Proactive changes in nursing work force development in Tennessee

Responding to demands that nursing leaders conduct business in creative proactive tvays, the authors of this department share the work of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's national program, Colleagues in Caring: Regional Collaboratives for Nursing Work Force Development We purpose of this initiative is to enhance regional and state collaborative planning and implement actions and policies to address the rapid changes occurring in the United States nursing labor market. Tljis department, edited by Mary Fiy Rapson, PhD, RjV, CS, National Program Director and Rebecca B. Rice, EdD, RN, National Deputy Director, Colleagues in Caring, presents the ongoing ivork of the program, highlighting the work of the 20 individual collaboratives. Regional approaches to the expected program outcomes and specific challenges and opportunities that are unique to each region's environment are included. The Colleagues in Caring Program is administered by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Current information on the Initiative can be found at http://www.aacn.nche.cdu under Special Projects, ne staff at the National Program Office can be reached at 202/496-1095.