Pennsylvania Partnerships Address Statewide Nursing Shortage

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- In a continual effort to alleviate the nationwide nursing shortage, the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future is hosting the Promise of Nursing for Pennsylvania gala to raise funds and provide scholarships to help ease the nursing shortage in Pennsylvania. All proceeds from the event, which is being held in Philadelphia on Thursday, September 16, will support regional nursing school grants, faculty fellowships and student scholarships.

Pennsylvania nurses and healthcare professionals will be in attendance at the Downtown Philadelphia Marriott beginning at 6 p.m. As the third Promise of Nursing for Pennsylvania gala, this year's proceeds will contribute to more than $1.2 million raised since the first Pennsylvania gala in 2007.

"Through collaborative efforts like the Promise of Nursing gala, we are able to improve the state of the profession by providing resources and educational support that our nurses need," says Jack Lynch, president and CEO of Main Line Health. "By caring for the needs of today's nursing workforce, we also ensure that the outlook for the profession shows promise for our present and future generations of nurses."

Current predictions by the Health Resources Service Administration indicate that Pennsylvania is expected to experience a 41 percent vacancy rate for nursing positions by 2020. More than 54,000 nursing professionals will be needed to close this gap and effectively meet the healthcare needs of the Pennsylvania population. The shortage predicted for Pennsylvania corresponds with national projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that estimate more than one million new and replacement nurses will be needed to meet U.S. population demands by 2016.

"The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future is committed to supporting the growth and retention of our nursing workforce at both regional and national levels," says Andrea Higham, director of the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future. "Collaborative efforts like the Promise of Nursing allow us to broaden our reach and foster relationships with nurses and supporting partners. This type of synergy strengthens our ability to take charge of this shortage and help secure the future for our community of nurses."

For additional information on the Promise of Nursing for Pennsylvania gala, e-mail [email protected].

The organizations that comprise the Promise of Nursing for Pennsylvania Steering Committee include: Abington Memorial Hospital; Aria Health; Albert Einstein Healthcare Network; Bayada Nurses; The Chester County Hospital and Health System; Community Medical Center, Scranton; Crozer-Keystone Health System; Drexel University Online; Fox Chase Cancer Center; Geisinger Health System; Jefferson School of Nursing, Thomas Jefferson University; Life Science Career Alliance; Lehigh Valley Health Network; Main Line Health; Penn Medicine – Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Hospital; Penn State University School of Nursing; Pennsylvania State Nurses Association/Nursing Foundation of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education; St. Christopher's Hospital for Children; Temple University Hospital; The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; The Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania; The University of Scranton; Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals; University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing; University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing; and Villanova University College of Nursing.

ABOUT THE PROMISE OF NURSING

The Promise of Nursing for Pennsylvania gala is part of a public-awareness campaign – The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future – launched by Johnson & Johnson in February 2002. The Campaign is designed to enhance the image of the nursing profession, recruit new nurses and nurse faculty, as well as help retain nurses currently in the profession. Working in cooperation with various professional nursing organizations, schools, hospitals and other health care groups and providers, the Campaign for Nursing's Future focuses on promoting opportunities within nursing as well as increasing awareness of the value of the nursing profession to our overall society and health care community.

For more information on the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future, visit www.campaignfornursing.com and www.discovernursing.com.

ABOUT JOHNSON & JOHNSON

Caring for the world, one person at a time…inspires and unites the people of Johnson & Johnson. We embrace research and science - bringing innovative ideas, products and services to advance the health and well-being of people. Our approximately 114,000 employees at more than 250 Johnson & Johnson companies work with partners in health care to touch the lives of over a billion people every day, throughout the world.

SOURCE Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future