The Pennsylvania Nursing Workforce Coalition (PA-NWC) is dedicated to addressing the critical challenges facing the nursing profession in Pennsylvania through innovative and impactful initiatives. Our efforts focus on strengthening career pathways for nurses, advancing public policy through data-driven solutions, and promoting diversity and equity within the nursing workforce. These initiatives are designed to create lasting change, improve healthcare outcomes, and support a thriving, resilient nursing community across the Commonwealth. Explore our key initiatives below to learn how we’re leading the way in shaping the future of nursing in Pennsylvania.
Bolstering Nursing Workforce Pathways
The PA-NWC is committed to reducing nursing shortages across all healthcare settings in Pennsylvania. We are widening career access and mobility through comprehensive educational programs, mentorship, and networking opportunities. These initiatives make Pennsylvania a more desirable state to pursue and grow a nursing career. We also prioritize strategies that promote well-being, resiliency, and workplace safety, ensuring a strong and supported workforce.
Our Approach: Goals, Programs, and Activities
Goals & Activities:
- Goal 1: Expand Access to Nursing Residency Programs
- Engage with healthcare institutions that do not currently use the Vizient Nurse Residency Program (NRP), starting with acute care facilities, to identify barriers to participation.
- Develop strategies and resources to support institutions in overcoming those barriers and adopting structured residency programs.
- Goal 2: Establish PA-NWC as the Leading Convener for Nursing Workforce Support
- Develop a centralized hub of workforce resources to support nursing students, new graduates, and experienced nurses seeking career advancement.
- Facilitate ongoing discussions and resource-sharing to address workforce challenges and improve nursing career sustainability.
- Goal 3: Launch a Nursing Leadership Forum to Strengthen Workforce Resilience
- Develop an initial framework for the Nursing Leadership Forum, including structure, frequency, and key topics
- Host regular virtual or in-person leadership meetings to connect nursing leaders, share best practices, and address workforce challenges (similar to Colorado’s weekly “CNO Call”)
Explore Our Programs:
Reimagining Public Policy Through Data
The PA-NWC is driving access to data and increasing data literacy for informed healthcare policy-making across the state. We aim to address structural inequities in nursing through a focused advocacy agenda, working alongside patients, healthcare institutions, and policymakers. We will measure progress toward our goals by tracking and disseminating local and national metrics.
Our Approach: Goals, Programs, and Activities
Goals & Activities:
- Goal 1: Build a Robust Nursing Workforce Data Infrastructure/Establish a Centralized Nursing Workforce Data Hub
- Convene a PA-NWC Data Committee to determine key data priorities.
- Create a centralized landing page on the PA-NWC website to showcase all available PA nursing workforce data sources.
- Review the Minimum Data Set (MDS) from the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers.
- Assess gaps in existing nursing workforce data
- Develop a strategic roadmap for expanding data availability and usability ("Where do we want to go from here?").
- Goal 2: Expand Data Access and Reporting
- Increase publicly available nursing workforce data and develop an annual State of the Nursing Workforce Report.
- Collaborate with key stakeholders, such as the PA State Board of Nursing, the PA Department of Health, and the PA Office of Rural Health to enhance data collection and accessibility.
- Track and integrate additional workforce and policy-related datasets over the next two years.
- Ensure data is accessible, actionable, and relevant for policymakers, healthcare institutions, educators, and advocates.
Learn how we’re reimagining public policy:
Embracing Diversity Through Equitable Solutions
At PA-NWC, we are dedicated to promoting diversity and fostering culturally humble care throughout Pennsylvania. As a trusted partner, we are actively working to increase the diversity of the nursing workforce and promote equitable solutions that can be applied in healthcare settings across the state.
Our Approach: Goals, Programs, and Activities
Goals & Activities:
- Goal 1: Centralize and Share Diversity-Focused Workforce Development Resources
- Curate a centralized hub to collect and organize events and survey feedback on activities, partners, and organizations for future engagement.
- Compile and share contact information for workforce development programs to facilitate collaboration and idea-sharing.
- Highlight successful programs that provide tools for career development conversations.
- Goal 2: Strengthen Nursing Leadership Through an Equity-Focused Framework
- Introduce and promote a leadership model aligned with the ANA framework to support culturally humble and equitable nursing leadership.
- Engage nursing leaders and stakeholders to integrate diversity-centered leadership principles into workforce development initiatives.
- Goal 3: Expand and Strengthen the Nurse Diversity Council and Mentorship Programs
- Grow partnerships within the Nurse Diversity Council to expand mentorship programs across Pennsylvania.
- Encourage collaboration between participating organizations to improve mentorship opportunities and avoid siloed efforts.
- Increase accountability measures by setting clear expectations for engagement and tracking mentorship program outcomes.
Discover how we're embracing diversity:
Learn About the Strategic Plan
