Further Developments

This bill is still in the first stages of the legislative process. It was introduced September 19, 2007 and before being sent to general debate, it will first be investigated, deliberated, and revised as needed. There are no current updates on any revisions made on this bill and it has not progressed any further. Within the health care system, the shortage of registered nurses is becoming a growing problem and is obtaining the attention of an increasing number of people. More of the population is beginning to recognize the direct correlation of nursing faculty and the shortage and therefore many universities are implementing strategies support and retain nursing faculty. For example, developing incentive scholarship programs for new graduates to return and teach, increasing the number of part time employees to assist with clinical instruction, and relieving some of the expectations of professors to alleviate the burden of teaching to a more reasonable level. The overall goal in many places is to change the work setting so that faculty delay retirement and new faculty are better mentored and introduced into teaching so that they remain committed to faculty careers.