Nursing Workforce Data Collection

Background

ANA has been working with State Nurses Associations through its Nationwide State Legislative Agenda to promote state legislation that would require the collection of nursing supply and demand data. Some states still do not have the structure in place to compile and evaluate nursing workforce data. This data is vital for states to accurately assess the nursing crisis and develop comprehensive short and long range state workforce planning strategies.

Nursing Workforce Centers to Date

39 states have created nursing workforce centers, varying greatly in their resources and subsequent approaches and outcomes. Many are non-profit and a primary goal is that of nursing recruitment. Based upon available resources, other initiatives include research in order to disseminate successful workforce practices and efforts to recruit and educate nursing faculty. Some of the states have joined a National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers with the intent of promoting standardized core nursing supply and demand data sets resulting in a more coordinated long range plan for addressing the nursing workforce issue.

Some of the Centers are a result of legislation having been enacted. The states in which centers have been established include: AL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, MD, ME, MA, MI, MS, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OK, OR, PA, , SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, and WI.To access more about the Forum or to connect with the state centers, visit www.nursingworkforcecenters.org/WFcenters/workforcecenters.htm.

Summary of Enacted Workforce Data Collection Legislation

(2008)
Related legislation enacted this year occurred in four states: HI, LA, SC, and VA.

HI (SB2146) adds a staff nurse to the 15 member advisory board of the center for nursing (established in 2003) and adds the provision for the center to submit an interim report for the five year longitudinal study to the legislature.

LA (SB269) reorganizes the Louisiana Health Works Commission; repealing the Nursing Supply and Demand Commission and creating a nursing supply and demand "council" to serve in an advisory capacity to the larger commission. The Commission represents the healthcare industry, labor and professional organizations, workforce investment, education and health care advocates under one umbrella.

SC (SB657/HB4038) creates the SC critical needs nursing initiative act. One of the provisions of the act is to establish the office for health care workforce research to analyze supply and demand. Of the funds to be disbursed under this Act by the Commission of Higher Education, the funds are to be used (in order of priority) for the following nursing initiatives:
(1)faculty salary enhancements; (2) new faculty; (3)student scholarship, loan, and grant programs; (4) establishment of the Office for Health Care Workforce Research; and (5) use of simulation technology and equipment.

VA (HB1003) requires that the state's nursing workforce data collected by the Board of Nursing be published in aggregate form, accessible to the public on the Department of Health Professions website.

(2007)

GA passed Senate Resolution 66 establishing a Senate Committee on Shortage of Doctors and Nurses charged with studying working conditions, needs, issues and problems and to provide recommended actions and proposed legislation to address. ID established the Nursing Workforce Advisory Council within the Department of Commerce and Labor to conduct research through collection of valid and reliable current nursing workforce data and forecast future needs. The work of the Council is limited to the time frame of 2007 - 2009.  

(2006)

Six states enacted legislation to facilitate collection of nursing workforce information.
DE enacted legislation requiring government entities to provide a report on supply and demand projections of health care professionals to the Division of Professional Regulation. IL creates the Illinois Center for Nursing to address issues of supply and demand for nursing. OK legislation establishes the Health Care Workforce Resource Center for the purpose of coordinating statewide efforts to meet supply and demand needs of the OK health care workforce, while legislation passed in MD creates a Statewide Commission on the Shortage in Health Care Workforce. WA law requires a survey every two years of the health profession’s work force supply and demographics. In NY legislation authorizes the Office of Rural Health to study employment incentives for attracting physicians and nurse practitioners to rural shortage areas.

(2005)

Three states enacted legislation. ME legislation directs the Department of Labor to compile and post on-line a report on health care occupations. It requires that certain licensed, registered and certified health care workers receive a voluntary survey to allow the collection of data on health care occupations. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to post on its website its recommendations based on its review of the health workforce forum's report. NE legislation resulted in the creation of the Nebraska to create the Nebraska center for nursing, while TX legislation authorizes the Board of Higher Education and the State Department of Health to develop a model that will assist in determining the number of graduates of professional nursing programs, as well as increase those numbers to achieve target goals. The purpose is to achieve both short-term and long-term goals towards identifying, developing, and studying strategies for increasing the number of graduates, the number of those working in the state, and the number needed in the state. The bill also calls for studies into ways to provide the most efficient use of nurse instructors, and programs, as well as coming up with new instruction methods, with a final report to have been completed by January 1, 2007.

