2024
ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT
ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT
GEORGIA NURSING WORKFORCE CENTER
2024 IMPACT
3
Reports published
Unique users reached by GNWC reports
Media mentions
5
Presentations delivered
19 engagement
With community members
Page 2
190+ presence
National and statewide
GNWC Advisory Board representation
Highlights from the first Annual Impact Report of the Georgia Nursing Workforce Center (GNWC) celebrating our inaugural year of work.
nursing.emory.edu/initiatives/ georgia-nursing-workforcecenter
Message from the Executive Director
It is with tremendous joy that I write these opening comments to the first Annual Impact Report of the Georgia Nursing Workforce Center (GNWC) Celebrating our inaugural year of work, I am inspired as I reflect on all that we have accomplished.
I am deeply proud of the foundational work we have done to get organized, to begin doing and disseminating the work of the Center, and most of all the community building that has been at the heart of this year. This includes diversifying representation on the GNWC Advisory Board and bringing together nurses, nursing students, and other interested and concerned parties from across the state to understand, support, and strengthen the nursing workforce in Georgia
AREAS OF IMPACT
Preparing this report naturally began with questions of how do you measure the effectiveness of a Center and how to organize and describe its impact? While seemingly elementary, on reflection these questions are in fact quite challenging Particularly in reporting an inaugural year of work, what does it mean to impact nursing, the community, and the state? What I’ve settled on are the following three areas of impact: (1) Setting the foundations in clarifying who we are and what we do, (2) Building community at the state and national level, and (3) Promoting visibility of both the Center and its work and of nurses and nursing in Georgia.
Accordingly, you will find in this report substantive sections overviewing the Georgia Nursing Workforce Center, including our mission, vision, values, strategic priorities and focus of work, and the history of the GNWC; our people and their distinct reach and expertise; our presence in the form of community engagement; and our visibility and reach as a Center by way of press coverage with the GNWC covered or quoted 19 times in leading media outlets, including NPR, the AJC, and Fox5 Atlanta, and our 2024 publications and presentations, including publishing three GNWC reports (all of which are first of kind for the state!) and delivering two national presentations (one invited), one regional invited presentation, and two local invited (Emory) presentations
As the inaugural Executive Director, I had quite a lot of learning to do in understanding the moving parts and parties with an interest in or concern relevant to data or the happenings of the Georgia nursing workforce, finding our groove for how we work, getting oriented to the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers, and around communicating
communication with and by the Center
This role has also been a fabulous opportunity for intentional use of language to set the direction of the Center with a mission, vision, and values centered on equity-mindedness and a strong sense of professional mattering, and in defining the three GNWC strategic priorities which guide our work and shape the questions we ask
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
1. Education-Practice Pathways Into and In Nursing;
2. Diversity and Distribution of the Georgia Nursing Workforce; and,
3. Retention and Value of Nurses and Nursing
These questions, in turn, inform the needs we identify and the recommendations we propose in addressing key nursing workforce challenges and opportunities in Georgia
What I have found most fascinating in this work is discovering how our report recommendations stem as much from our learning through the process of preparing each report such as the challenges we encounter and the greater understanding of the data we are working with, as from the specific findings of the reports themselves
That is, the Center is truly living up to its potential as presenting remarkable opportunities for learning, community, and collaboration and in serving as a space for asking better questions questions that move beyond the reductive refrain of the “nursing shortage” to define concrete challenges and opportunities in context.
FUTURE OUTLOOK
Beyond demonstrating what we accomplished in 2024, this impact report also serves as a call to action to engage with the GNWC As such, the reports and projects on our radar for 2025 are noted in this report, as are as some of the opportunities and challenges that we are thinking about beyond the next year as aligned with the GNWC strategic priorities
Upcoming planned reports I am particularly excited about include co-publishing the first State of Georgia Pre-Licensure Nursing Education report with the Georgia Board of Nursing and collaborative spotlight reports to highlight the work and contribution of nurses and value of nursing
As we continue this work, I invite you to engage with the GNWC.
I hope the opportunities described in the subsequent pages spark ideas and excitement and that you will reach out and connect with the Center – such as by joining our new GNWC Nursing Workforce Research Interest Group (see page 22 ) We can’t wait to learn what you are curious about, what concerns you, and about all of your enthusiasms toward our shared vision of a sustainable Georgia nursing workforce with a strong sense of professional mattering
With my love for nursing as a defining aspect of both my personal and professional identity, and as a Georgia native, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to serve in this role It is a true privilege Connecting with and learning from community members, content experts, and leaders across the state and beyond, finding our groove for how we work, and building a strong foundation for the future has been the focus of this first year
Thank you to everyone who has supported and engaged with the Center this year The enthusiasm and energy you have brought to this work are inspiring, and I am so excited about what we can achieve together as we continue using data and community building to tell – and actively shape – the story of nursing in Georgia
Always with care, Page 3
Chelsea O. P. Hagopian, DNP, APRN, AGACNP-BC Executive Director, Georgia Nursing Workforce Center
Using data and community building to tell and actively shape
nursing
A sustainable Georgia nursing workforce, with a strong sense of professional mattering
.
Our mission to use data and community building to tell and actively shape the story of nursing in Georgia has driven everything we do. This year, we have seen the power of collaboration in action.
By bringing together nurses, nursing students, and other interested and concerned parties from across the state, we have created a shared vision for the future of a sustainable Georgia nursing workforce that is and feels valued.
Our Values
Joy fosters an environment of gratitude, enthusiasm, and celebration, promoting resilience and wellbeing. Recognizing the profound impact of joy on personal and professional fulfillment, a positive disposition brings light and supports meaning in doing the work and impacting the community.
Equity-minded collaboration reflects our recognizing the need for diverse perspectives; always questioning if and which voices are missing and actively seeking their inclusion. We cultivate partnerships rooted in mutual respect and shared purpose To tell and actively shape the story of nursing in Georgia, we need to understand it with data and from a shared space with plurality of thought, leveraging diverse ways of knowing.
Curiosity embraces a spirit of inquiry and innovation, maintaining a healthy dose of intellectual humility. Challenges are met with an open mind and a relentless pursuit of knowledge . Our curiosity drives us to ask critical questions, seek diverse perspectives, and explore creative approaches to advance nursing in Georgia
The values of the Georgia Nursing Workforce Center describe the core of who we are and how we work, with the below value statements defining and offering context for each value.
Integrity in our work being data and evidence informed and in honoring the lived experiences of nurses and nursing students across Georgia through and in our work.
Presence reflects our commitment to being fully engaged and attentive in every interaction, valuing the power of connection and listening deeply to understand and meet the needs of nurses, nursing students, and the communities they serve.
