SAVE THIS DATE

As the Governor promised, he has provided a good first step for recruiting and retaining faculty. Each of the state-supported BS and higher degree programs and the VCCS (lumped together) will receive a 10% increase for nursing faculty effective November 25, 2007. We will need to bear in mind that the promise of an increase in 10% faculty compensation may or may not have a positive impact on 2007 recruitment efforts, but it is better than a no increase. This is a new and innovative approach to addressing nursing faculty needs and will need our support to show how important, if it is to remain in the budget during the General Assembly Session.

In addition, there is new scholarship fund of $200,000 to support MS education for those who want to be faculty members.

You can do 3 things.......

1. Attend the VNA Legislative Day, since the Governor will be speaking and it is an opportunity to show nursing support in a big way. As noted above we hope that the Governor's amendments are a first step and this will not happen if nurses are not visible to support and thank him.

The Virginia Nurses Association invites you and your colleagues to participate in the 22nd Annual Nurses Day at the Virginia General Assembly being held Wednesday, February 7, 2007, at the Richmond Marriott on East Broad Street in Richmond. The theme of this year's event is "Who Will Care for You?"

We hope that you will register to attend soon. Registration information and materials about the legislative process and VNA's legislative agenda can be found on-line at www.virginianurses.com/vna We will be posting the day's exact schedule after January 1, 2007.

Make an appointment to visit or email your local representatives in the General Assembly, this and other useful information is found on the Virginia Legislature website: http://legis.stat.va.us/

2. Attend a General Assembly regional budget hearing on January 4 or the final budget hearing January 15. You can also solicit other health care providers, patients, or anyone to speak on behalf of the need for nurses and nursing education.

January 4, 12 noon
College of Wm & Mary, University Center (Commonwealth Auditorium)
Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, Grand Hall, Abingdon
Danville Community College, Oliver Hall, Danville
Northern Virginia Community College--Waddell Theater, Loudoun

and January 15, at 1 p.m.
General Assembly Building, House Room D, Richmond

Emphasis should be on support for increases in nursing faculty salaries and the scholarship program, nursing program heads and faculty across the State are planning to attend the regional meetings and telling the stories of the difficulties they face in recruiting and retaining faculty. I will send you a template testimony on December 28.

When you arrive at the hearing, you sign in to speak. If many nurses are there, they can select a spokesperson and then just all stand to be recognized as the single person speaks. Be sure to have a list with addresses of the persons supporting the nursing faculty amendments in the Budget.

3. Write to the Governor and thank him. Email contact at http://www.virginia.gov/cmsportal2/
You can wait until you get talking points on December 28 if you like.