DELAWARE- Delaware nursing leaders and top elected officials will kick off National Nurses Week on Tuesday with a virtual press conference announcing new statewide efforts to support and grow the nursing workforce.
The Delaware Nurses Association will launch two major initiatives: the Delaware Nurses Foundation and the Delaware Nurses Workforce Institute. Both are aimed at strengthening the state’s nursing infrastructure and addressing long-term workforce needs.
The Delaware Nurses Foundation will serve as the philanthropic arm of the association, providing scholarships, mental health resources, recognition programs and grant funding to support nursing research and practice.
A 2023 report from the American Nurses Foundation found that only one cent of healthcare-related philanthropy goes directly to nurses.
The Delaware Nurses Workforce Institute will function as the state’s nursing workforce center, collecting and analyzing data on nursing supply and demand. It aims to drive innovative solutions to alleviate staffing shortages and grow the profession statewide.
Together, the organizations hope to build a more sustainable future for the more than 25,000 licensed nurses who make up Delaware’s largest healthcare workforce sector.
Speakers at the press conference will include:
U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester
Delaware House Speaker Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown
Former Lt. Governor Dr. Bethany Hall-Long
ChristianaCare COO Dr. Ric Cuming
University of Delaware Nursing Dean Dr. Liz Speakman
Delaware Nurses Association President Dr. Kathy Neal
Delaware Nurses Workforce Institute President Dr. Stephanie McClellan
The virtual press conference takes place Tuesday, May 6 from 11 to 11:30 a.m., with a Q&A session to follow. To attend, email executivedirector@denurses.org for access to the Microsoft Teams link.