the logo of the Georgia Nursing Workforce Center
Recognizing that while housed at one school of nursing, the Georgia Nursing Workforce Center serves all of the Georgia nursing workforce, so we needed a logo reflective of this purpose to serve the whole of the state
With a special thanks to Ed Hagopian, a nurse in New York, for the sketch of the base outline of the state, providing a stable foundation for the logo reflective of the work of the Center as being foundational for
understanding what is going on with the Georgia nursing workforce – through data and community building – to support and inform good decision making in addressing the real challenges facing nursing in and beyond the state of Georgia
The use of color is intentional as an added visual language for the work products and materials from the GNWC, with care taken in selecting a color as fit for purpose The significance of employing a diverse array of colors is to signal the work of the Center as being necessarily responsive to the dynamic and changing needs of the nursing workforce – and to do so with a bit of fun, honoring a core value of the Center: Joy. (And, if you read our reports closely, you will see that the last footnote of the report is always an explanation of the color selection for the report )
GNWC Advisory Board
Message from the GNWC Advisory Board Chair & Immediate Past Chair –
The establishment of the Georgia Nursing Workforce Center and the publishing of its inaugural annual impact report marks a major step forward for our state What began roughly ten years ago as an all-volunteer committee of the Georgia Nursing Leadership Coalition that started gathering and sharing data on nursing education and practice in Georgia has blossomed into a professionalized research center that regularly produces actionable reports for policymakers, health care leaders, and the public It is a testament to the persistence and
Julie Zadinsky
Chair, GNWC Advisory Board
Professor, College of Nursing, Augusta University
Natara Taylor
Executive Director, Georgia Board of Nursing
Blake T. McGee
Immediate Past Chair, GNWC Advisory Board
dedication of the late Dr. Lucy Marion, Dr. Lisa Eichelberger (a current GNWC Advisory Board member), Dr Linda McCauley, and other long-time Georgia nursing leaders This Center could not exist in its current form without the support and resources of Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, where it is housed, and its early productivity is thanks to Dr Chelsea Hagopian and her team, whom the Board entrusts with operation of the Center at a high caliber There is always room for growth, and we anticipate the Center will continue to produce regular and ad-hoc reports on both the demand and supply sides of the nursing workforce
Lisa W. Eichelberger
Immediate Past Chair, GNLC Data Advisory Committee
Chair and Associate Professor, Pre - Licensure Department College of Nursing, Augusta University
Ashlan Porter President, Georgia Board of Nursing
equation If this first step was a decade in the making, may the next steps build on that momentum to put more timely and reliable nursing workforce data in the hands of decision makers The time is now Page 12
Dean Emerita, Clayton State University School of Nursing
Carolyn Clevenger
Member (Nursing), Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University
Stevan Van Hook
Education Consultant, Georgia Board of Nursing
Matt Caseman CEO, Georgia Nurses Association (GNA)
Jeannie Cimiotti
Associate Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University
Tammy Bryant Director of Curriculum for Allied Health, Technical College System of Georgia
Julie Zadinsky Chair, GNWC Advisory Board
Blake T. McGee Immediate Past Chair, GNWC Advisory Board
JulieZadinsky Blake T. McGee
Leanna Greenwood
Data Team Supervisor, Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
Jacqueline A. Nikpour
Assistant Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University
Michelle Nelson
Associate Professor, Clayton State University School of Nursing
Roxana Chicas
Georgia Chapter Representative, National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN)
Assistant Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University
Desireé Clement
GNLC Liaison
Associate Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University
Yin Li
Assistant Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University
Monique J. Bouvier
Corporate Director for Nursing Science, Emory Healthcare
Assistant Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University
Omid Razmpour
PhD/MBA Dual Degree Student, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing and Goizueta
Business School, Emory University
ABOUT THE
GNWC Advisory Board
The GNWC Advisory Board helps to guide the work of the Center and serve an advisory role related to stewardship of funds, priority setting, and reviewing project proposals
The GNWC Advisory Board evolved from the Georgia Nursing Leadership Coalition (GNLC) Data Advisory Committee
With few exceptions, the GNWC Advisory Board has met monthly, engaging in dialogue around nursing workforce challenges and opportunities in Georgia and learning from relevant experts across the state with invited presentations around initiatives related to the GNWC strategic priorities.
As we begin 2025, we are excited to welcome two new members to the GNWC Advisory Board:
Keri Conley
General Counsel and Chief Health Policy Officer, Georgia Hospital Association
Caroline Kelly
New Graduate Nurse Resident, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
GNWC Advisory Board Scholarship & Leadership
The scholarship and leadership of the GNWC Advisory Board is far-reaching Enjoy the next several pages listing a selection of peer reviewed publications, presentations delivered, public-facing scholarship, service, leadership roles, community engagement, and other scholarly products and accomplishments from Fall 2023 through December 2024
Amplifying the work and interests of the GNWC Advisory Board supports recognizing the depth and breadth of nursing expertise and, as such, is one way the GNWC is championing the value of nurses and nursing
Peer Reviewed Articles Published
Public-Facing Articles Published
Peer Reviewed Articles
Alexander, K, Cave , N., Oliver, S., Bennett , S., Higgins, M., Hepburn, K., Clevenger, C., Epps, F. (2024). Caregiving While Black: A novel, online culturally tailored psychoeducation course for Black dementia caregivers. The Gerontologist, 64(6), gnae009. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnae009
Atri, A., Dickerson, B. C., Clevenger, C., Karlawish, J., Knopman, D., Lin, P. J., Norman, M., Onyike, C., Sano, M., Scanland, S., & Carrillo, M. (2024). Alzheimer's Association clinical practice guideline for the diagnostic evaluation, testing, counseling, and disclosure of suspected alzheimer's disease and related disorders (DETeCD-ADRD): Executive summary of recommendations for primary care. Alzheimer's & Dementia https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.14333
Atri, A., Dickerson, B. C., Clevenger, C., Karlawish, J., Knopman, D., Lin, P. J., Norman, M., Onyike, C., Sano, M., Scanland, S., & Carrillo, M. (2024). The Alzheimer's Association clinical practice guideline for the diagnostic evaluation, testing, counseling, and disclosure of suspected Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (DETeCD-ADRD): Validated clinical assessment instruments. Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.14335
Attell, B. K., McGee, B. T., DiGirolamo, A. M., Cohen, L. L., & Snyder, A. B. (2024). Self-reported pain levels for emergency department visits associated with sickle cell disease in the United States. Blood Advances, 8(6), 1470–1473. https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2023011127
Attell, B. K., Barrett, P. M., Pace, B. S., McLemore, M. L., McGee, B. T., Oshe, R., DiGirolamo, A. M., Cohen, L. L., & Snyder, A. B. (2023). Characteristics of emergency department visits made by individuals with sickle cell disease in the U.S., 1999-2020. AJPM Focus, 3(1), 100158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focus.2023.100158
Brooks Carthon, J. M., Brom, H., Amenyedor, K. E., Harhay, M. O., Grantham-Murillo, M., Nikpour, J., Lasater, K. B., Golinelli, D., Cacchione, P. Z., & Bettencourt, A. P. (2024). Transitional care support for Medicaid-insured patients with serious mental illness: Protocol for a type I hybrid effectiveness-implementation stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 13, e64575. https://doi.org/10.2196/64575
Brooks Carthon, M., Muir, J., Iroegbu, C., Langston, C., Amenyedor, K., Nikpour, J., Lasater, K. B., McHugh, M., & Kutney-Lee, A. (2024). COVID-19 mortality disparities among socially vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries associated with the quality of nurse work environments in U.S. hospitals. Inquiry: A Journal of Medical Care Organization, Provision and Financing, 61, 469580241284959. https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580241284959
Brooks Carthon, J. M., Nikpour, J., Rettberg, G., Thomas-Hawkins, C., Henderson, M., Agor, D., & Villarruel, A. M. (2024). Addressing burnout amongst nurses of color: Key priorities and calls for action. Nursing Outlook, 72(6) 102297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2024.102297
Chicas, R. C., Elon, L., Xiuhtecutli, N., Liang, D., Houser, M. C., Mwarumba, T., Berra, L., Hertzberg, V., Sands, J. M., & McCauley, L. (2024). Longitudinal renal function degradation among Florida agricultural workers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 66(9), 694–705.
