Home > About Us > Our Strategic Plan

Strategic Areas:
[Policy and Advocacy | Image | Strategic Alliances | Work Environment | Perpetuity | Center for Nursing Information]

Committees and Task Forces:
[Communications | Funding | Legislation| Recruitment| Retention | IDFPR | Education | Programs]

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Our Strategic Plan for 2006

The Illinois Coalition for Nursing Resources is a statewide collaborative effort to secure nursing professionals and resources for the healthcare future in Illinois. It is an alliance of nurse leaders, educators, staff and advanced practice nurses, nursing organizations, hospitals and other employers and providers, state and governmental entities, and other interested and committed people from across Illinois charged with developing a strategic, statewide plan for the nursing workforce. It is a unique organization of groups and individuals dedicated to meeting the needs for nursing resources and nursing care for all of Illinois.

Mission

To ensure that the State of Illinois has the nursing resources necessary to meet the healthcare needs of the people of Illinois.

Vision Statement

The Illinois Coalition for Nursing Resources will create and maintain a long-term program that provides for adequate numbers of nurses, promotes appropriate skill mix of nursing staff, and focuses on recruitment of individuals into the nursing profession. We will work to develop and maintain a supportive environment in health care to retain nurses in all aspects of patient care.

Strategic Planning Process

The Strategic Plan is based on five Strategic Areas:

• Policy and Advocacy
• Image
• Strategic Alliances
• Work Environment
• Perpetuity

Each year the Board of Directors of the Illinois Coalition for Nursing Resources reviews accomplishments of the previous year, updates the organization’s strategic plan, and develops a targeted plan for the next year. This annual list of goals, objectives and actions needed to meet the annual goals is then approved by the membership and serves as the guidebook for organization activities during the year, and as the benchmark for reviewing organization accomplishments at the end of the year. All planned activities must be directed toward fulfillment of the ICNR mission and vision.

In 2006 the ICNR will focus on continuation of its 2005 primary goal: o develop a Center for Nursing Information to be housed on the ICNR website. This goal will drive all of the Coalition efforts in 2006 including the objectives in Strategic Areas and activities of the Committees and Task forces.

2006 Objectives:

• Participate in the revisions to the Illinois Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act and advocate for an Act which fosters the growth of nursing resources in Illinois.
• Continue to work to alleviate current nursing shortages and secure nursing resources for the future through recruitment and retention initiatives.
• Collaborate with other organizations to expand the capacity by 20% over the next three years, while maintaining or improving access and quality, of the Illinois nursing educational system.
• Promote collaboration and dialogue between nursing educators, practitioners, and leaders.

Strategic Area: Policy and Advocacy

Goal: To develop and support state healthcare policies that will ensure Illinois has the nursing resources it needs now and in the future.

Ongoing Activities for this strategic area.

• Identify and communicate key policy issues to the membership.
• Develop ICNR-initiated legislation to increase available nursing resources as necessary.
• Develop position statements in response to pertinent policy statements and legislative initiatives from other groups.
• Make recommendations to the Board of Directors and ICNR membership on legislation and other policy issues.

2006 Policy and Advocacy Objectives: :

• Identify legislation which will support the continued development of an Illinois Center for Nursing Information.
• Participate in preparation for the sunset of the Nurse Practice Act in 2007.

The Legislative Committee will:

• Recommend positions on legislative initiatives pending their impact on
  nursing resources.
• Develop strategic relationship with key state agencies including, but not limited to, the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation and the Illinois Department of Public Health.
• Support legislation for an Interstate Compact in Illinois.

The IDFPR Task Force will:

• Work with the Board of Nursing to better meet the needs of Illinois nurses.
• Develop recommendations for necessary modifications to the roles, practices, responsibilities, and processes of the Board of Nursing.
• Collaborate with IDFPR to ensure nursing surveys as required in the Rules for Administration of the Nursing Act are completed.
• Survey the membership to gather issues of concern with the rules and regulations for administering the Illinois Nursing and Advanced Nursing Practice Act.
• Work with other relevant organizations and groups to develop a list of issues and potential improvements to facilitate licensing and approval processes for Illinois nurses.

Goal: To improve the image of nursing as a profession in order to attract and retain competent people in nursing and support the recruitment of necessary nursing resources for Illinois.

Ongoing Activities for this strategic area:

• Maintain image and recruitment efforts to increase nursing school enrollments and to increase nursing school faculty.
• Disseminate information about nursing education and careers.
• Gather and analyze data about gender and ethnic diversity in the nursing workforce.
• Monitor the media regarding nursing image and alert members of potential issues.

