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A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION TO STUDY

AND MAKE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO INCREASE NURSE RECRUITMENT

AND RETENTION IN NEW MEXICO HOSPITALS.

WHEREAS, research and concern are increasing regarding

the nursing work force and projected short- and long-term

shortages of nurses; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico hospitals and other health care

providers are facing serious shortages of professional nurses;

and

WHEREAS, physicians and nurses agree that hospital

staffing levels of nurses are often inadequate to ensure safe

and effective care of patients, diminishing inpatient

capacity, which leads to emergency department overcrowding;

and

WHEREAS, a 2001 national study identified a clear link

between nurse staffing levels, job dissatisfaction and nurse

retention; and

WHEREAS, the need to attract and retain greater numbers

of nurses within New Mexico will continue for the foreseeable

future; and

WHEREAS, a well-qualified, satisfied, stable and

adequate supply of nurses is a shared concern for employers,

employees, consumers, families and private and public payers

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of hospital services; and

WHEREAS, increased nurse recruitment and retention could

result in reduced errors, increased patient safety and

outcomes and improved job satisfaction for nurses; and

WHEREAS, there currently is no hospital in New Mexico

that has obtained "magnet recognition status" by the American

nurses credentialing center;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico

health policy commission be requested to study the impact of

nurse staffing and retention issues, to research and publish a

study of the hospital environments that attract nurses,

provide them with job satisfaction, encourage them to give

high-quality care and make them want to remain within the

nursing profession and to research what other states are doing

or considering to make hospital nursing more attractive. The

study should analyze and make recommendations to the

legislature about turnover rates, vacancy rates, patient

outcomes data, nursing-sensitive quality indicators and

organizational factors that lead to the development of best

practices in hospital nursing; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting the study, the

New Mexico health policy commission confer with others with

knowledge and interest in nursing, to include the board of

nursing, statewide associations representing hospitals and

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health systems, physicians, nurses, nurse executives, labor

organizations representing nursing and a statewide

organization dedicated to excellence in nursing; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico health policy

commission report its findings and recommendations to the

legislative health and human services committee at its October

2007 meeting; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the director of the New Mexico health policy

commission, the executive director of the New Mexico hospital

and health systems association and the New Mexico chapter of

the American college of emergency physicians.