https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003142
Chicas, R. C., Wang, Y., Jennifer Weil, E., Elon, L., Xiuhtecutli, N., C Houser, M., Jones, D. P., M Sands, J., Hertzberg, V., McCauley, L., & Liang, D. (2023). The impact of heat exposures on biomarkers of AKI and plasma metabolome among agricultural and non-agricultural workers. Environment International, 180, 108206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2023.108206
Cimiotti, J. P., Adams Tufts, K., Wocial, L. D., & Peter, E. (2024). How should focus be shifted from individual preference to collective wisdom for patients at the end of life with antimicrobial-resistant infections?. AMA Journal of Ethics, 26(6), E486–E493. https://doi.org/10.1001/amajethics.2024.486
Clevenger, C. K., Clark, C., Brown, A., Villinger, T., Lyron, S., Cook, C. (2023). Advance practice providers in dementia care: Optimizing all providers on the care team. Practical Neurology, accessed at https://practicalneurology.com/articles/2023-july/advancedpractice-providers-in-dementia-care-optimizing-all-providers-on-thecare-team
Clevenger, C. K., Lingler, J. H., Zhang, Y., Seleri, S., Parnas, M. L., & Youmans-Kidder, K. (2024). Role of nurse practitioners in comprehensive Alzheimer's disease care: Barriers and opportunities for timely diagnosis. Geriatric Nursing, 61, 400–407. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2024.11.020
Clevenger, C. K., Schlenger, A., Gunter, D., Glasgow, G. B. (2023). Practical recommendations for cognitive assessment in primary care. The Nurse Practitioner Journal http://doi.org/10.1097/01.NPR.0000000000000067
Dickerson, B. C., Atri, A., Clevenger, C., Karlawish, J., Knopman, D., Lin, P. J., Norman, M., Onyike, C., Sano, M., Scanland, S., & Carrillo, M. (2024). The Alzheimer's Association clinical practice guideline for the diagnostic evaluation, testing, counseling, and disclosure of suspected alzheimer's disease and related disorders (DETeCD-ADRD): Executive summary of recommendations for specialty care. Alzheimer's & Dementia https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.14337
Elliott-Dawe, C., Chen, J., Stucky, C. H., & Zadinsky, J. K. (2024). Retrospective analysis of associated costs and sources of variability in or utilization across weekdays. AORN Journal, 120(1), e1–e11. https://doi.org/10.1002/aorn.14164
Giordano, N. A., Phan, Q., Kimble, L. P., Chicas, R., Brasher, S., Nicely, K. W., Sheridan, T., Starks, S., Ferranti, E., Moore, E., Clement, D. M., Weston, J. B., Febres-Cordero, S., Chance-Revels, R., Woods, E., Baker, H., Muirhead, L., Stapel-Wax, J., Jones, K. D., & Swan, B. A. (2024). The nurse-led equitable learning framework for training programs: A framework to grow, bolster and diversify the nursing and public health workforce. Journal of Professional Nursing, 53, 25–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2024.04.006
Giordano, N. A., Razmpour, O., Mascaro, J. S., Kaplan, D. M., Lewis, A. S., Baird, M., Willis, P. H., Reif, L., Bommakanti, R., Lisenby, A., Cunningham, T., & Cimiotti, J. P. (2024). Reliability and validity of measures commonly utilized to assess nurse well-being. Nursing Research, 73(5), 399–405. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0000000000000752
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[Photo credit: TCSG, see press release ]
Tammy Bryant presenting on the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) 21 RN and PN programs at the 2024 TCSG Vice Presidents meeting (above)
Stevan Van Hook completed the TCSG Senior Leadership Academy, which was in partnership with the University of Georgia (UGA) Carl Vinson Institute of Government and continuing education (left)
Peer-reviewed papers published
Peer Reviewed Articles (continued)
Presentations delivered
Hagopian, C. O. P. (2024). False, deceptive, and misleading marketing of nonsurgical medical aesthetic devices: A nursing informed policy brief. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 29(3). http://doi.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol29No03PPT78
Hagopian, C. O. P. (2024). From informed to empowered consent. Nursing Philosophy, 25(1), e12475. https://doi.org/10.1111/nup.12475
Public-facing articles published
Li, Y., Aiken, L., Becker, E., Razmpour, O., Landerfelt, P., Kang, Y. J., & Cimiotti, J. (in press). The effect of registered nurse staffing and skill mix on length of stay and hospital costs among Medicare beneficiaries with sepsis. Nursing Outlook
Leadership roles
Li, Y., & Swerlick, R. A. (2024). Capture of patient itch scores in practice reveals disparate itch impact on the basis of age, gender, and race: A cross-sectional survey analysis. JID Innovations: Skin Science from Molecules to Population Health, 5(2), 100338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjidi.2024.100338
Li, Y., & Swerlick, R. A. (2024). Increasing the use of total body skin exam in Medicare beneficiaries: Is this a blessing or a curse?. The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 144(4), 735–737. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2023.10.037
Liu, D., Ding, C., Bold, D., Bouvier, M., Lu, J., Shickel, B., Jabaley, C., Zhang, W., Park, S., Young, M., Wainwright, M., Clermont, G., Rashidi, P., Rosenthal, E., Dimisko, L., Xiao, R., Yoon, J., Yang, C., & Hu, X. (2024). Evaluation of general large language models in contextually assessing semantic concepts extracted from adult critical care electronic health record notes. arXiv preprint, arXiv:2401.13588 [cs.CL]
Muir, K. J., Porat-Dahlerbruch, J., Nikpour, J., Leep-Lazar, K., & Lasater, K. B. (2024). Top factors in nurses ending health care employment between 2018 and 2021. JAMA Network Open, 7(4), e244121. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.4121
Nikpour, J., Brom, H., Mason, A., Chittams, J., Poghosyan, L., & Brooks Carthon, M. (2024). Better nurse practitioner primary care practice environments reduce hospitalization disparities among dually-enrolled patients. Medical Care, 62(4), 217–224.
