KITCHEN: NURSING PROGRAMS SEE DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT

            HARRISBURG, July 30 - State Sen. Shirley M. Kitchen (D-Philadelphia) was proud to notice improving statistics for nurse enrollment and graduation rates at Pennsylvania’s schools of nursing.

            “Nursing in Pennsylvania has recently been maligned with shortages and poor licensure passing rates,” Kitchen began. “These improvements, which resulted from targeted initiatives, are an excellent sign for the future of nursing in Pennsylvania.”

            The statistics, listed below, are a dramatic improvement:

• 59 percent increase in nursing program enrollment

• 86 percent increase in nursing graduates and nearly a 3% improvement in nursing licensure pass rate

• Nearly 5 percent improvement in Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) vacancy rates at health care facilities

            These numbers, released by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation (PHEF), were the organization’s number one priority. Using several initiatives including the Nursing Loan Forgiveness for Healthier Futures program and the Nursing Education Grant, PHEF pressed nursing as a strong option for students. Additionally, PHEF launched an informational Web site at FuturesInNursing.org.

            “These initiatives have directly lead to the increased enrollment and graduation rates for Pennsylvania’s nurses,” Kitchen said. “I am proud to say that Pennsylvania soon should be near the top of nursing success in this country.”