Maryland Health Occupations Section 8-7B-01

Article - Health Occupations

§ 8-7B-01.

CAUTION: READ FULL TEXT OF SECTION FOR SPECIAL NOTE

// SPECIAL NOTE: THE FOLLOWING SECTION WAS ADDED BY CHAPTERS 257 AND 258 OF 2000 AND WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL DECEMBER 1, 2005 //

      (a)      There is a Statewide Commission on the Crisis in Nursing.

      (b)      The Commission consists of at least the following members:

            (1)      The Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene;

            (2)      The Secretary of Business and Economic Development, or the Secretary's designee;

            (3)      The Superintendent of the State Board of Education or the Superintendent's designee;

            (4)      The Secretary of the Maryland Higher Education Commission, or the Secretary's designee;

            (5)      The Executive Director of the Health Services Cost Review Commission, or the Executive Director's designee;

            (6)      The Director of the Mental Hygiene Administration, or a nurse designated by the Director;

            (7)      The dean of a university-based school of nursing;

            (8)      One practicing nurse;

            (9)      A school health nurse;

            (10)      A representative of the disability services community who is a nurse;

            (11)      A public health nurse;

            (12)      A hospital representative, who is a nursing director;

            (13)      A nursing representative, who is a nursing director of a nonprofit nursing home;

            (14)      A nursing home representative, who is a nursing director of a for-profit nursing home;

            (15)      A union representative, who is a nurse;

            (16)      A representative of a temporary nurse staffing agency;

            (17)      A home care nurse;

            (18)      A student nurse representative;

            (19)      A physician;

            (20)      A practicing critical care nurse;

            (21)      A practicing rehabilitation nurse;

            (22)      A practicing behavioral home health nurse;

            (23)      A practicing perioperative nurse;

            (24)      A practicing occupational health nurse;

            (25)      A practicing perianesthesia nurse;

            (26)      A practicing gastroenterology nurse;

            (27)      A practicing ophthalmic nurse;

            (28)      A practicing emergency nurse;

            (29)      A practicing oncology nurse;

            (30)      A representative of the Maryland Association of Community Support Services;

            (31)      A representative of a managed care organization operating in the State;

            (32)      A consumer representative;

            (33)      A nurse recruiter;

            (34)      Two members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House; and

            (35)      Two members of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of the Senate.

      (c)      (1)      The Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene shall:

                  (i)      Chair the Commission;

                  (ii)      Appoint the membership of the Commission; and

                  (iii)      Appoint as vice chairs:

                        1.      Two deans from university-based schools of nursing;

                        2.      A dean of an independent college or university school of nursing;

                        3.      A director of a community college nursing program;

                        4.      The Executive Director of the State Board of Nursing;

                        5.      A nurse executive;

                        6.      A practicing registered nurse;

                        7.      A practicing licensed practical nurse; and

                        8.      The project director of the Colleagues in Care Project;

                  (iv)      Establish subcommittees to facilitate the work of the Commission as required under subsection (d) of this section; and

                  (v)      Appoint subcommittee chairs from among the Commission members.

            (2)      To the extent practicable, the members appointed to the Commission shall be geographically and racially diverse.

            (3)      There shall be:

                  (i)      A subcommittee to study and evaluate the education of nurses;

                  (ii)      A subcommittee to study and evaluate the recruitment of nurses;

                  (iii)      A subcommittee to study and evaluate the retention of nursing personnel; and

                  (iv)      Any other subcommittee that the Secretary deems appropriate.

      (d)      The Commission shall:

            (1)      Convene a crisis in nursing summit to respond to the nursing shortage in the State;

            (2)      In addition to the issues identified and prioritized as a result of the summit convened under item (1) of this subsection, determine the current extent and long-term implications of the growing nursing personnel shortage in the State, including:

                  (i)      An evaluation of mechanisms currently available in the State and elsewhere intended to enhance education, recruitment, and retention of nurses in the workforce and to improve quality of care; and

                  (ii)      An assessment of the impact of shortages in nursing personnel on access to, and the delivery of, quality patient care;

            (3)      Develop recommendations on, and facilitate implementation of, strategies to reverse the growing shortage of qualified nursing personnel in the State, including:

                  (i)      Determining what changes are needed to existing programs, current scholarship programs, and funding mechanisms to better reflect and accommodate the changing health care delivery environment and to improve quality of care to meet the needs of patients;

                  (ii)      Facilitating career advancement within nursing;

                  (iii)      Identifying more accurately specific shortage areas in a more timely manner;

                  (iv)      Attracting middle and high school students into nursing as a career;

                  (v)      Identifying a technology driven point of care application, in consultation with an individual with expertise in technology driven point of care applications, to:

                        1.      Maximize nursing productivity and increase the quality of patient care; and

                        2.      Improve the work environment infrastructure in health care facilities; and

                  (vi)      Projecting a more positive and professional image of nursing; and

            (4)      Serve as an advisor to public and private entities to facilitate implementation of the recommendations of the Commission.

      (e)      The State Board of Nursing shall provide staff support for the Commission.

      (f)      The Commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, subject to § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly in an interim report within 6 months of being appointed and in an annual report on January 1 of each year.

      (g)      A member of the Commission may not receive compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.



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