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Frequently Asked Questions

    Who are you?
    What is your goal?
    What methods do you use?
    Why are you focusing on California?
    Is this a duplicate effort?
    How are you going to get the money for a costly multimedia campaign that includes website, print, television, billboards, etc?
    Are you the right people to be doing this?
    What have you accomplished to date?
    How can I help?


Who are you?

CNCC is an independent coalition of health care organizations, hospital administrators, and nurse educators and faculty working together to address the long term nursing shortage in California. We are committed to attracting a pool of candidates for schools of nursing that reflect the diversity and demographics of our great state. The Coalition regards the shortage of nurses as an impending public health crisis, and for this reason we have come together to address the issue as a community.

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What is your goal?

CNCC will lead the effort to achieve an adequate and diverse nurse workforce to meet the safety and quality care needs of Californians.

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What methods do you use?

We use a multimedia approach and outreach effort that enhances the image of the nursing profession. We have a web site chooseNursing.com that reflects diversity and appeals to young people. The web site is rich with resource information for parents and students, such as, how to apply and pay for nursing school, lists of California nursing school programs, scholarship information, career paths and real stories about nursing students and Registered Nurses. In addition, the site features a unique RN Ambassador Program. This program encourages RNs to seek opportunities to speak positively about the profession, their experiences as a nurse and why they chose nursing as a career. For the convenience of the ambassadors, we offer free downloadable age-specific presentation tools. These tools were developed for elementary, middle and high school students and are available in Spanish.

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Why are you focusing on California?

California’s nursing shortage is unique in many ways.

  • California has the least number of RNs per 100,000 population in the country
  • the average age of an RN is 47-50 and may be older in specialty areas
  • the state's population is concurrently increasing in number as well as the population that is 65 years and older
  • the nursing workforce does not reflect the diversity of the state
  • recent legislation mandates staffing/patient ratios

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Is this a duplicate effort?

No. Several other organizations have the image and recruitment issues on their agenda. They are well-established organizations with multiple goals and objectives for the nursing profession, including education, legislation, working conditions, etc. The Coalition for Nursing Careers in California has only one goal: to increase the appeal of the nursing profession for those seeking careers; and to influence the number and diversity of nursing students entering California colleges and universities.

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How are you going to get the money for a costly multimedia campaign that includes website, print, television, radio, billboards, etc?

We view the impending crisis in available nursing care as a public health crisis. We have formed strategic partnerships with businesses, community groups and professional organizations that share our concerns and we continue to solicit corporate sponsorship and community foundations for funds to support the mission and vision of the Coalition. We gladly accept donations and in-kind resources.

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Are you the right people to be doing this?

Absolutely. Our coalition represents registered nurses and other professionals with vast and diverse experiences including, education, broadcasting, human resources, public relations, administration and multimedia. We have direct experience with advertising, recruitment, teaching, and community outreach campaigns.

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What have you accomplished to date?

Milestones:

  • Established recognition award for RN Ambassador Program
  • Established recognition award for Student Nurse Ambassador activity
  • Completed Vital Link Outreach Program for 250 high school students

Partnerships:

  • California Institute for Nursing and Health Careers
  • New California Media
  • Children Hospital Madera ( Central Valley California )
  • KP Regional Multimedia Department – NBC 11 Website

Outreach

CNCC staff members promoted nursing as a career to youth and the RN Ambassador Program at the following events (not exhaustive):

  • Andrew P Hill High School Health Career Fair
  • CNSA Convention
  • Hispanic Scholarship Fund Outreach
  • SAGE Scholars
  • CAL Hosa Event
  • Sequoia High School
  • California Black Health Network, Inc.
  • Evergreen Nursing Students Association
  • UCLA 100 Black Men Association
  • HP Career Fair
  • Leading In A Changing Environment Conference
  • Richmond Medical Center RN Hiring Event
  • Black Nurses Association Conference
  • Santa Clara RN Hiring Event
  • Vallejo RN Hiring Event
  • Advanced Preceptor Symposium
  • Santa Teresa RN Hiring Event
  • Vallejo Career Awareness Day
  • San Ramon Mentoring Symposium
  • Cash for College
  • Fresno Youth Outreach Career Forum
  • Diversity Conference
  • Carlmont High School

Outreach Metrics

www.chooseNursing.com

  • Online reported by ambassadors: Stats and Facts - ~ 500 students
  • Captured and reported by CNCC – ~ 14,500
    • RN Ambassador Program (Nurses and other healthcare professionals)
  • Captured and reported by CNCC ~ 3,025

Scholarship Program:

Focus of scholarship is to support nursing students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and those who are part of a group that is currently underrepresented in the nursing profession in California .

  • Met 2005 goal to increase of scholarship awards – 30 students awarded in 2005 compared to 4 students awarded 2004 compared to 2 students in 2003.

Funds were gifted to nine Bay Area High Schools at the end of 2004 totaling $160,949 and CNCC was designated to monitor those funds and establish working relationships with those schools during 2005. The schools and the cash grants were as follows:

  • Carlmont High School , Business Academy , Belmont
  • Oakland Tech High School , Oakland , Health and Bio Science Academy
  • Sequoia Electronic Arts Academy , Redwood City , Electronic
  • Woodside High School , Woodside, Business Technology Academy
  • Andrew P. Hill High School , San Jose , Nursing/Health Academy
  • Life Academy High School , Oakland , Health & Bio-Sciences
  • Menlo-Atherton High School , Atherton, Computer Academy
  • University of California , Berkeley SAGE Scholars Program
  • Juma Ventures, San Francisco , Career Exploration Program

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How can I help?

Please contact the CNCC. They welcome your comments and questions.

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Updated
April 19, 2006