HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

557

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO NURSING.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  According to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, the growth in jobs for registered nurses is expected to increase 19 per cent from 2012 to 2022.  Future job prospects for the nursing profession look positive in light of an aging population, healthcare reform changes, increasing demands for health care services, and greater emphasis on preventative care.  However, new nurse graduates and newly-licensed nurses are finding it difficult to secure a job in the State, particularly since the job market seeks nurses with expanded competencies.

     The legislature finds that although there are nursing jobs available in primary care and acute care settings, these jobs require nurses with experience.  The transition from student nurse to clinical practitioner is challenging.  New nurse graduates have the legal and professional requirements of competence to enter practice, but lack some of the practice readiness skills necessary to navigate a clinical environment.  To fill nurse positions, especially in specialized settings such as emergency rooms, operating rooms, and intensive care units, Hawaii hospitals have had to rely on traveling nurses and recruit and import nurses from out of state to address shortage areas despite the number of new nurse graduates in the State each year.

The Institute of Medicine report, "The Future of Nursing:  Leading Change, Advancing Health," recommends that "state boards of nursing, accrediting bodies, the federal government, and health care organizations should take actions to support nurses' completion of a transition-to-practice program (nurse residency) after they have completed a prelicensure or advanced practice degree program or when they are transitioning into new clinical practice areas."  A nurse residency program supports new nurse graduates and newly-licensed nurses as they transition from student to professional nurse by providing varied learning and work experiences that focus on knowledge application and professional development.

The legislature finds that a nurse residency program for new nurse graduates and newly-licensed nurses will help address the State's critical shortage of primary and acute care providers, particularly in rural areas, by assisting nurses in the transition to clinical care settings and the establishment of their careers.  A nurse residency program will also address the experience gap that is occurring in the nursing profession as seasoned nurses begin to retire and the ratio of new nurse graduates to experienced nurses increases.  Nurses who complete a residency program will be highly qualified and competent to fill needed health care provider roles and deliver high quality patient care.  A nurse residency program is essential to building and investing in a strong workforce in the State by retaining in-state nurse graduates who pursue further study and employment in the State through the residency program.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a statewide nurse residency program within the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene to transition new nurse graduates and newly-licensed nurses to a clinical workplace, promote career advancement within the nursing profession, and improve delivery of high quality patient care.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§304A-    Nurse residency program.  (a)  The University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene shall establish an accredited statewide nurse residency program.  The nurse residency program shall be a one-year training program that prepares new nurse graduates and newly-licensed nurses for clinical practice in acute care and critical care environments.  The residency program and its site facilities shall meet the requirements necessary to achieve and maintain accreditation with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. 

     (b)  The dean of the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene shall be responsible for:

(1)  Developing and implementing the residency program for nurses in cooperation with the nursing profession, hospitals, and clinics located throughout the State;

(2)  Developing a selection process and procedures for selecting resident nurse participants; provided that eligible participants shall:

(A)  Be graduates of an accredited baccalaureate or graduate nursing program as recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education;

(B)  Hold a current unencumbered license as a licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, or advanced practice registered nurse in this State or any other applicable state; and

(C)  Have less than twelve months of experience working in their field of licensure.

An applicant who is in the final semester or has recently completed an eligible nursing degree program may apply for the nurse residency program; provided that the applicant shall obtain licensure prior to participation in the program; and

(3)  Determining where residency education and training shall be established, giving consideration to communities in the State where the population, hospital facilities, number of nurses, and interest in the nursing profession indicate success of residency education and training and benefit to the provision of health care in the State.

(c)  Priority for the selection of applicants for the nurse residency program shall be to nurse graduates of the University of Hawaii system.

(d)  Any stipends for the nurses enrolled in the nurse residency program under this section shall be paid by the respective hospital or medical facility in which a nurse obtains residency."

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 to carry out the purposes of this Act.  Of the sums specified:

(1)  $         for fiscal year 2015-2016 and

$         for fiscal year 2016-2017 shall be for one permanent, full-time program coordinator position; and

(2)  $         for fiscal year 2015-2016 and

$         for fiscal year 2016-2017 shall be for one permanent, full-time clinical placement coordinator position,

within the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene to coordinate the residency opportunities and residency positions available between the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene and hospitals or other medical facilities.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2015.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Nurse Residency Program; University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes a statewide nurse residency program within the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene.  Appropriates funds.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.