(2004)

Three states enacted legislation. CT legislation establishes a health care workforce policy board to analyze and make recommendations related to a states healthcare workforce. IL legislation requires the Department of Public Health to establish and administer a nursing workforce database related to nursing supply, demand and workforce concerns. Enacted WV legislation creates a West Virginia Center for Nursing to establish a statewide strategic plan to address the nursing shortage and facilitate recruitment and retention of nurses.

(2003)

State legislatures approved legislation in five states on workforce data collection. HI legislation requires the establishment of a Center for Nursing at the University of HI to conduct research on workforce issues. ME legislation requires the state s Health Care Workforce Leadership Council to address the potential role of and need for a permanent health care workforce council or center. NJ enacted legislation increasing the board members of the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing (nursing workforce center established in 1996). VA approved language that directs the Advisory Council on the Future of Nursing to report recommendations on a strategic statewide plan to ensure an adequate supply of nurses. WA enacted the Workforce Training and Education Coordination Board to facilitate collaboration among stakeholders to address health care personnel shortages.

(2002)

FLput in place the Florida Center for Nursing Trust Fund to support the Center for Nursing established by legislation in 2001. Legislation was enacted in GA that requires health care licensure boards to distribute survey questions to gather data related to work force supply and demographics. The Office of the Secretary of State will submit the collected data to a recognized agency to project trends and needs for the state's health care workforce. In ID, the Board of Education and the Commission on Nursing are required to undertake a strategic plan of action to address the nursing shortage and report their findings to the legislature.

IN required the Commission on Excellence in Health Care to study and make recommendations on increasing the number of nurses. KY law established a Nursing Workforce Foundation that will create a consortium for the recruitment of students and the training of RNs. MD required the Commission on the Crisis in Nursing to identify a technology driven point of care application, increase quality of patient care, facilitate nurse career advancement, improve the work environment and convene a nursing summit.

MEcreated the Health Care Workforce Leadership Council to address the shortage of skilled health care workers. OK created the Nursing Workforce Task Force to examine the nurse shortage and identify remedial strategies. SD approved establishment of a nursing workforce center under the direction of the Board of Nursing. The center will be funded by nurses through licensure renewal fees. WV approved legislation requiring a study of health care practitioner shortages and methods to resolve them.

(2001)

Legislation enacted in MS directs the Office of Nursing Workforce to ensure an adequate supply of nurses while legislation passed in NDand TN allows the Board of Nursing to address issues of supply and demand for nurses including issues of recruitment, retention and utilization of nurses. FL and TX laws establish independent Centers for Nursing to carry out goals which include the development of a strategic statewide plan for the nursing workforce in the state. The model for this legislation is based on the North Carolina Center for Nursing established in 1991. The North Carolina Center was the first state-supported agency charged with nurse workforce planning including issues of nursing supply, demand, recruitment and retention. NH established the Office of Nursing Workforce, Research, Planning and Development to address ongoing issues of supply, education, practice and research related to nursing.

2008 Related proposed legislation
Eight states introduced legislation designed to collect and/or analyze health care workforce data for improved planning: AK, CA, HI, LA, MA, RI, SC, and VA; of them four states signed legislation into law: HI, LA, SC and VA.  

  • AK (SB300) establishes the Alaska Health Care Commission to develop, adopt and implement a statewide health plan. Nursing is not specifically recognized as part of the 15 member commission.
  • CA (AB2375) charges the healthcare workforce task force with preparing a baseline report reflecting assessment of the state’s health professions workforce collection capacity. This is intended to bring the state closer to establishing a healthcare workforce master plan.
  • HI (SB2146) adds a staff nurse to the 15 member advisory board of the center for nursing and adds the provision for the center to submit an interim report for the five year longitudinal study to the legislature.
  • LA (SB269) reorganizes the Louisiana Health Works Commission; repealing the Nursing Supply and Demand Commission. The larger commission represents the healthcare industry, labor and professional organizations, workforce investment, education and health care advocates under one umbrella.
  • MA (1162) establishes a multi-stakeholder council to develop and oversee a statewide strategic health action plan that would include information from the MA Center for Nursing.
  • RI (HB7872/SB2692) creates the center for health professionals to serve as a repository of workforce data, analyze data, identify best practices and provide for professional development opportunities.
  • SC (SB657/HB4038) would create the SC critical needs nursing initiative act. One of the provisions of the act is to establish the office for health care workforce research to analyze supply and demand.
  • VA (HB1003) would require that VA’s nursing workforce data collected by the Board of Nursing be published in aggregate form, accessible to the public on the Department of Health Professions website.

Last updated 7/15/08

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to include all legislation enacted, but omissions are possible.