Requesting The University Of Hawaii - West Oahu To Re-establish A Pre-nursing Pathway Or Create A Permanent Nursing Program For Students.
If the requests specified in SCR35 are acted upon, they would have a substantial positive impact on nursing education and availability in Hawaii. Establishing a nursing program would not only provide students with crucial educational opportunities but also potentially address the ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals in the state. By creating a more accessible pathway for nursing candidates, the resolution aims to strengthen the healthcare workforce and ensure that there are adequate nursing resources available for the community.
SCR35 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution from the 31st Legislature of Hawaii that requests the University of Hawaii-West Oahu to re-establish a pre-nursing pathway or create a permanent nursing program for students. This resolution comes in response to the cancellation of the Ike Mauli Ola program in 2017, which provided essential nursing prerequisites for students, especially those in central and west Oahu. The resolution recognizes a pressing need for a stable nursing pathway in light of a significant nursing shortage exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that a re-establishment of such programs could better equip the state to handle future healthcare challenges.
The sentiment surrounding SCR35 appears to be supportive, particularly among educational institutions and healthcare advocates who emphasize the importance of having a local nursing program. There is an acknowledgment of the urgent need for trained nurses due to the recent healthcare demands brought on by the pandemic. However, the resolution is predominantly framed as a request, indicating a desire for collaboration and effort among various university campuses rather than a mandate, which might temper the sentiment within some educational bureaucracies that may be resistant to change.
While the resolution is primarily supportive of re-establishing nursing pathways, there may be contention regarding funding, resource allocation, and the logistics of establishing a new program. The Senate's request for partnerships with the University of Hawaii at Hilo and University of Hawaii at Manoa suggests a recognition of the complexities involved in creating a durable and effective nursing program. Key stakeholders might debate over which partnership structures would be most effective or how to balance the needs of different regions within Hawaii, especially in terms of ensuring equitable access to nursing education for all interested students.