Michigan's Chief Executive Nurse Jeanette Klemczak (left) with CHP Dean Suzanne Mellon.

Recently, Michigan's Chief Executive Nurse Jeanette Klemczak shared research about Michigan's nursing agenda with students from the College of Health Professions (CHP). She explained the purpose of her position and the strategic plan that addresses the state's nursing shortage.

Appointed by Governor Jennifer Granholm in 2004 in a newly created position, Klemczak's responsibilities include working with the surgeon general to provide professional nursing expertise, leadership in health policy development and to contribute the nursing perspective on health care.

In this high-profile role, Klemczak challenged the Coalitions of Michigan Organizations of Nursing (COMON) to create a strategic plan with her and the Michigan Department of Community Health Office.

The plan promotes safe working hours, improved organization and design of nursing tasks and improved ergonomics of nursing tasks. It sets up collaborative multidisciplinary teams and presents the need for a respectful and supportive nursing workplace.

The scope of the plan integrates the nursing education process as well. It recommends adding slots in fast-track master's programs to increase faculty and recruit faculty from clinical nursing, and from those who are retiring.

"We need to maximize the use of web-based instruction and other technologies," says Klemczak, who is a 1965 alumna of Mercy College of Detroit. "And add slots in second-degree accelerated nursing programs to increase new nurses in the workforce."

Another strategic recommendation addresses changes in regulations and licensing policies. It points out that the health profession needs to use an increased nursing license fee to provide assistance to the nursing workforce so that licensure is not delayed.

Klemczak says that the plan identifies a need to engage and support qualified retired nurses in a variety of roles to assist with mentoring and oversight for all stages of nursing careers.

"Our practicing nurses are our brain trust," emphasizes Klemczak. "They are valuable mentors who need to be retained."

With the ongoing nursing shortage, Klemczak confirmed that there will be plenty of job openings for CHP nursing students over the next several decades. On that note, she urged her audience to pay attention to their educators, earn their degrees in a timely fashion and land their nursing job so they help build a healthy Michigan.