Some of the facts are:

• Dallas/Fort Worth hospitals have a 10% shortage of RN positions.
• The vacancy rates in critical care units is over 12%.
• The average age of RNs is 45 years old.
• The average age of nursing school faculty is 55 years old.
• The metroplex population is growing and aging.
  Above cited in Merrill, M., "Chairman's Column", The Interlocutor, Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council Newsletter, July-August, 1999, p. 2.
• RNs with children often work fewer hours and work part-time if able.
• When there are older adults in a RN¹s household, RN work participation decreases.
• Opportunities for women are wide open. There is a decreasing level of preference for nursing as a career. Only 9-12% of nurses are under 30.
• Current nursing education programs have capacity restrictions.
• There is an inadequate supply of nursing faculty.
• Nurse's wages are flattened and falling.
• Nurses report low morale, high stress and general work related unhappiness.
  Above cited in: Buerhaus, P., Jan 1999, Texas Nursing Education Summit, reported in N. Ackley, "Is a Nurse Shortage Coming?", Texas Nursing, March, 1999, pp. 10-11.
• Numerous studies document that as the number of RNs on a staff decreases, the numbers of patient deaths, complications, medication errors, and complaints increase.
• As the American population continues to increase and age, more registered nurses will be needed.

In February 2000, Texas Nurses Association, District Four and the Dallas Nursing Leadership Coalition organized a conference to address "The Nursing Shortage in Dallas/Fort Worth: Strategies and Solutions". Speakers represented various clinical specialties, nursing administration, nursing education, and recruitment and retention efforts. Break out sessions proposed recommendations and action plans regarding:
1) Creating a Healthy Workplace; 2) Recruitment, Retention and Diversity; 3) Compensation and Benefits; 4) Technology; and 5) Collective Bargaining. Over 150 registered nurses and other interested health professionals participated and produced the following recommendations—