2006 Image Objectives:

• Work to attract more nurses to faculty positions in order to increase the capacity of the educational system.
• Provide accurate information about nursing education and careers to all key stakeholders, policy makers, recruiters, guidance counselors, and potential nurses via the ICNR web site.

The Recruitment Committee will:

• Develop careers section for the website for potential nurses and the public. Provide information about multiple career opportunities for and various roles of nurses.
• Promote recruitment by creating informational tools about nursing and nursing education.
• Conduct a mass mailing to junior high and high schools referring them to the ICNR web site for information about how to start a health professions club at their school.
• Educate school/college counselors about nursing education (i.e., courses needed; is collegiate, rigorous).
• Promote nursing education career tracks to facilitate faculty recruitment.

The Nursing Education Task Force will:

• Develop, distribute, and report the findings of a survey of nursing programs in Illinois regarding faculty shortages, innovative ways to recruit faculty, and creative clinical placements/partnerships.
• Plan and implement at least one initiative to support increased capacity in Illinois nursing education programs.
• Obtain data comparing faculty to service salaries.
• Analyze articulation issues or barriers and make recommendations for alleviating barriers.

Strategic Area: Strategic Alliances

Goal: To expand support for initiatives implemented to attain the mission and vision of the ICNR.

Ongoing Activities for this strategic area:

• Update and maintain the ICNR website to strengthen communications and partnerships.
• Initiate public relations activities to increase awareness of ICNR initiatives on behalf of the ICNR committees.
• Continuously seek out new partners for the Coalition.

2006 Strategic Alliances Objectives

• Provide relevant input to the IDFPR Sunset Committees
• Increase awareness of ICNR membership, positions, and activities among policy makers.
• Initiate public relations activities to increase awareness of the ICNR Center for Nursing Information and other activities including grant awards.

The Communications Committee will:

• Initiate public relations activities to increase awareness of ICNR Center for Nursing Information and other activities including grant awards.
• Develop strategies for improving communication throughout Illinois
  about the current and future needs for nursing resources.
• Develop the website for the Center for Nursing Information in Illinois.

Goal: To promote improvements in the work environment for nurses and increase retention through the Center for Nursing Information.

2006 Work Environment Objectives:

• Develop a retention section for the Center for Nursing Information which promotes best practices in retaining a competent nursing workforce.

The Retention Committee will:

• Develop a data repository of information on successful practices in nurse retention and utilization of scarce resources for both nursing education and practice.
• Develop a compendium of best successful practices for retention.
• Disseminate information about the work environment and provide ideas for improvement, including safety for patients and nurses.

Strategic Area: Perpetuity

Goal: Create and maintain a long-term program that provides for adequate numbers of nurses, promotes appropriate skill mix of nursing staff, and focuses on recruitment and retention of individuals in nursing. Develop and maintain a supportive environment in health care to retain nurses in all aspects of patient care and nursing education.

2006 Perpetuity Objectives:

• Operate with a balanced budget and secure necessary financial resources to support the ICNR annual objectives and initiatives described in the Strategic Plan.
• Increase membership by 20%.
• Measurably improve membership engagement in the organization.

The Funding Committee will:

• Seek and obtain alternative non-dues revenue sources needed to support the organization’s goals.
• Prioritize grant opportunities and submit at least one proposal for funding.

The Programs Task Force will:

• Develop at least two education programs based on member needs.
• Market programs to support the funding committee’s non-dues related revenue goal.
• Assist the funding committee with other non-dues revenue activities as needed.

The Communications Committee will:

• Develop the website for the Illinois Center for Nursing Information.
• Develop a list-serve for inter-member communication and to facilitate ICNR business and processes (e.g. renewals).
• Monitor the website for utilization and audience statistics.

The Board of Directors will:

• Undertake internal process improvements to assure member engagement and active involvement.
• Actively recruit new ICNR members among hospitals, health care systems, schools of nursing, nursing associations, individuals, provider groups, and other relevant interested parties.
• Utilize the web site and other online technology to engage members as active participants.
• Promote committee participation with all members to advance the work of ICNR.
• Provide recognition to ICNR members and member institutions, and member associations as contributing to the collaborative effort.
• Utilize member communication vehicles to increase awareness of ICNR initiatives.

