The State of Arizona is facing a shortage of registered nurses (RNs) that was reaching a crisis of critical proportion. In 2001, in recognition of this crisis, Governor Hull appointed the Governor’s Task Force on the Nursing Shortage. In 2002, under the leadership and administration of Governor Janet Napolitano, the Task Force was charged with the development of a statewide strategic plan targeting the multiple and complex factors involved with the shortage of RNs. This plan was completed in 2005, and members of the task force continued to work until objectives from the plan were completed or well on a path of completion. This report is a summary of outcomes of the work plan developed by the Task Force.

The Governor’s Task Force on the Nursing Shortage was charged with developing a statewide strategic plan to ensure that the State of Arizona has the nursing resource necessary to met the healthcare needs of its citizens. It was organized around four strategic themes that categorize the factors that contribute to the nursing shortage and recommendations to counter those factors. The themes are:
· Attracting People to the Profession
· Educating More Nurses
· Improving the Work Environment
· Removing Regulatory Barriers
This report summarizes work done to date and identifies specific goals, strategies and responsible parties for impacting the nursing shortage in the short and long term.