Senate Bill 08-188

SB 08-188 was a legislative outcome of the Governor's Task Force on Nursing Workforce and Patient Care. The bill evolved from discussions on retention, on nurse staffing, and on involvement of nurses in decision making related to issues of concern to nursing. The bill establishes a pilot research program structured by a Pilot Program Implementation Committee (PPIC) to research nursing involvement in decision making. The process will be guided by a formal Research Advisor - principal investigator appointed by the committee. The pilot study is supported by the groups that are participating in the Committee. Once designed and fully funded, the study will take place in several hospitals in Colorado.

This project has broad stakeholder support and could provide findings to inform how to more effectively implement nursing involvement in decision making in issues of concern for nursing. The importance of direct care nurses participation is supported by the legislation. Meetings for the PPIC are open meetings. Observers may attend to observe the committee process. Meetings will be held at the Center for Nursing Excellence - 5290 E. Yale Circle Suite 100, Denver, CO 80222. In addition to being a member of the PPIC, the Center is functioning in an administrative role for the project.

Co-Chairs for the committee are:
Fran Ricker
Colorado Nurses Association
franricker@nurses-co.org

Carolyn Sanders
University Of Colorado Hospital
carolyn.sanders@uch.edu