The Vermont Organization of Nurse Leaders:
Advocacy Through Leadership
The Vermont Organization of Nurse Leaders (VONL) provides leadership, professional development and networking opportunities in order to advance patient and health care delivery, promote excellence in Nursing leadership, develop and maximize systems in which professional Nurses practice, and influence health care policy.
Strategic initiatives, such as "The Report on Nursing in Vermont" prepared by Toni Kaeding provided a wealth of information about Nurses and Nursing throughout the state. From this information, the VONL targeted for action solutions to the impending Nursing shortage. Several initiatives and recommendations were highlighted and presented to the Public Oversight Commission (POC) as well as the House and Senate Health and Welfare Committee. During these presentations, both the POC and Health & Welfare were urged to recognize the importance of Nursing to the welfare of the people of Vermont. Several issues were raised, including the increased acuity of patients, the aging of the Nursing workforce, alternative career choices for young people, flattened salaries, and the increasing demands on Nursing due to decreased length of stay as well as the Balanced Budget Act and Medicare cutbacks.
The VONL’s recommendations to the POC included a suggestion to increase salaries and support for nurses in hospital budgets. The presentation to the Health and Welfare Committee yielded a bill in this year’s legislative session proposing a loan forgiveness program for Nurses.
In an effort to promote this important work, the VONL in conjunction with VT Association of Hospital and Health Systems (VAHHS) hosted a statewide Nursing Summit in which over 100 stakeholders representing Nursing, public health, health care administration, education and the political and public sector attended. The summit reinforced the following VONL’s strategic initiatives:
- Increase marketing to recruit students into nursing
- Improve workplace environment (including wages and career advancement opportunities)
- Conduct research on Nursing and outcomes
- Create internship program for new nurses
- Expand clinical educational opportunities for students.
The Nursing Internship Program, supported by funding from AHEC, is in the final stages of planning with an expected target date set for May. This has been an exciting project in which 25 VT and NH Nurse leaders from both education and service joined forces to institute a program that will provide novice Nurses with the clinical experience and mentoring support needed to transition from graduate to independent practitioner. The program will initially be piloted at three VT hospitals this spring.
In addition to this work, the Vermont Organization of Nurse Leaders is closely watching and responding to several proposed bills in the House and Senate through our affiliation with the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems.
To learn more about VONL or "The Report on Nursing in VT", please visit us through our link @ vahhs.org.