https://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0000000000001951
Owens, R. A., Kuhl, L. M., Hagopian, C. O. P., Goodolf, D. M., Ferrell, C., Liebig, D., Howard, M. S., Weybrew, K. A., & Yockey, J. (2024). Strengthening the profession: Clarifying professionalism and professional identity in nursing. American Nurse Journal, 19(9), 14–19. https://doi.org/10.51256/ANJ092414
Swan, B. A., Phan, Q., Crawford, K., Febres-Cordero, S., Kaligotla, L., Chicas, R., Giordano, N. A., Brasher, S., ChanceRevels, R., Spaulding, A., & Steiger, L. (2024). ARCHWAy: An innovative educational program advancing the public health workforce. Archives of Public Health, 82(1), 184. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-024-01422-1
Turbow, S. D., Ali, M. K., Culler, S. D., Rask, K. J., Perkins, M. M., Clevenger, C. K., & Vaughan, C. P. (2023) Association of fragmented readmissions and electronic information sharing with discharge destination among older adults. JAMA Network Open, 6(5), e2313592. http://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.13592
Turbow, S., Culler, S., Vaughan, C., Rask, K., Perkins, M., Clevenger, C. K., & Ali, M. K. (2023). Ambulance use and subsequent fragmented hospital readmission among older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 71(5), 141628. http://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.18210
Turbow, S., Rask, K., Vaughan, C., Perkins, Clevenger, C. K., & Ali, M. K. (2024). Is electronic information exchange associated with lower 30-day readmission charges among Medicare beneficiaries? Medical Care, 62(6), 423430. http://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0000000000002003
Turbow, S., Vaughan, C. P., Culler, S. D., Hepburn, K. W., Rask, K. J., Perkins, M. M., Clevenger, C. K., & Ali, M. K. (2023) The impact of health information exchange on inhospital and postdischarge mortality in older adults with alzheimer disease readmitted to a different hospital within 30 days of discharge: Cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries. JMIR Aging, 6, e41936. http://doi.org/10.2196/41936
Wiltse Nicely, K. L., Friend, R., Robichaux, C., Edwards, J. A., Cimiotti, J. P., & Dupree Jones, K. (2024). Association between intra- and postoperative opioids in opioid-naïve patients in thoracic surgery. Annals of Thoracic Surgery Short Reports, 2(4), 865–870. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atssr.2024.04.003
Weis, K. L., Trout, K. K., Cimiotti, J. P., Deupree, J. P., Killion, C., Peter, E., Polivka, B., & Shieh, C. (2024). The nurse's role in a patient-centered approach for reducing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy during pregnancy: An American Academy of Nursing consensus paper. Nursing Outlook, 72(5), 102196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2024.102196
Yakusheva, O., Bouvier, M. J., & Hagopian, C. O. P. (2024). How artificial intelligence is altering the nursing workforce. Nurs Outlook https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2024.102300
Zeidan, A., Cortes, J., Marcovitch, H., Chicas, R., Smith, R. N., Stevens, A., Zambrana, E., & Anand, S. (2024). "Caminando Con Riesgo": perceptions of occupational injury, workplace safety and workers rights among Spanish-speaking hospitalized patients. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1347534. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1347534
Presentations
Bouvier, M (Invited panel presenter). (2024, July). Empathy and technology in healthcare. for Becker’s Hospital Review. https://go.beckershospitalreview.com/clinical/where-doesempathy-and-technology-belong-in-healthcare
Our Reach
Bouvier, M. (Invited presenter). (2024, August). New technology to improve nursing practice. 15th Annual Winship Oncology Nursing Symposium. Atlanta, GA. https://apps.winshipcancer.emory.edu/admin/Media/Downlo ad/7787
Bouvier, M. (Invited panelist). (2024, September). Unlocking healthcare data: Connecting data silos. NEXT Summit 2024. Peoria, IL. https://next-summit.com/
Bouvier, M., Atkins, J., Davis, E., Swann, J., & White, C. (2024, September). Utilizing human-centered design to implement a virtual nursing pilot in a medical-surgical nursing environment. [Podium]. 2024 Vizient Connections Summit. https://continuingeducation.vizientinc.com/system/fil es/course/2024-10/W02%20Nurse%20Executives%20Peer %20to%20Peer%20Session.pdf
Bouvier, M., Deloney, E., & Feistrizer, N. (2024). Developing a structure to coordinate and advance innovations in nursing. [Poster]. ANA Enterprise Research Symposium. (Best poster- 3rd place winner.)
Bouvier, M. (Invited presenter), & Feistritzer, N. (2024, August). Advancing technology and innovation to optimize nursing practice and value. Emory Nurses: Transforming nursing care delivery. [Webinar] Association for Leadership Science in Nursing. https://www.nursingleadershipscience.org/event-5726458
Bouvier, M., & Goodman, M. (2024, August). Demystifying AI in healthcare. Nursing System Grand Rounds. Emory Healthcare. Atlanta, GA
Bouvier, M., Ibude, C., Davis, E., Adeboye, V., & Atkins, W. J. (2024, July). The impact of a virtual nurse platform on a medical-surgical unit: A quality improvement project [Poster]. International Nursing Informatics Conference. Manchester, England. https://dx.doi.org/10.3233/SHTI315
Hagopian, C. O. P. (Invited speaker, virtual). (2024, May 07). Beyond the nursing shortage: Asking better questions Humana Nursing Advisory Council Summit, Hybrid: Louisville, KY, and Virtual.
Hagopian, C. O. P. (Invited speaker). (2024, April 23). Georgia Nursing Workforce Center. Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce Nursing Workforce Advisory Committee meeting, Virtual.
Hagopian, C. O. P., & Cimiotti, J. P. Major issues in assessing educational programs and state-level data using data from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Enrollment and Graduations Survey. [Poster]. Presented at: National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers Annual Conference; June 17-19; San Diego, CA.
Hagopian, C. O. P., Collins, S., Duva, I., & Kelly, U. (2024, October 23-25) Nursing students' experiences of suicide loss and suicide attempt survivorship: Implications for suicide prevention and post-vention. [Podium]. Fourth National Summit on Promoting Well-Being and Resilience in Healthcare Professionals, Columbus, OH.
Our Reach
GNWC at the 2024 AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting, Baltimore, MD
2024 June 29 – July 02
Note: GNWC Advisory Board Yin Li also delivered a podium presentation at the
Page 18
Photos: Omid Razmpour poster presentation at the Interdisciplinary Research Group on Nursing Issues (IRGNI) Pre-Conference, 2024 June 29 (right), Omid presenting his poster to Jack Needleman (left)
Photo: (from left to right) Patti Landerfelt, Jeannie Cimiotti, Jackie Nikpour, and Chelsea Hagopian at IRGNI, 2024 June 29 (above)
2024 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT
Presentations
(continued)
Kinlaw, K. (moderator), Watts, S. (Panelist), Hagopian, C. O. P. (Panelist), Wallenstein, J. (Panelist), & Grant, G. (Panelist). [2024, January 30]. So, you’re planning a career in healthcare. Emory Center for Ethics and Emory Purpose Project sponsored pre-health panel discussion around interprofessional perspectives and insights on ethics and professional roles. Atlanta, GA.
Meyer, D., Phillips , B. C., McMahon, J., Hagopian, C. O. P. (2023 November 18). Professional identity in nursing with accreditation standards: What the educator needs to know [Podium]. Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) 2023 Annual Convention, San Diego, CA.
Nikpour, J. (Chair). (2024, June 30). Registered nurses: The missing link in primary care transformation. [Policy Roundtable]. 2024 AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting, Baltimore, MD.
Phan, Q., Clement, D. M., Woods, E. L., & Weston, J. (2024, February). Development of a simulation with standardized patients to prepare clinical instructors and preceptors for effective feedback-giving. [Podium]. 2024 Georgia Association for Nursing Education Annual Conference, Lake Lanier, GA.
Pustinger, M., Davis, M., Clement, D. M., Phan, Q., Free, O., & Woods, E. (2024, February). Understanding the needs of clinical faculty and nurse preceptors in the Southeast. [Poster]. 2024 Georgia Association for Nursing Education Annual Conference, Lake Lanier, GA.
Phan, Q., Weston, J., Woods, E., & Clement, D. M. (2024, December 6). Enhancing clinical teaching competence: A simulation-based training program for nursing instructors and preceptors. [Podium]. American Association of Colleges of Nursing Transform, 2024 Conference, New Orleans, LA.
Razmpour, O. (Invited speaker). (2024, June 26). Calculating the cost of nurse turnover using the RETAIN Framework© Nursing Innovation Grand Rounds. Emory Healthcare, Atlanta, GA.
Razmpour, O., Pappas, S., Mian, S., Bouvier, M., & Cimiotti, J. P. (2024, June 29–July 2). Assessing the value of nurse retention: A multidimensional financial analysis of nursing labor variability [Poster]. 2024 AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting, Baltimore, MD.
Schroeder, K., Bouvier, M., Janco, B., Rogers, N. (2024, April). A new staffing model to improve message pool completion rates. [Podium]. AAACN 2024 Conference. Chicago, IL.
Public Scholarship
Clement, D. M. (2024, June 13). Dear AMA: Invest in partnership, not smearing nurses, to improve patient careOpinion. [Op-ed]. Nurse.org. https://nurse.org/news/ american-medical-association-scope-creep-nurse/
Hagopian, C. O. P. (2024 December 18). How can you tell if a med spa is safe? Everyday Health. https://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-care/how-can-you-tellif-a-med-spa-is-safe/
Hagopian, C. O. P. (2024 August 09). A nurses' advice on how to recognize bogus med spas in Georgia. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. https://www.ajc.com/news/healthnews/a-nurses-advice-on-how-to-spot-bogus-med-spas-andwhat-to-check-before-getting-a-botox-injection-or-othertreatments/XCEEU3FOLZGFFHYBEH7IILJ5TU/
Other Scholarship
Foster, V., Eichelberger, L. W., Collins, E., Kilburg, E., & Butler, M. (2024). Fighting COVID-19 one county at a time: Successes and opportunities for improvement. 2024 Proceedings of Business and Health Administration Association, 92-98.
