RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the federal government estimates that the nursing industry is short more than one hundred forty thousand nurses this year, and that by 2020, the shortage is expected to rise to eight hundred thousand; and

WHEREAS, an untapped source for recruiting future nurses is men, who currently make up only six per cent of the nursing force, but despite their small numbers have excellent reputations, earn good salaries, and are greatly respected leaders in the profession; and

WHEREAS, nursing offers men job security because more than ninety per cent of 2005 nursing graduates found jobs; and

WHEREAS, nursing also offers men good salaries, which can start at $40,000, with nursing specialists capable of earning $100,000; and

WHEREAS, the nursing profession has evolved over the years into a complex and challenging field and offers avenues of employment to positions in healthcare administration; and

WHEREAS, to encourage men to enter the field of nursing, a concerted promotional effort is needed at the postsecondary educational level to attract men into the field of nursing, such as but not limited to campus visits by nursing professionals, scholarships, internships, low interest student loans, and student housing assistance; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the House of Representatives concurring, that the School of Nursing of the University of Hawaii, in collaboration with other agencies of government and the private sector, is respectfully requested to encourage the entrance of men into the nursing field; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President and the Chairperson of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii, and the Chairperson of the state Board of Nursing.

Report Title:

Nursing; men