Historic Collaboration Between Independent and Public Higher Education Sectors and the State Education Department
ALBANY, N.Y. (May 15, 2023) – Today, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation that will help address New York’s nursing shortage and allow nursing programs to provide up to one-third of a student’s clinical work in a high-tech simulation environment. (S.447C (Stavisky) / A.3706A (Lupardo)).
New York is projected to face a shortage of almost 40,000 nurses by 2030. Nursing programs across New York are ready to educate the next generation of nurses to resolve this shortage, but they face a major obstacle: a lack of quality clinical placements in hospital settings that nurses must complete before receiving their license. Without enough high-quality clinical placements, nursing programs across the state cannot meet the state’s nursing needs.
Permitting the use of simulation-based clinical education for one-third of clinical hours will enable nursing students to receive the training they need and allow nursing programs to expand to meet demand.
The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) represents New York’s 100+ independent colleges and universities. Working in close partnership with the City University of New York (CUNY), the State University of New York (SUNY), the NYS Legislature and the New York State Education Department (NYSED), CICU led the charge for drafting of this critical legislation.
“New York’s independent colleges and universities educate 67 percent of nurses in the state. I want to thank Governor Hochul for signing this important legislation into law,” said Lola W. Brabham, president of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities. She added, “This legislation is a significant step toward addressing New York’s critical nursing shortage and I am grateful to Senator Toby Ann Stavisky and Assemblymember Donna Lupardo for sponsoring this bill. I also thank our terrific partners at SUNY, CUNY, and the New York State Education Department for their close collaboration on this legislation.”
Simulated clinical settings feature realistic cases in which students must deliver healthcare to a simulated patient, reacting to the same data they will use as professionals. Overseen by NYSED, these simulated scenarios expose students to the realities of healthcare while enriching their learning experience through controlled environments.
A recent study by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing showed the substitution of clinical simulation for up to 50 percent of traditional clinical experience is an effective model for ensuring nursing students are fully prepared to enter their profession. Thirty-one states currently provide some level of simulated clinical training for nursing students, leveraging technology to provide hands-on learning in a safe environment while prioritizing patient safety. With this legislation, New York is proud to join them.
###
About the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities in New York: CICU represents the public policy interests of more than 100 independent colleges and universities in New York State. Founded in 1956 by a small group of college and university presidents, CICU is an educational corporation formed under the New York State Regents whose mission is to provide opportunity and access to higher education through fairness, equity, and humanity. Visit www.cicu.org to learn more.