Li, Y., Howell, J., & Clement, D. M. (2024, December 14). Comment on Rheindorf et al. “Getting midwives back to hospitals: A discrete choice experiment.” International Journal of Nursing Studies. Comment posted on 2024 September 19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2024.104984
Phan, Q., Clement, D. M., Weston, J., Woods, E., Coburn, C. & Kimble, L. (2023). Clinical Precepting-CAPES Academy [Online learning module]. Emory Nursing Experience. https://capesacademy.ce.emorynursingexperience.com/cour ses/clinical-precepting-capes-academy
Phan, Q., Woods, E., Weston, J., Clement, D. M., Coburn, C. & Kimble, L. (2023). Clinical sites- Keeping learners engaged. [Online learning module]. Emory Nursing Experience.
https://capesacademy.ce.emorynursingexperience.com/cour ses/clinical-sites-keeping-learners-engaged
Grants Funded
Eichelberger, L. W. Project Director, Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Grant, $994,985, Prime Healthcare Foundation Southern Regional LLC, 2021 July 2023 October.
Emory Healthcare. (2025). Nursing workforce data analytics project. Innovation Hub Challenge [Innovation Grant awarded to Omid Razmpour, Sokol Tushe, and Donald Lee]. Retrieved from, https://www.emoryhealthcare.org/about/innovation-hub
Leadership & Service
Stevan Van Hook completed the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Senior Leadership Academy (2023).Learn more at https://www.tcsg.edu/technical-college-system-ofgeorgia-launches-senior-leadership-academy/
Van Hook, S. committee service:
Member, South Georgia Healthcare Group [provided educational feedback and insight into the healthcare sector working group];
TCSG nursing curriculum committees and Chair for practical nursing’s Instructional Faculty Consortium Committee; Chair, Georgia Board of Nursing Education Committee and Member, Health Science Advisory Committee for surrounding school systems;
Stevan will serve on the Nursing Workforce Advisory Committee for the Georgia Healthcare Workforce Board beginning 2025 January.
Van Hook, S. grant activities:
Healthcare Consortium Work Group for the Strengthening Community Colleges Grant
Grant writer, Georgia Board of Healthcare Workforce (for program expansion) while Dean at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College.
Zadinsky, J. Chair, Augusta University Community Research Advisory Board.
Student engagement, with the GNWC.
Student engagement with the GNWC through the Emory School of Nursing NellWorks Program
The GNWC NellWorks student plays a key role in workforce center work. Responsibilities vary based on current workforce center needs but often include: attending and taking minutes at monthly GNWC Advisory Board meetings; preparing slides for GNWC presentations; communicating and collaborating with the GNWC executive director regarding current workforce center reports; literature search and writing background for reports; and data collection and visualization.
The Emory School of Nursing NellWorks student position with the GNWC is an exciting opportunity to be involved in state-level workforce conversations and create meaningful impact through research and authoring reports.
About the NellWorks Program at Emory School of Nursing
The NellWorks program is designed to employ nursing students within the school of nursing to assist in their debt reduction and develop competencies around leadership, policy, inclusive excellence, and more.
NellWorks students are funded by the school of nursing directly at $25/hour and are limited to working up to 12-hours per week
Congratulations to Caroline Kelly for graduating December 2024 from the Emory School of Nursing MN program! Caroline has accepted a nurse residency position at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and will join the GNWC Advisory Board in 2025, offering expertise and perspective as a newly licensed nurse in full-time clinical practice.
Caroline is first author for the second 2024 GNWC report on the Georgia Nursing Education Program Offerings, 2024 (see pages 56-57).
Student
through the
The Georgia Nursing Workforce Center (GNWC) offers a collaborative space for connecting scholars interested or engaged in nursing workforce research. In 2024, two students began working with the Center for the purpose of developing their research goals.
Omid Razmpour is a current PhD/MBA dual degree student at the Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing and Goizueta Business School and serves as a student member on the GNWC Advisory Board Omid is first author for the third 2024 GNWC report on the Impact of COVID-19 on the Georgia Nursing Workforce, 2022 (see pages 58-59).
Cherry Park is a current BSN honors student at the Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. Through the BSN Honors Program, Cherry is working with the Georgia data from the 2022 National Nursing Workforce Study, focusing on personal and professional characteristics associated with low rates of burnout. Cherry will be presenting her work to date at the 2025 Sigma Health Work Environments conference.
Looking forward, please connect with us if you are a student or have students interested in research or projects related to the nursing workforce, as the Georgia Nursing Workforce Center serves the state.
Park
Cherry
Emory BSN Honors Program Summer 2024 - 2025
GNWC Research Team
Miguel Martinez
Data Analyst, Georgia Nursing Workforce Center
Jeannie P . Cimiotti
Associate Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University
Jacqueline A . Nikpour
Assistant Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University
NEW Nursing Workforce Research Interest Group (NWRIG) launching in 2025!
You are invited to join the new Nursing Workforce Research Interest Group (NWRIG) launching in 2025
The purpose of the Nursing Workforce Research Interest Group (NWRIG) is to streamline and promote collaborative research efforts and build community
We aim to provide a shared space Georgia nurses, nursing faculty, students, and all across the state with interests health services and policy research, transforming models of care, and the of nursing care delivery on patient outcomes
Ultimately the NWRIG can serve as a launch point for acquiring funding and generating timely, impactful evidence on health outcomes and nursing care
Please reach out to Jackie Nikpour (janikpour@emory edu) with any questions
Link: https://forms.office.com/r/ycf3tAjfZJ
the first Friday
Please scan the QR code to complete a brief survey and find the full virtual meeting information.
The Georgia Nursing Workforce Center (GNWC) Research Team supports the work of the Center by advising on data analysis, helping with preparing GNWC reports, and supporting student and faculty research.
If you are collecting data on the Georgia nursing workforce – or are interested in learning about data available, please reach out to let us know!
A note about nursing workforce data – Interpreting nursing workforce data in context matters as the story the data tells may fundamentally differ based on the source .
A key activity of the Georgia Nursing Workforce Center is curating available data sources on the Georgia nursing workforce, understanding the relative strengths and limitations of each data source, and advising on best practices for their use .
22
History
2010
Institute of Medicine (IOM) (since renamed as National Academy of Medicine) releases The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health which called for better data on the health care workforce.
(November) AARP Foundation, AARP, and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) create the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action to guide implementation of IOM Future of Nursing report.
2011 2013
Georgia Nursing Summit to kick off the Campaign for Action in Georgia; the Georgia Nursing Leadership Coalition (GNLC) was formed and received the designation as a State Action Coalition
GNLC awarded a RWJF State Implementation Program (SIP) 2-year grant.
GNLC Workforce Center established and began collaborating with the Georgia Board of Nursing (GBON) to analyze and disseminate nursing workforce data for Georgia.
2016
GNLC published the Report on the Registered Nursing Workforce in Georgia 2014-2015
24
The GNWC in context.