Strategic Area: Center for Nursing Information for Illinois

In 2006 the ICNR will focus on one goal: Develop a Center for Nursing Information to be housed on the ICNR website. This is the opening statement in the ICNR Strategic Plan for 2006. This goal will drive all of the Coalition efforts in 2006, including the objectives in Strategic Areas. The overall objectives are to "create an Illinois Center for Nursing Information (located at www.ic4nr.org) and to continue to work to alleviate current nursing shortages and secure nursing resources for the future."

Why are we developing the CNI?

As Coalition members began to work on alleviating the nursing shortage in Illinois in 2000, they quickly realized how difficult it is to find accurate data on which to base strategic plans. Information about nursing in Illinois is sparse, scattered, and often biased. The idea for a Center for Nursing Information was born because of this frustration. It is difficult to recruit and retain nurses when nurse leaders do not really know the needs, motivators or barriers to doing so. It is difficult to educate policy makers and decision makers about the needs and necessary actions when there are conflicts in the available data or when it is missing altogether. The Coalition members determined they needed to understand both the current nursing shortage and projected future issues in recruiting and maintaining nurses before they could take purposeful, deliberate measures to prevent those problems.

What is a Center for Nursing Information?

The Coalition envisions the Center for Nursing Information as an easily accessible one-stop source for important, pertinent, accurate and unbiased information about the state of nursing in Illinois. Coalition members are confident the Center will be a unique resource for many relevant audiences including:

• Policy makers who will be able to find objective information on which to base decisions and determine how best to meet population needs for nursing services.
• Current and future nursing educators who will be able to easily find school and faculty data, including faculty vacancies, turnover, projected needs, salaries and evidence-based best practices. Educators will also learn about students, their needs and capacity of the system to accommodate them.
• Chief Nurse Executives who will have access to retention data and best practices, projections of needs, vacancy and turnover data and best practices for partnering with educators to support and improve practice and education.
• Potential nurses who will find information about nursing careers, nursing programs and support services for completing education.
• Current nurses who will be able to locate information about the Board of Nursing and the Nurse Practice Act, legislative issues, and continuing education and professional nursing associations.
• Student nurses who will find opportunities for internships and externships and study and assistance support programs.

What will be in the Center for Nursing Information and how will it help alleviate future shortages of nurses in Illinois?

The first primary data set posted to the website is being collected by the Coalition now and will be available by fall 2005. The research for this data is supported by a grant received from the Chicago Community Trust. Its purpose is to gather the facts about the capacity of the nursing education system and its ability to supply Illinois with enough nurses to meet current and future demands for nursing care. The Coalition is surveying all of the RN and LPN programs in Illinois. Once the data collection is completed and analyzed we will know the:

• Current capacity of the educational system in Illinois.
• Demand for nursing education in Illinois.
• Barriers to expanding the capacity of nursing education programs in Illinois.

• Vacancy and turnover rates for staff, leaders, and faculty in nursing.
• Demographic information regarding licensed nurses in Illinois.
• Academic and financial information for potential nurses.
• Continuing education information for current nurses.
• Retention information, including best practices.
• Demand projections.
• Information about current issues in nursing (including statements and positions from all sides of any controversial issues).
• Information about laws and regulations that affect nursing practice.
• And information about ICNR and its members.

How will we accomplish this vision?

The Coalition's Strategic Plan identifies specific responsibilities for its committees and task forces to build the Center:

• The communications committee is developing the web site and is responsible for posting and distributing all collected and developed information.
• The funding committee is seeking additional funding sources to support our efforts.
• The legislation committee is identifying legislation that may be supportive of the Center and informing legislators and others about the vision.
• The recruitment committee is developing information about nursing education and career opportunities and requirements. They are also primarily responsible for gathering data about recruitment of faculty and students and providing information about nursing education career tracks to help with faculty development
• The retention committee is developing a retention section for the CNI. They will post successful evidence based practices for retention of staff, faculty and students. This section will include information about work environment and patient and nurse safety.
• The Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation task force will post issues, policies and information and data about the department and administration of the Illinois Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act. They will collaborate with the Board of Nursing for data collection and improved understanding about the professional and practical nurse population in Illinois.
• The nursing education task force has primary responsibility for the data being gathered about nursing education in Illinois.
• The programs task force will plan and host forums for discussion of the issues in nursing education capacity and gather ideas and solutions that work for resolving those issues.

The Illinois Coalition for Nursing Resources membership is committed to realization of this vision to create the first ever Center for Nursing Information in Illinois. We welcome any and all supporters of the vision to join with us in this endeavor.

