Celebrating Nurses Week 2011

RNs ask legislature to support Educational Advancement bill

Albany, May 5, 2011 – In conjunction with Nurses Week, May 6-13, the New York State Nurses Association asks the legislature to demonstrate a commitment to improving patient outcomes and quality healthcare delivery by supporting the Advancement of Nursing Education bill (A1977/S1223).

The bill would require registered nurses to obtain their baccalaureate in nursing within ten years of initial licensure in order to re-register to practice in New York state. This measure is consistent with the state’s overall commitment to encouraging professionals to advance their education.

In today’s healthcare environment, advanced education is necessary to keep pace with increasingly complex drug therapies, rapid advances in technology and a growing population with multiple chronic conditions.

“The Institute of Medicine (IOM) Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s recent report on The Future of Nursing stated that ‘nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved system that promotes seamless academic progression,” said Nurses Association President Karen A. Ballard. “Advances in health care do not wait for us to catch up. We must continue our focus on educating the nursing workforce for nursing practice that best meets the needs of our patients.”

The New York State Nurses Association is the voice for nursing in the Empire State. With more than 37,000 members, it is New York’s largest professional association and union for registered nurses. The association represents registered nurses, and some all-professional bargaining units, in New York and New Jersey. It supports nurses and nursing practice through education, research, legislative advocacy, and collective bargaining.