Trust news

NURSING TASK FORCE TO ADDRESS SHORTAGE AND STANDARDS

Governor Bill Ritter addresses the newly=appointed nursing task force.According to a 2006 report compiled by the Nurse Alliance of Colorado, a group organized by the Service Employees International Union, there are 3,600 hospital RN vacancies in Colorado. To help address this shortage, The Colorado Trust provided a $35,000 grant to the Colorado Hospital Association’s Center for Advancing Patient Safety under which the Nurse Workforce and Patient Care Task Force operates.

At the first meeting of the 14-member, governor-appointed task force on May 31 at The Colorado Trust, Governor Bill Ritter stated that additional goals of the group include examining the work environment for nurses statewide and helping consumers select hospitals.

The task force’s recommendations are due to the governor and the General Assembly by December 31.

For additional information about the task force grant, contact Scott Anderson, Vice President of Professional Activities, Colorado Hospital Association, 720-330-6028 or scott.anderson@chha.com. For information about The Colorado Trust’s Health Professions initiative, contact Laurel Petralia, Program Officer, 303-837-1200 or laurel@coloradotrust.org.