The California Action Coalition was selected as one of five state groups to pilot the implementation of the IOM report recommendations. A leadership council provides oversight and workgroups will be established to set short and long-term goals with achievable action steps for each recommendation. Regional champions will ensure that all regions of the state are represented and linked to the statewide efforts.
IOM recommendations that have generated interest include preparing and positioning nurses as leaders and allowing nurses to practice to the full extent of their education and training. This involves promoting collaborative and team-based models of care.
Several existing programs allow for fast-tracking implementation while building the momentum for expansion and institutionalization. For example, the collaborative model of nursing education currently under development, along with the implementation of AB1295, provides for seamless progression of associate degree to baccalaureate degree. Another example is the Transition to Practice program being tested to increase the skills and competencies of new graduates and increase their employability through community-based internships, an important first step in actualizing the concept of nurse residencies. The recent passage of state legislation giving authority to the California State Universities to provide a doctorate of nursing practice education will significantly increase the number of nurses with a doctoral degree.