Southern California Mobilizes In Response To Nursing Shortage Crisis

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 20 Jun 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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As part of its ongoing commitment to help alleviate the growing nursing shortage in Southern California, The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future raised more than $450,000 at the "Promise of Nursing for Southern California" Gala that will help ease the shortage throughout the region. One hundred percent of the event's proceeds will support regional nursing school grants, faculty fellowships and student scholarships.

Since 2004, Promise of Nursing for Southern California events have raised more than $1.5 million with funds going towards nursing student scholarships, faculty fellowships, and nursing school grants to continue to expand program capacity.

"The nursing shortage we are experiencing throughout Southern California is severe," said Laxman Reddy, president and CEO of Prime Healthcare Services. "This nursing shortage is driving up the cost of health care in general, and this increase is only going to get worse. This event will make a significant impact on the lives of numerous future nurses and their future patients."

Hundreds of area nurses and health care professionals from regional hospitals and institutions attended last night's event at the Hyatt Century Plaza Hotel to celebrate the nursing profession. This year, the Campaign launched a Promise of Nursing for Southern California video challenge, encouraging local nurses and nursing students to capture their passion about nursing on camera. Nurses and nursing students who were members of the Promise of Nursing for Southern California steering committee submitted their videos, which were viewed by the audience at last night's gala. The team from the Motion Picture & Television Fund Hospital was the grand prize winner and took home a $5,000 education grant.

"We are deeply committed to the nurses in this region and will continue to support efforts that help to ease the Southern California nursing shortage," said Andrea Higham, director of The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future. "This event demonstrates how working together, we can enhance the image of the nursing profession and attract nurses and nurse educators to help resolve this crisis."

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an arm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, California health care providers are expected to suffer a nursing shortfall rate of almost 45 percent, more than 116,600 nurses, by the year 2020.

"Well-qualified and sufficiently staffed nurse educators and progressive nursing programs are crucial to providing the tools that nursing students need in order to become skilled nurses and ensure a thriving nursing workforce for our country's future," said Donna Smith, chief nursing officer at Desert Valley Hospital in Victorville, Calif.

The nursing shortage in Southern California mirrors a national shortfall, and in its effort to reduce the gap in local communities across the country, Johnson & Johnson has hosted similar fund-raising galas over the past five years, generating more than $14 million.

For additional information on the Promise of Nursing for Southern California, email NursingFundraisingEvent@hcsus.jnj.com.

The organizations that comprise the Promise of Nursing for Southern California Steering Committee include:

Cedars-Sinai Health System, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Children's Hospital of Orange County, Citrus Valley Health Partners, Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center, Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Glendale Memorial Hospital/Health Center, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, Kaiser Permanente Patient Care Services, Methodist Hospital of Southern California, Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, Prime Health, San Antonio Community Hospital, South Coast Medical Center, St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital/St. John's Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital, Tenet California, The Camden Group, The Motion Picture & Television Fund, UCLA Health System, University of California, Irvine Program in Nursing Science, University of California, Irvine Medical Center and White Memorial Medical Center.

About The Promise Of Nursing

The Promise of Nursing for Southern California gala is part of a public-awareness campaign -- The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future -- launched by Johnson & Johnson in February 2002. The multi-year, $50 million Campaign is designed to enhance the image of the nursing profession, recruit new nurses and nurse faculty, as well as help retain nurses currently in the profession. Working in cooperation with various professional nursing organizations, schools, hospitals and other health care groups and providers, the Campaign focuses on promoting opportunities within nursing as well as increasing awareness of the value of the nursing profession to our overall society and health care community.

About Johnson & Johnson

Caring for the world, one person at a time ... inspires and unites the people of Johnson & Johnson. We embrace research and science -- bringing innovative ideas, products and services to advance the health and well-being of people. Our 119,500 employees at more than 250 Johnson & Johnson companies work with partners in health care to touch the lives of over a billion people every day, throughout the world.

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