title: Legislative connection: summary on the nursing shortage--March 6, 2002.
abstract: The panel was very well received and very informative to the legislators. The nursing shortage crisis in Colorado was succinctly identified. No single solution will fix the nursing shortage. Replacement of registered nurses by unlicensed assistive personnel, or using licensed personnel with less education, will add to increased patient safety issues, provide fewer learning experiences for nursing students, and decrease job satisfaction for current nurses. If a practice that decreases quality of care is put into law as a "quick fix," that standard is very difficult to change. Legislators must listen to experienced nurses so that the decisions they make on health policy will positively influence the nursing shortage issues.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jass
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Carlyce
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D003120:Colorado; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*