Establishes the operating room nurses opportunity corps and appropriates funds therefor; appropriation

BILL NUMBER:S2071

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the Operating Room Nurses Opportunity Corps and making an appropriation therefor

Purpose/summary of provisions

To establish incentives to encourage institutions of higher education to develop or enhance curriculum within their hospital administration or health service administration programs and to create linkages with local hospitals to promote effective administration. Also encourages academically-qualified students who are members of historically underrepresented groups to prepare for successful entrance into the hospital administration field through participation in the opportunity corps.

Justification

Many private and public hospitals throughout New York State are experiencing extreme difficulty in employing effective hospital administrators, especially those with private patient care experience. Because those nurses who have operating room experience have been shown to be best able to deal with the demands and pressures of hospital experiences, they appear to be best qualified to enter the hospital administration fields, either due to financial hardships in obtaining the proper credentials or being relegated to low level jobs with no chance of advancement. This bill attempts to offer those best qualified the opportunity to further their education and also aids the hospital establishment in filling vacancies with highly qualified and trained individuals.

Fiscal implications

$1,000,000

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law, with certain provisions.