Learn the history of the Georgia Nursing Workforce Center, including context for the how and why of its development:
Following the 2010 Institute of Medicine report on the Future of Nursing which called for better data on the health care workforce, the AARP Foundation, AARP, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation created the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action to guide implementation of the report’s recommendations The Georgia Nursing Leadership Coalition (GNLC) was formed the following year and designated as the State Action Coalition for Georgia A grassroots organization of educational, clinical, and governmental leaders seeking to transform nursing practice, education, and policy through conferences, advocacy, and survey opportunities, GNLC was awarded a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation State Implementation Program (SIP) 2-year grant in 2013, and, with this funding, established the GNLC Workforce Center. The GNLC published its first report in 2016 on the Georgia RN Workforce using data from the 2014-15 re-licensure cycle
This timeline also describes notable advances in nursing workforce data and assessment that have taken place in the state and includes publications and reports by the GNLC Workforce Center, other state leaders, and nursing workforce scholars
2017 2020
Analysis and reporting of Georgia nursing workforce data officially added to the jurisdiction of the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce (then named Georgia Board for Physician Workforce) by the Georgia Legislature.
Wheeler, R. M., & Eichelberger, L. W. (2017). Perspectives of nurses pursuing doctoral degrees in Georgia: Implications for recruitment The Journal of Nursing Education, 56 (8), 466 –470.
2017 and 2020 brought two key developments with the state Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce: In 2017, analysis and reporting of Georgia nursing workforce data was officially added to the jurisdiction of the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce, and 2020 being the collaborative work of the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce, Georgia Board of Nursing, and the GNLC Workforce Center to publish an online interactive nursing workforce dashboard
In collaboration with the GNLC, the workforce center was relocated to the Emory School of Nursing in Fall of 2023, continuing the strong partnership between the GNLC and Emory School of Nursing, and the GNLC Workforce Center was renamed as the Georgia Nursing Workforce Center (GNWC).
There are presently 47 states with recognized nursing workforce centers; notable here is that the two common challenges workforce centers face are around infrastructure and consistent funding So, the lead reason for moving the workforce center to Emory School of Nursing is because, with the infrastructure and consistent funding support from the nursing school through generous gifts that individuals have made to the school, we have the opportunity to focus moreso on what is going on in the state with the nursing workforce – and doing the work of the Center to serve the state, rather than on seeking resources
And as long as the Center is productive, we can sustain it long-term
Report published Hodgson Nursing providing longitudinal Georgia nurse Georgia Board Workforce online interactive Georgia Dashboard collection collaboration Board of GNLC Workforce solutions executive summary. Georgia Healthcare Workforce Commission.
2024 GNWC Reports Published.
Work of the includes:
National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers
REPORT https : //nursingworkforcecenters org/
The GNWC serves as the state representative for Georgia at the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers
The publication of the National Nursing Workforce Minimum Datasets:
Education (Updated 2020 December), Supply (Updated 2024), and Demand (Updated 2020 December)
Serving as the connection, or hub, of the network of state nursing workforce centers:
Best practices for workforce data
Collaborative work; projects and publications
Professional development
Photo: The National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers Annual State Representative Business Meeting and Professional Development Retreat. New Orleans, Louisiana. 2024 January 10-11.
Georgia nurses presenting at the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers annual conference. La Jolla, California. 2024 June 17-19.
Note:
Two Georgia nurses who also presented at the conference (podium) but are not pictured: Angie Haynes-Ferere and Annie Horigan
Photo: Beth Ann Swan
Photo: LaDonia Patterson
Photo: Carrie McDermott
Georgia
nurses presenting at the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers annual conference. La Jolla, California. 2024 June 17-19.
Photo: Chelsea Hagopian
Photo: Natalie Jones
Photo: (from left to right) LaDonia Patterson, Heather Meissen, Chelsea Hagopian, Beth Ann Swan, Carrie McDermott, and Angie Haynes-Ferere at the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers annual conference. La Jolla, California. 2024 June 18.
Explore our strategic priorities and the work we have accomplished over the past year –and consider some of the future opportunities on our radar for 2025 and beyond. 2024 Annual Impact Report Our Priorities Page 33
nursing.emory.edu/initiatives/ georgia-nursing-workforcecenter
GNWC Focus of Work & Strategic Priorities
The Georgia Nursing Workforce Center is dedicated to addressing nursing workforce challenges and opportunities in Georgia by using statewide and national data to monitor the status of nursing in the state, preparing timely reports and policy briefs, supporting Georgia nursing workforce related projects and research, and championing the value of nurses and nursing through recognizing and amplifying the work and contribution of nurses across the state
Focus of work
This priority looks at the production of nurses in the state, the educational capacity including program and faculty characteristics, and attends to the diversity of students and faculty. This priority also considers challenges, opportunities, and equity barriers to entering and to academic progression in nursing programs, as well as the value and impact of these programs once nurses are in practice.
Education –Practice Pathway s Into and In Nursing
36
“Nursing is – for a lot of people, a way out of poverty.”
– Jackie Nikpour, PhD, RN
“When individuals from underrepresented groups graduate from nursing schools, not only does that nursing degree change their lives but often it changes the lives of their entire family.”
– Lisa Eichelberger, PhD, RN
Challenges
Opportunities and
The many diverse pathways into and in nursing is both a unique challenge with respect to ensuring timely, accurate, and comparable data across nursing programs – but is also a sincere strength of the nursing profession in presenting opportunities for economic mobility.
By continuing to strengthen key partnerships across Georgia, we can make meaningful progress towards addressing the real challenges faced by the Georgia nursing workforce, identify key opportunities and champion innovative solutions that are sustainable and far-reaching for improving the health of Georgia through nursing.
Goals
q Harmonize nursing education data collection and reporting.
q Explore, grow, and amplify effective programming, strategies, and other initiatives that address equity barriers to entering and to academic progression in nursing programs, as well as the value and impact of these programs once nurses are in practice.
q Examine the impact and value of nursing education.
Plans for upcoming technical reports:
State of Georgia Pre-Licensure Nursing Education, 2023-2024
– Top priority for 2025 is co-publishing the first comprehensive state of pre-licensure nursing education report for Georgia in collaboration with the Georgia Board of Nursing (GBON).
– This report will describe pre-licensure nursing education in Georgia using the data from the National Council of State Board of Nursing (NCSBN)/GBON 2024 annual education survey, including total enrollment, faculty characteristics and development, and student demographics and support by program type, institutional ownership, and geographic location.
Inventory and Characteristics of Registered and Advanced Practice Nurse Residency and Fellowship Programs in Georgia, 2025
– This report aims to inventory nurse residency and fellowship programs for both registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in the state of Georgia and to describe program characteristics along with considerations of the impact and value of such programs
Priority work for 2025 will continue to engage in the needed foundational work for a sound understanding of the status quo of nursing education in the state by publishing first of kind reports for the state and getting processes in place for annual reports. As we build on this work, we also make progress toward our shared goal of harmonizing the collection and reporting of nursing education data to improve the usability of these data and reduce the survey burden on nursing deans and directors.
This work matters for good decision-making: If you do not understand the status quo, you cannot expect to correctly identify and address current issues or effectively plan for the future – and be good stewards of available resources in the state in doing so.
Reports o n o u r ra da r for 2 0 2 5 . . .
Transition to practice
Nursing education
Global Talent Spotlight on
Qualified nurses seeking licensure and employment in Georgia
3 storiesFramed in
This planned collaborative report spotlights opportunities for supporting pathways into nursing and strengthening global talent by focusing on identifying and addressing barriers to nursing education, licensure, and employment in Georgia and the cultural and communicative challenges faced by international students and qualified nurses in practice – including unfamiliar nursing practices related to regulatory and scope of practice differences across countries, which may lead to feelings of isolation.
Collaboratio
Georgia Tech Language Institute x Georgia Nursing Workforce Center x Technical College System of Georgia
Vision for collaboration on a Georgia Tech Language Institute (GTLI) Nursing English Initiative is to ensure that nursing students and professionals have the necessary English language and cross-cultural communication skills to succeed both academically and in practice.