ICNR Committees and Task Forces

2006 Committee and Task Force Activities to Achieve the Strategic Plan

The ICNR has five standing committees to assess problems and plan and implement initiatives to alleviate those problems. These committees are the backbone of the organization. In addition, the ICNR has three task forces, formed to address specific issues or initiatives. All members are strongly encouraged to join at least one committee or task force and be active in the Coalition’s initiatives.

The Standing Committees are:

• Communications
• Funding
• Legislation
• Recruitment
• Retention

The current task forces are:

• Illinois Department of Professional Regulation Nursing Education Programs

Communications Committee

The Communications Committee develops supportive communications materials for membership and the other committees and works to improve both internal ICNR communications and communication with the public. It serves as both the Public Relations committee and the “Website” committee. Since the website, www.ic4nr.org is the Coalition’s main communications portal, the overarching goal of the Communications Committee is to create and maintain a relevant, vibrant website.

2006 Communications Committee Goals and Objectives:

• Create and maintain a relevant, dynamic, vibrant website (www.ic4nr.org).
• Provide relevant information, communication vehicles, and data.
• Develop the portal for the Center for Nursing Information.
• Provide support for ICNR committee/ membership communications.
• Improve internal and external communication.
• Provide positive messages for improved public relations.

• Initiate public relations activities to increase awareness of the ICNR Center for Nursing Information and other activities including grant awards.
• Develop strategies for improving communication throughout Illinois about the current and future needs for nursing resources.
• Develop a section of the ICNR website to house the Center for Nursing Information in Illinois. Develop the website as a repository for all data related to nursing resources in Illinois to increase overall participation and improve understanding of the environmental and other factors affecting nursing recruitment, retention and demand.
• Monitor the website for utilization and audience statistics to evaluate usefulness and quality.
• Monitor the media regarding nursing image and recommend action when necessary.
• Provide communications and PR support to committees and task forces as requested.
• Modify membership recruitment materials as needed. Analyze recruitment efforts and make recommendations for increasing ICNR membership.

Funding Committee

The Funding Committee supports the work of the Coalition by developing and initiating ways to fund its initiatives including seeking grants, donations, sponsors, holding fund-raising events, etc.

2006 Funding Committee Goals and Objectives:

• Provide funding for the ICNR to operate with a balanced budget and secure necessary financial resources to support the ICNR operations, annual objectives and initiatives described in the Strategic Plan.

Funding Committee Key Activities for 2006

• Seek and obtain alternative non-dues revenue sources needed to support the organization’s goals.
• Prioritize grant opportunities and obtain at least one grant for funding ICNR activities.
• Develop and initiate other fund-raising activities.

Legislation Committee

The Legislation Committee monitors legislation and advocates for policies congruent with the mission and vision of the ICNR. It is the main committee responsible for the strategic area: Policy and Advocacy. In 2006, the role of the Legislation Committee will broaden and be a support to other committees/task forces as the sunset of the Nurse Practice Act gets closer.

2006 Legislation Committee Goals and Objectives:

• Develop and support state healthcare policies that will ensure Illinois has the nursing resources it needs now and in the future.
• Identify legislation which will support the continued development of an Illinois Center for Nursing Information.
• Develop position statements in response to pertinent policy statements and legislative initiatives from other groups.

Legislation Committee Key Activities for 2006:

• Collaborate with the ICNR-IDFPR Task Force for ICNR input into the renewal of the Illinois Nursing and Advance Practice Nursing Act (sunsets in 2007). Work with IDFPR Task Force in drafting position statements and recommendations for the rewrite of the Nursing Act.
• Identify issues of concern with the rules and regulations for administering the Illinois Nursing and Advanced Practice Act and communicate them to the Sunset Committee of the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation.
• Work closely with the IDFPR Task Force to develop position statements in support of improved licensing and approval processes for Illinois nurses.
• Continue developing strategic relationships with key state agencies including, but not limited to, the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation and the Illinois Department of Public Health.
• Develop strategic relationships with key state agencies.
• Develop a plan for ICNR lobbying activities.
• Identify and communicate key policy issues to the membership.
• Make recommendations to the Board of Directors and ICNR membership on legislation and other policy issues based on an analysis of their impact on nursing resources.
• Actively support legislation for an Interstate Compact in Illinois.

