Workgroup 1 – Strengthen Educational Development

• Increase recruitment and retention of faculty through formal mentoring and addressing salary and workload issues
• Encourage PhD-preparation of faculty
• Reinforce/strengthen technology literacy of faculty
• Implement a standardized (state-wide) RN-to-BSN curriculum/pathway
• Establish holistic admission and progression policies, including use of standardized testing products (TEAS, ATI, HESI) that do not create barriers to graduation or disadvantage minority students, including students with LEP
• Remedy faculty shortage, especially faculty of color (FOC)

Workgroup 2 – Sustain The Workforce

• Evaluate the reasons for significant differences in cost of attending a pre-licensure program, explore the possibility for a statewide tuition assistance or forgiveness program at public colleges and universities
• Join the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) to increase mobility of nurses from neighboring states
• Remedy pay/compensation discrepancies within nursing and compared to other health professionals
• Implement interventions to support nurses’ mental (and physical) health to prevent burnout and leaving the profession
• Establish and enforce policies to mitigate and eliminate lateral and horizontal incivility (bullying, harassment, mobbing, etc.)
• Encourage formal and informal mentoring of student nurses and new or newer nurses in the state by [more] experienced Illinois nurses and nurse leaders

Workgroup 3 – Diversify The Workforce

• Partner with high schools to spotlight nursing as a career choice and create a pipeline
• Recommend to nursing education accreditors (CCNE, ACEN, NLN CNEA) to add standards/criteria that specifically address diversity, equity, and inclusion (adapted from recommendations in Future of Nursing: 2020-2030 report)
• Increase/strengthen efforts by nursing programs in recruiting minority students and providing academic, psychosocial, and financial support for those students

Workgroup 4 – Promote Healthcare Equity

• Integrate or expand on Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) in the curriculum (at all nursing education levels)
• Advocate for full practice authority of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)
• Insist on increased use of non-hospital practice settings (community/home health, schools, health depts., shelters, etc.) for clinical (pre-licensure) and practicum (APRN) requirements

Workgroup 5 – Advance The Profession

• Advocate for membership in professional nursing organizations
• Support Illinois nurses in obtaining board membership within the state
• Raise awareness of legal and policy issues at the state and/or federal level that affect nursing/nurses in Illinois and encourage engagement and active participation in the legislative process, including elections at the local and state level