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Below is the HillCo client report from the October 22 Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies Advisory Committee meeting.

The advisory committee met to consider and approve various nurse staffing reports.
 
Review and approval of 2014 Hospital Nurse Staffing Study Reports

  • The committee unanimously approved all twelve surveys with minor, non-substantive amendments

 
Review and approval of 2014 Long Term Care Nurse Staffing Study Reports

  • The committee unanimously voted to table the long term care reports in order to perform additional research; the report is expected to be finished by January

 
Organizational updates from the TNA, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and THA on the upcoming legislative session

  • TNA- likely won’t introduce any new issues/legislation; they plan to continue pushing for previously proposed legislation
  • Higher Education Coordinating Board:
    •  Plans to recommend approval of the UT Arlington grant
    • Plans to recommend grants for Baylor University and Texas Tech University for clinical partner projects
    • Plans to recommend grants for expanding computer labs to shift clinical hours from a traditional hands-on approach to a simulation based approach
    • Legislative priorities:
      • Developing outcome based funding for universities, providing additional funds above and beyond normal funding based on certain parameters—number of undergraduate degrees, number of at-risk undergraduate students, and retention metrics
      •  Authorization of BA nursing degrees at community colleges (beyond the three current community colleges with BA programs); BA programs will have stipulations—programs  must be fully utilized and provide distance learning opportunities
  • THA- development of Texas Way, an insurance plan for working citizens, at an affordable rate, in hopes of decreasing the amount of uninsured Texas citizens

 
 
Updates from the TCNWS

  • TCNWS will implement the minor amendments approved in the October 22nd meeting and prepare a final draft of the surveys and recommendations in preparation for the 84th legislative session
  • There is currently a vacant staff position that needs to be filled as soon as possible