This initiative aims to support education practice pathways into and in nursing by addressing barriers to entry, particularly for diverse student and faculty populations Language proficiency can be a major factor in nursing program eligibility, and integrating targeted English support could help expand access while improving graduation and retention rates. Beyond education, this initiative could also enhance workforce retention by providing English-language training tailored to specialized fields of nursing, ensuring that professionals are well-equipped for the communication demands of their roles
Opportunities for collaboration focus on program development, case studies, and storytelling efforts that highlight both successes and key challenges in nursing education and workforce retention.
Learn more at www.pe.gatech.edu.
Amplifying programming for nurses and nursing students offered by the Georgia Tech Language Institute,
Focused Language Training:
Enroll in programs to improve medical English and test-taking vocabulary.
Practice reading and summarizing NCLEX-style questions.
Cultural Familiarization:
Take workshops or courses on U.S. health care systems and patient care standards.
Test Practice:
Use NCLEX practice exams to build familiarity with question styles and formats.
Time practice tests to simulate real exam conditions.
Support Networks:
Join study groups with other non-native English speakers. Seek mentorship from nurses who passed the NCLEX as non-native speakers.
Specialized Test Prep:
Use prep resources tailored to non-native speakers, such as books or courses that simplify complex language.
Contact the Georgia Tech Language Institute
R. Katherine Samford
Director, Language Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology katherine samford@pe gatech edu
Diversity and Distribution of the Georgia Nursing Workforce
This priority examines personal and professional characteristics of the nursing workforce, including geographic distribution, settings, specialties, roles, educational preparation, and compensation, and considers workforce mobility.
Re-licensure survey data collected by state boards of nursing represent best collected supply data on the nursing workforce Challenges commonly include inaccessibility of these data related to barriers to data sharing. In Georgia, these data are also challenged by low response rates due to the workforce survey being voluntary for nurses to complete when renewing their nursing license (presently – note this is changing with Georgia HB 1013 enacted in 2022)
Current best available state data sources on the Georgia nursing workforce include: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce (GBHCW) State of Georgia Nursing Workforce dashboard, which includes a subset of nursing re-licensure data collected by the Georgia Board of Nursing (GBON). Specifically, the dashboard includes the distribution of Georgia nurses’ by mailing address (Note: This does not show where nurses work in Georgia ), average age, and % male/female; Professional Licensing Boards - Active Licenses count from the Georgia Secretary of State Licensing Division; and, Active protocol agreements listed online by the Georgia Composite Medical Board (nurse practitioners).
State-level data sources
National data sources
Data from the biennial National Nursing Workforce Study survey by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers (National Forum) are presently the best suppy data on the Georgia nursing workforce available to the GNWC
Other key available national data sources on the Georgia nursing workforce include: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses (NSSRN), which is particularly useful for exploring trends and quick state vs national and across state comparisons
United States Census Bureau American Community Survey and U S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), are also useful for exploring trends and state/national comparisons. A notable and interesting limitation of BLS data is it excludes self-employed workers
Note: All data sources have limitations that impact our understanding of true supply and demand of nurses The GNWC serves as a resource for navigating best use of these data
Developing a solid grasp of best collected versus best available data sources on the Georgia nursing workforce and fully appreciating the current gaps and limitations of these data – and the critical need for reliable and timely data – was a big part of the early learning of the GNWC.
For a more in-depth review of relevant Georgia and national data, see : Li, Y , Greenwood, L , Eichelberger, L W , Marion, L , Cleghorn, J , Wheeler, R., & Cimiotti, J.P. (2022). State and national data on the Georgia nursing workforce. Nursing Outlook, 70(1), 47–54.
Available Data Georgia Nursing Workforce on the
Future op po rtu ni ti es we are thinking about
Our Priorities
Understanding the geographic distribution, settings, specialties, roles, and educational preparation of the Georgia nursing workforce matters for ensuring appropriate nursing resources are available and accessible when and where they are needed to meet the health and care needs of Georgia.
Considerations for future reports:
Opportunities for future supply and demand reports:
• Understanding the distribution and needs of the nursing workforce practice settings focusing on the care of older adults, such as nursing homes, home health, community health centers, and long-term care.
• Leveraging AI to: create a “living” demand dashboard by scraping online job postings in Georgia for LPN, RN, and APRN positions. describe the Georgia APRN workforce distribution and specialty concordance with collaborating physician using the list of approved APRN protocol agreements publically available on the Georgia Composite Medical Board webite.
Goals
• Publishing collaborative reports with relevant state bodies and professional associations to describe the specialtyspecific health care workforce diversity and distribution in Georgia.
q Establish a data infrastructure reflective of the supply and demand National Nursing Workforce Minimum Datasets for the Georgia nursing workforce.
q Publish annual reports describing the Georgia nursing workforce, including trends, such as to capture pre- and post- height of COVID-19.
q Continue to strengthen relationships with national and state bodies collecting data on the Georgia nursing workforce and engage in collaborative work where opportunities for shared priorities are identified.
Voices Georgia Nursesof
It is important that nurses, nursing students, and potential future nurses, see themselves and their interests reflected in the nursing workforce.
Recognizing how,
“ The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story ” Chimamanda Adichie
Collaborative project on our radar for 2025:
The Voices of Georgia Nurses project aims to make visible all of the diversity dimensions of nurses and nursing across the state through building a repository of Georgia nurses telling the story of their nursing journey.
• This project is planned in partnership with Georgia Jackson, DNP, MPH, RN, NE-BC, Director, Workforce Development & PatientFamily Centered Care, Emory Healthcare, and an inaugural AARP Health Equity Fellow
• Imagine how powerful if Georgia nurses, nursing students, and potential future nurses could easily find and see a nurse that looks like them and hear or read a nurses’ story that resonates with them or reflects their interests.
• We plan to send out a call inviting nurses across the state to submit either a video or photo + written reponse to prompts asking about their journey into and in nursing
• You may also contact the Center at ganursing@emory.edu to contribute to the Voices of Georgia Nurses project.
This priority attends to workforce safety, well-being, and sense of professional mattering adding value and being valued. It considers retention within the workforce, the profession, and the state, as well as the importance of meaningful recognition and the ability to do meaningful work.
Retention and Value of Nurses and Nursing
Best available and best collected data on the Georgia nursing workforce (specifically, as well as the national nursing workforce, generally ) are limited in their capacity to tell the complete story of nursing and to explore retention in the workforce, profession, and state, as numbers tell only one part of the story (see page 48).
Other concerns include refining the conversation around “nursing shortages” with better language such as a vacancy crisis and to consider tangible, real-world issues for nursing such as the need to attend to the acute care nursing workforce (Curley et al , 2024) and ongoing conversations regarding resource constraints and early career nurses leaving the workforce and the profession.
Challenges
Opportunities
Having better – or even best possible data – that is, data which are truly representative of the experiences of the Georgia nursing workforce, matters because it improves our ability to tell the true story of nursing in Georgia to the media, policymakers, employers, and others, and to make good, actionable recommendations for strengthening the sustainability and well-being of the Georgia nursing workforce.
This strategic priority is also concerned with value, with a key focus of our work being championing the value of nurses and nursing through recognizing and amplifying the work and contribution of nurses across the state.
Recognizing and Amplifying
Nurses
Retention and Value
Data – Planned Projects:
• Retention:
A key opportunity is to begin exploring the purposeful and coordinated use of graduation exit surveys and alumni surveys administered by schools of nursing to capture the granular and qualitative data needed to answer questions around workforce retention and mobility, e.g., planned vs. actual employment immediately post-graduation and trends related to retention in the workforce, profession, and state.
