You asked for a brief summary of the steps Connecticut is taking to address the nursing shortage. You are particularly interested in the supply of educational opportunities for prospective nurses.

SUMMARY

Connecticut's departments of Public Health (DPH), Education (DOE), and Higher Education (DHE) are all involved in addressing, to some extent, the nursing shortage issue. DPH has established an Office of Public Health Work Force Development which is working with other agencies on a range of health work force issues, including the nursing shortage. The legislature appropriated funds for DHE grants to certain colleges in the state for nursing programs.

The state's Area Health Education Center (AHEC) program is developing health careers recruitment programs in underserved rural and urban areas of the state. AHEC supports community-based multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary training for primary care health profession students and residents in shortage areas.

Finally, the Nursing Career Center of Connecticut, an independent non-profit corporation, is actively involved in the nursing shortage issue.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIVITIES

Office of Public Health Work Force Development

DPH has established an Office of Public Health Work Force Development, located in the commissioner's office and chaired by his chief of staff. The office works in collaboration with other state agencies and interested parties such as health care providers, educational facilities, professional organizations and labor representatives. Health work force shortages and public health worker competency are key issues for the office. One of its major goals is to establish "Health Tracks," which is a collaborative effort with the Department of Education and local school systems designed to interest, educate and invite Connecticut students to enter the public health work force. Starting at the elementary school, level Health Tracks follows students throughout their primary and secondary education.

Another goal related to the work force shortage issue is the establishment of a marketing program to recruit and retain a diversified public health work force in sufficient numbers to ensure a healthier Connecticut. The office is also expanding information available on the Internet (www. ct-clic. com and www. dph. state. ct. us) so that DPH's site can serve as a clearinghouse for information on health care careers.

Legislation

Public Act 00-216 directed DPH to study and undertake certain activities concerning nurse staffing and the nursing shortage. This act required DPH to study the nursing shortage in the state, including the causes of the shortage and make recommendations for its alleviation. (A copy of this study is included as well as OLR Report 2000-R-0685 on this issue. )

PA 01-165 addressed nursing articulation agreements, requiring the boards of trustees of the public and private colleges and universities to plan and implement articulation agreements for students pursuing nursing degrees. "Articulation" generally means the intentional planning and coordination of educational programs so that a program at one level serves as the foundation for the next educational level.

FUNDING RELATED TO THE NURSING SHORTAGE

Last year's budget act (SA 0101, Sec. 47(u)) appropriated $ 1. 5 million in surplus funding to the DHE for education and health initiatives as follows: (1) a $ 1 million grant to the pilot nursing program run by St. Joseph College in conjunction with the Capital Community Technical College and (2) a $ 300,000 grant to Gateway Community technical College to develop a collaborative nursing program.

(The remaining $ 200,000 was for DHE's alternative route to teacher certification program. )

AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTERS

The federal Area Health Education Center (AHEC) program was established in 1973 to encourage schools to increase the number of students and residents trained in underserved communities. Nationwide, AHEC is represented in 42 states by 180 regional centers. Connecticut's AHEC program as created in 1995 by the General Assembly and received federal funding in 1997. The program is based at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and provides statewide coverage through four regional centers (Torrington, Hartford, Bridgeport, Norwich). A local governing board comprised of health professionals, educators, business leaders, and consumer representatives oversees each AHEC center.

AHEC's objectives are to (1) develop health careers recruitment programs in underserved rural and urban areas for underrepresented populations; (2) support community-based and interdisciplinary training for primary care health professions students and residents in health professional shortage areas; (3) provide educational support, information, and technical assistance to reduce professional isolation, increase retention, and enhance the practice environment; and (4) engage in health promotion and disease prevention activities that respond to the community's specific needs.

PRIVATE SECTOR ACTIVITY-NURSING CAREER CENTER OF CONNECTICUT

The Nursing Career Center of Connecticut (NCCC) is an independent nonprofit corporation jointly founded and sponsored by the Connecticut League for Nursing and the Connecticut Nurses' Association to address the nursing shortage. It was initially funded by a grant from the Helene Fuld Trust under its special initiative to address the anticipated nursing shortage. Other support has come from several provider organizations and individuals.

The goals of the center are to (1) encourage the recruitment of individuals into nursing, (2) promote career satisfaction among professional nurses, (3) promote retention within the nursing profession, (4) assist in career advancement of nurses, (5) monitor nursing workforce trends in the state; and (6) evaluate the effects of the center's activities on the nursing workforce.

A number of four-year colleges and universities and community-technical colleges are involved in NCCC (see attached list. ) Also, many Connecticut hospitals and other workplaces participate in "shadowing" programs, which give students the opportunity to observe nurses at work in various settings. (see attached list of participants).

NCCC conducts career presentations in Connecticut middle and high schools and distributes nursing career information to all high school guidance counselors in the state.

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