STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3073

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 314

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 314, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Center for Nursing Advisory Board

G.M. No. 314

CATHERINE A. ADAMS, RN, for a term to expire 6-30-2014,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee, and finds Catherine A. Adams, RN, to have the necessary qualifications to be appointed to the Center for Nursing Advisory Board.

     Testimony in support of the nominee was submitted by the Hawaii State Center for Nursing.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Ms. Adams earned a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Arizona State University.  She has served for over thirty years in hospital and clinic administration and nursing education, presently as the Director of Patient Safety and Quality Services at Wilcox Memorial Hospital and previously as an Instructor of the Nursing Program at Kauai Community College, System Director for Clinical Education at Hawaii Pacific Health, Vice President of Hospital Operations at Wilcox Memorial Hospital, and Director of Clinic Operations at Straub Clinic and Hospital, Inc.

     Ms. Adams has been an active member of the Center for Nursing Advisory Board since the inception of the Board.  She has served on the Personnel Committee of the Board and has been nominated as Chairperson.  Ms. Adams has lived on the island of Kauai for the past ten years and contributes not only her professional work experience but also a valuable neighbor island perspective to the Board.

     As a long-time Board member and practitioner, Ms. Adams possesses the experience and knowledge to understand the issues facing the nursing profession in Hawaii.  She identifies, as potential strategies and solutions to address these issues, increasing clinical spaces for nursing students and improving nurse retention and training.  She believes that the Board has assisted in addressing the nurse shortage in the State and that the Board will continue to support nursing programs, encourage leadership training, and support nurses to further retain nurses and improve their quality of care.

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Adams displays extensive knowledge and background in the major issues facing the nursing profession in the State and is confident that Ms. Adams will continue to make significant and well-informed contributions to the Center for Nursing Advisory Board.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair