Concern about national nursing shortage. (Front and Center).

Concern about national nursing shortage. (Front and Center). Among the issues drawing renewed attention in the wake of theattacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon is the nationalnursing shortage. On September 25, the House Committee on Education andthe Workforce held a hearing on the causes behind the nursing shortage,its impact on the nation and possible solutions to the shortage. Melissa Velazquez, a staff nurse at the Washington Hospital Center Washington Hospital CenterWashington Hospital Center is the largest private hospital in Washington, D.C.. A member of MedStar Health, the not-for-profit Hospital Center is licensed for 926 beds and, on average, operates near capacity. Burn Intensive Care Unit who treated victims of the Pentagon attack,told the committee that, "Over the last year the burn ICU ICUintensive care unit. ICUabbr.intensive care unitICUsee intensive care unit.ICUlost morethan half of its staff to different educational and employmentopportunities." Rep. Sue Kelly (R-N R-N Raion (Russian, district; used in postal addresses).Y.) plans to introduce new legislation aimed atcombating the nursing shortage. "The average age of nurses in theUnited States United States,officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. is 43, and in 2010, nearly 40 percent will be age 50 orover," Kelly said. "Looking down the road, the population ofthose age 65 and older is expected to double between 2000 and 2030. Thecumulative effect of all this is that nurses will be leaving theprofession rapidly, at a time when we need them most." Dr. Catherine Garner, dean of the University of Phoenix College ofNursing and Health Sciences, offered recommendations on public-privatepartnerships and on distance education to help those who live in ruralareas or must work odd hours while pursuing their nursing education. An assistant dean of the Allied Health College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. , Dr.Sue Albert, told the committee that there was a need for more equipment,more clinical facilities and more space for classrooms and skillslaboratories. "Increasing access to education is a key toincreasing the nursing population and to improving the education ofnurses," said Dr. Albert. According to according toprep.1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.2. In keeping with: according to instructions.3. Dr. Jean Bartels, chair of the Georgia SouthernUniversity Georgia Southern University, established 1906, is a regional university located in Statesboro, Georgia, USA, and part of the University System of Georgia. It is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia and is the sixth largest institution in the School of Nursing, another key to solving the shortage is toensure that there is faculty to train them, and she called for thecreation of a fast-track nursing faculty scholarship and loan program. Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio), the chairman of the Committee onEducation and the Workforce, said, "If ever an issue demonstratesthe lifeblood connection between education and the workplace, this iscertainly it." And, as expressed by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy Carolyn McCarthy (born January 5, 1944) is an American politician and has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing New York's 4th congressional district (map), since 1997. (D-N.Y.), "Solvingthe nursing shortage is not just the right thing to do for our nurses,it's the right thing to do for health care in America."