The Nursing Shortage: Part I - The Dialogue Begins
In part one of our continuing series, Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA and host of Health in 30 sat down with two nursing experts to talk about the current nursing shortage in America. Linda Honan Pellico, PhD, MSN, RN, Assistant Professor at Yale University School of Nursing and Christine Kovner, PhD, RN Professor at the College of Nursing, New York University discussed the issues surrounding this complex topic. Are hospitals adequately staffed with nurses? Are patients receiving the care they deserve? Is there a balance between quality care and cost? Many layers surround this volatile topic, and this is just the beginning of the dialogue…
Christine Kovner
Christine Kovner is a Professor at the College of Nursing, New York University and Senior Fellow, Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing also at the College. She is a Faculty Partner, New York University Hospitals Center (NYUHC). In addition to being the author of numerous journal articles, Dr. Kovner is the co-author of the book Financial Management for Nurse Managers and Executives.
Dr. Kovner’s research focuses on the cost and use of health personnel and its relationship to patient outcomes. She is currently the principal investigator of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded study on career changes among newly licensed nurses and co-investigator on an AHRQ funded grant on nurses’ decisions to work. She just completed an AHRQ funded study on patient safety in home care.Dr. Kovner recently completed an eight-year term as a member of the New York State Department of Health State Hospital Review and Planning Council where she was a member of the Fiscal Policy Committee. She served as a HSR Initial Review Group Reviewer for Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) grant applications.
At NYU she teaches courses on the organization and delivery of nursing care including issues of cost, quality (including patient safety), and the nursing workforce.
Linda Honan Pellico
Linda Honan Pellico is an Assistant Professor in Nursing at Yale School of Nursing. She has taught in the Graduate Entry Prespecialty in Nursing program since 1989, served as Program Director and Curriculum Coordinator, and been a consultant to graduate entry programs in other universities.
Ms. Pellico obtained her nursing diploma from the Meriden-Wallingford Hospital School of Nursing, a B.S. in nursing from Southern Connecticut State University, her M.S.N. from Yale University School of Nursing as a general surgery Clinical Nurse Specialist. She recently earned her PhD at the University of Connecticut where she studied the experiences of students enrolled in Graduate entry programs. Journals of graduate entry students during their nascent year were examined using narrative analysis and aesthetic criticism for her dissertation.
In addition to having held a number of nursing positions, Linda Honan Pellico is a teacher of all ages. She developed a state wide public education program “Have Bones, Will Travel” which introduces elementary school children to human anatomy with an emphasis on health and safety. For this she received the Connecticut Teachers Association Salutes Award and the Seton Ivy Award from Yale University. She is recipient of the Annie W. Goodrich Award for Excellence in Teaching from the students of the Yale University School of Nursing.
Active in Sigma Theta Tau, the honor society for nurses, Ms. Pellico is currently Immediate Past-President of the Delta Mu Chapter and is recipient of both a Leadership Award and the Donna Diers Mentorship Award. She spearheaded the development of a creative writing award and created the book, “Do you see what I see?” which is a compilation of years of students journaling and historical photographs. The second Book is currently in development. Her research interests are on the education of adult learners, creative teaching strategies and narrative inquiry.
Responsible for Medical Surgical Nursing didactic (N517a) and clinical (N516a) for the Graduate entry program and Applied Anatomy (N511a).
Well done interview about major issues surrounding the profession - would like to have more focus on nurses actually doing the work, especially in acute care
Watched the video- really enjoyed it.
I was writing ideas and comments as it went along. Initially, I noted the need for nurse educators- I was pleased when it was touched upon- I don’t know if you know this but early in George Bush’s presidency he alloted a bunch of $ to nurse educators - it would be interesting to see where that money went and if it was adequate.
I would also like a little information about types of nursing (not just CNA’s) but associate vs bachelors vs fast track etc.
Also another huge issue that was briefly touched on was the need for cohesion- some states have strong unions while others (like Utah) have none.
Overall I think it was well done, and interesting but perhaps a little skewed to East Coast nursing.