Recruitment Committee

The Recruitment Committee is working on image improvement and recruitment efforts to attract more people to nursing. The Recruitment Committee is also developing ways to increase both gender and ethnic diversity in the nursing work force and assisting with membership recruitment for ICNR.

2006 Recruitment Committee Goals and Objectives:

• Provide information about nursing education and careers to all key stakeholders, recruiters, guidance counselors, and potential nurses via the ICNR web site.
• Provide data about recruitment of faculty and students.
• Develop activities to increase both gender and ethnic diversity in the nursing workforce.
• Educate the public and health care industry about the various roles nurses play in health care promotion.

Recruitment Committee Key Activities for 2006

• Develop a careers section for the website for potential nurses and the public. Provide information about multiple career opportunities for and various roles of nurses.
• Promote recruitment by creating informational tools about nursing and nursing education.
• Work with the Nursing Education Task Force to promote nursing education career tracks to facilitate faculty recruitment.
• Work with the Communications Committee to increase ICNR membership.

Retention Committee

The Retention Committee is creating a clearinghouse of information on successful practices in nurse retention and utilization of scarce resources.

2006 Retention Committee Goals and Objectives:

• Develop a retention section for the Center for Nursing Information.

Retention Committee Key Activities 2006

• Continue the publication of a quarterly electronic newsletter that meets the goal of providing a clearinghouse of information on successful practices in nurse retention and utilization of scarce resources.
• Develop a data repository of information on successful practices in nurse retention and utilization of scarce resources for both nursing education and practice.

IDFPR Task Force

The IDFPR Task Force was formed in response to membership concerns regarding the administration of the Illinois Nursing Act at the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Its charge is to identify the issues and make recommendations to the ICNR Board and members regarding their resolution.

2006 IDFPR Task Force Goals and Objectives:

• Post appropriate issues, policies, information and data about IDFPR at the Center for Nursing Information.
• Facilitate ICNR member input into the revisions of the Illinois Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act through the “Sunset” committee established by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

IDFPR Task Froce Key Activities for 2006

• Survey the membership to gather issues of concern with the rules and regulations for administering the Illinois Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act.
• Develop and maintain effective communication between ICNR and IDFPR through the Center for Nursing Information.
• Collaborate with IDFPR to ensure nursing surveys as required in the Rules for Administration of the Nursing Act are completed.
• Invite the Nursing Act Coordinator to an ICNR general members meeting yearly to update our members about IDFPR (and Board of Nursing) initiatives.<\li>
• Collaborate with the Legislative Committee to ensure that ICNR’s voice is heard when pending legislation that will impact nursing either positively or negatively comes before the State House and/or Senate for vote.

Nursing Education Task Force

The Nursing Education Task Force was formed to address issues effecting nursing resources in Illinois that originate in the nursing education system.

2006 Nursing Education Task Force Goals and Objectives:

• Facilitate expansion of Nursing Education programs in Illinois.
• Expand capacity by 20% overall over the next three years.
• Provide input into the rewrite of the Illinois Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act concerning nursing education requirements and programs.
• Facilitate continuous quality improvement in nursing education in Illinois through collaboration between nurse education and practice.

Nursing Education Task Force Key Activities for 2006

• Post relevant nursing education information and data at the Center for Nursing Information:
  • survey results (faculty shortages, innovative ways to recruit faculty, creative clinical placements/partnerships)
  • data comparing faculty to service salaries.
• Disseminate information on the sunset of the Illinois Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act as it relates to nursing education
• Plan one or more seminars with area schools to showcase initiatives in part-time faculty orientation, general hospital orientations, and coordination of clinical site scheduling
• Incorporate and facilitate implementation of recommendations from the ICNR summer 2005 summits.

Programs Task Force

The Programs Task Force is charged with developing and presenting educational programs to meet the educational needs expressed by the members and supporting the Funding Committee’s efforts to increase non-dues revenue for ICNR.

2006 Programs Task Force Goals and Objectives

• Provide relevant continuing education opportunities for the Coalition members.
• Provide at least $6000.00 in non-dues revenue for support of Coalition initiatives.

Programs Task Force Key Activities for 2006

• Develop at least two education programs based on member needs.

Program ideas for 2006 include:

• Preparing the workforce for disasters (Spring 2006)
• Marie Manthey on Relationship-Based Practice (Fall 2006)
• Possible Informational sessions on the NPA sunset
• Develop alternative methods of providing educational programs.
• Market programs to support the funding committee’s non-dues related revenue goal.
• Assist the funding committee with other non-dues revenue activities as needed.