and
critical care facilities are frequently less attractive than
other alternatives; and

WHEREAS, Hospital job openings for registered nurses
increased from 6.3% to 10% between December 1, 1985 and December
1, 1986; and

WHEREAS, The economics of the present reimbursement system
are inadequate to allow primary care providers to compete for
nurses in the market place; and

WHEREAS, These problems are exacerbated by nursing school
enrollments being down 8% in 1986, with fewer people choosing
nursing as a career; and

WHEREAS, The cost of education for nurses has risen
dramatically and scholarship opportunities are limited; and

WHEREAS, An increase in the number of persons who choose
nursing as a career and who choose to practice nursing in a
hospital setting is critical to public health; now, therefore, be
it and now, therefore, be it

WHEREAS, The shortage of nurses often results in nurses
working beyond their scheduled shifts; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the
Governor is requested to establish a Task Force to study this
crisis in nursing; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force to Study the Crisis in Nursing
be composed of:

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