Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Higher Education, to which was referred S.R. No. 85 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to encourage men to enter the field of nursing.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Center for Nursing and the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene.

Your Committees find that male nurses comprise only 6.5 percent of the nursing workforce in Hawaii. Your Committees further find that Hawaii's nursing shortage needs to be addressed and that supporting promotional efforts that will encourage men to enter the nursing field may help to improve this shortage.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 85 and recommend its adoption.