JOINT RESOLUTIONS

(1)  Examining the causes of the crisis in nursing in the
State of Maryland, with special consideration to be given to the
conditions and hours under which hospitals, nursing homes, and
other health care facilities require nurses to work;

(2)  Examining the declining ability of hospitals and health
care facilities to remain competitive with respect to the
salaries paid to their nursing staffs;

(3)  Examining the potential impact on the nursing industry
of the closing of hospital-based nursing schools;

(4)  Developing realistic incentives for the retention of
nurses currently employed in hospitals and health care facilities
and for the attraction of currently inactive nurses to return to
the nursing profession;

(5)  In consultation with the State Department of Education
and the local boards of education, developing recommendations for
the secondary school systems to encourage students to pursue
careers in nursing;

(6)  Exploring the feasibility of increasing the dollar
amount of nursing student scholarships and the extent to which
the State Scholarship Board is awarding these scholarships;

(7)  Examining the indirect impact on nurses of the cost
containment measures taken or proposed by the Health Resources
Planning Commission or the Health Services Cost Review
Commission;

(8)  Examining the impact of new nursing employment options
and opportunities that attract nurses away from traditional
positions on hospital staffs; and

(9)  Developing any other appropriate recommendations for
implementation in the public and private sectors to address
problems associated with the crisis in nursing; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Governor designate the Chairman of the
Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force report its findings and
recommendations to the General Assembly by January 1, 1988; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That staff for the Task Force be provided by the
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be forwarded by the
Department of Legislative Reference to the Honorable William
Donald Schaefer, Governor of Maryland; the Honorable Thomas V.
Mike Miller, Jr., President of the Senate of Maryland; and the

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