Thursday, January 31, 2008
First Meeting Of Iowa Nursing Task Force To Be Held Tomorrow
Appointments made to 30 member commission
(Des Moines) –Today, Governor Chet Culver and Lt. Governor Patty Judge announced the members of the Nursing Task Force.
“Protecting the health of Iowans is one of my top priorities,” said Governor Culver. “To do so, we must ensure our hospitals have a qualified, well-trained, and well-paid nursing staff. Iowa’s nurses our on the front lines of patient care everyday, and I am committed to doing whatever we can to strengthen this profession in any way possible.”
The Governor called for this new task force during his Condition of the State Address earlier this month to address challenges facing Iowa’s nurses, such as low wages and a lack of workers.
The Governor has asked Lt. Governor Judge, a former nurse, to chair this new task force, which is to provide recommendations by the first of March.
“As a former nurse, I know the difficulties that direct care workers face,” said the Lt. Governor. “I am looking forward to working with my fellow task force members from across the state, and provide a report that outlines the problem and presents some short term steps and also long term solutions for some of the challenges our nurses currently face.”
The task force is made up of 22 representatives from interested organizations around the state, four state
representatives, and four appointees of the Governor. Below is a list of the members of the new Nursing Task Force:
Organization: Member, City
- Department of Human Services: Jennifer Steenblock, Des Moines
- American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees: Michelle Ficken, Independence
- Nursing Examiners Board: Lorinda Inman, Des Moines
- IA Health Care Association: Cindy Baddeloo, Des Moines
- Nursing Student Association: Rachel Setz, Ames
- Recent Graduate of 4 year program: Aaron Pierson, Urbandale
- Recent Graduate of 2-year program: ***
- Service Employees International Union: Sara Swisher, Iowa City
- Iowa Board of Public Health: Cheryl Jones, Bloomfield
- Iowa Community Colleges: Connie Boyd, Fort Dodge
- Iowa Dept of Public Health: Julie McMahon, Des Moines
- Iowa Hospital Association: Laura Malone, Des Moines
- Iowa Nursing Association: Ginny Wangerin, Des Moines
- Iowa Private Colleges: Barb Decker, Des Moines
- University of Iowa College of Nursing: Rita Franz, Iowa City
- Department of Inspections and Appeals: Beverly Zylstra, Des Moines
- Direct Care Worker: Di Findley, Peosta
- Iowa Academy of Family Physicians: Dr. Brian Mehlhaus, Boone
- Iowa Medical Association: Heidi Goodman, W. Des Moines
- Iowa School Nurse Organization: Kim Cisna, Ankeny
- Iowa Association of Nurse Anestetists: Mary O'Brien, Tiffin
- Iowa Association of Nurse Practioners: Linda McCabe, Burlington
- Gubernatorial Appointee: Mary Ann Osborn, Cedar Rapids
- Gubernatorial Appointee: Sheryl Barnes, Des Moines
- Gubernatorial Appointee: Teri Murphy, Dubuque
- Gubernatorial Appointee: Michele Kelly, Spencer
- Iowa House of Representatives: Mary Mascher, Iowa City
- Iowa House of Representatives: Linda Upmeyer, Garner
- Iowa Senate: Amanda Ragan, Mason City
- Iowa Senate: James Seymour, Woodbine
*** Representative TBA once confirmed through member organization.