Specific GNWC work planned for 2025 relevant to this key opportunity includes leading a new Collaborative Project Group: Nursing Education: Graduation Exit and Alumni surveys and Harmonizing Nursing Education Data Collection This group will meet monthly to share and develop collaborative projects across states and explore leading the next update/revision to the education minimum data set (MDS).
• Retention: (continued)
A priority for planned collaborative work in 2025 is to create a MDS for capturing nurse (RN and APRN) retention metrics in an academic health center (AHC) following graduation using Emory as an example. Beyond the practical usefulness of having such a MDS for annual reporting metrics and institutional planning, it is also an interesting and novel opportunity for describing the value of an AHC to nursing workforce planning.
Opportunities
Exploring retention of nurses in the workforce, profession, and state.
GNWC Spotlight on Value-Informed Nursing Practice of Georgia Nurses
Making visible the work and contribution of nurses and nursing is key for helping to foster nurses’ sense of professional mattering, and is one way the Georgia Nursing Workforce Center is championing the value of nurses and nursing.
This spotlight report aims to:
– Describe and create a repository of innovative projects and initiatives of Georgia nurses and their impact on outcomes related to patients, workforce, and work environment or process(es) of care delivery and nursing practice along with cost savings (where captured/available);
– Foster collaboration between health care organizations across the state;
– Highlight any known, estimated, or anticipated costsavings of nurses' innovative projects, recognizing that applying a lens of value-informed nursing practice may help nurses to ensure the cost-savings of such work are captured–and funneled back to the nursing budget; and,
– Strengthen nurses’ agency in building their capacity to positively impact their practice and work environment in an immediately practical way and in the context of resource constraints.
The Georgia Nursing Workforce Center is calling for nurses across the state of Georgia to share their examples of value-informed nursing practice. Scan the QR code to the left to contribute!
Planned Reports:
Spotlight on the Emory Academic Health Center Nursing Research Collaborative & Digital Health Initiatives, 2025
This report describes the new digital health initiatives being launched with Emory Healthcare and the Emory Academic Health Center Nursing Research Collaborative Beyond the value of the report itself, a further key goal of this report is to pave the way for future spotlight reports amplifying the amazing work of nurses across Georgia
Spotlight on Value-Informed Nursing Practice of Georgia Nurses (see page 50)
Retention and Value
Workforce safety, well-being, and sense of professional mattering adding value and being valued
GNWC 2024 Reports
The following pages share the purpose, key findings, and recommendations from each of the three GNWC reports published in 2024 Statistics demonstrating the reach of the reports – the number of downloads and unique users – are also noted for each report, and QR codes are provided to bring you to the full reports and press releases
Georgia Advanced Practice Nursing Education Programs, 2021-2022
Published: 2024 January
This report provides school-level data on Georgia advanced practice nursing education program enrollment (Fall 2022) and graduations (2021 August 01 – 2022 July 31) that were provided by The American Association of Colleges of Nursing and compares Georgia schools to schools nationwide. The report is, to our knowledge, the first of its kind in the state. Reliable information about the education of advanced practice nurses – nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists, is needed for informed decision-making toward improving access to care and other health outcomes for Georgia.
As of 2025 February 26,
Downloads Unique users
Georgia Advanced Practice Nursing Education Programs, 2021-2022
The Georgia Nursing Workforce Center is housed at the
Citation:
Hagopian, C.O.P., & Cimiotti, J.P. (2024). Georgia advanced practice nursing education programs, 2021-2022. Georgia Nursing Workforce Center.
Key Findings
Georgia schools outperformed national peers in:
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner programs
• Post-Master’s Certificate enrollment (43.8% vs. 9.4%) and completions (45.7% vs. 14.9%)
• DNP (post-baccalaureate DNP enrolled 20.6% vs. 11.9% and graduated 19.1% vs. 9.9%; post-master’s DNP enrolled 17 5% vs 4 7% and graduated 19 5% vs 3 1%)
• These statistics may mark the demand in Georgia for focused preparation for nurse practitioners working in acute care settings.
Post-Master’s DNP Family Nurse Practitioner programs
• Post-master’s DNP enrollment (29.2% vs. 19.8%) and graduations (41.5% vs. 18.3%).
• This is a call for additional data on the education and degrees students obtain prior to entering a post-master’s family nurse practitioner DNP program. Such data would help determine if this trend is a reflection of the retiring of the clinical nurse specialist role in advanced practice.
Georgia schools fell behind national peers in:
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs
• Master’s-level (5.7% vs. 19.8%), post-master’s certificate (32.8% vs. 56%), and post-master’s DNP (5.1% vs. 13.1%) enrollment
• Georgia enrolled a similar number of post-baccalaureate DNP students compared to national peers.
Report Recommendations
1. Need infrastructure for consistent, timely, long-term collection and sharing of nursing education data in the state of Georgia.
2. Expand data collection efforts to include the geographic location of schools and students.
3. Explore graduation exit surveys and alumni surveys by schools as a possible mechanism for capturing data on the impact and value of nursing education and employment trends of graduates.
Georgia Nursing Education Program Offerings, 2024
Published: 2024 May
This report lists all nursing education program offerings in the state of Georgia by school. A comprehensive list of all nursing educational degree, certification, and diploma program options that are offered across the state—including the various tracks available and pathways for completion has not, to our knowledge, been previously published for the state of Georgia. To strengthen and ensure workforce sustainability for nursing in Georgia, it is necessary to understand what educational programs and pathways into and in nursing are and are not currently available across the state.
As of 2025 February 26,
Georgia Nursing Education Program Offerings, 2024
Downloads Unique users
Citation:
Kelly, C., & Hagopian, C.O.P. (2024). Georgia nursing education program offerings, 2024. Georgia Nursing Workforce Center.
The Georgia Nursing Workforce Center is housed at the
Key Findings
Note: This figure shows the total number of pre-licensure nursing programs offered in Georgia as of 2024-April by degree or diploma/certificate and pathway (as relevant).
Note: This figure shows the total number of post-licensure nursing programs offered in Georgia as of 2024-April by degree/certificate.
1. Harmonize the collection of nursing education data.
2. Create a searchable dashboard of nursing education programs in the state of Georgia
3. Explore factors that impact a prospective student’s eligibility for admission into a nursing education program, success in the program, and ultimate securing of a nursing license in the state they want or plan to practice.
Figure 1. Pre-Licensure Nursing Programs Offered in Georgia by Type, 2024
Figure 2. Post-Licensure Nursing Programs Offered in Georgia by Type, 2024
Impact of COVID-19 on the Georgia Nursing Workforce, 2022
Published: 2024 August
This report compares Georgia and national numbers using a subset of data from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers 2022 National Nursing Workforce Survey to describe the professional and psychological burden of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Georgia nursing workforce, specifically the effect of the pandemic on the employment status of nurses and nurse job-related outcomes. These data represent best available data on the impact of COVID-19 on the Georgia nursing workforce.
As of 2025 February 26,
Impact of COVID-19 on the Georgia Nursing Workforce, 2022
Citation:
Razmpour, O . R ., Martinez, M . E ., Hagopian, C . O . P ., & Cimiotti, J . P . (2024 ). Impact of COVID - 19 on the Georgia Nursing Workforce, 2022 . Georgia Nursing Workforce Center.
The Georgia Nursing Workforce Center is housed at the
Key Findings
• Georgia nurses experienced the impact of COVID-19 similarly to nurses nationally.
• Roughly 1 in 4 nurses reported experiencing high levels of emotional drain, exhaustion, and burnout every day.
• A small but clear theme noted in qualitative (free-text) responses indicate a steadfast love of nursing, resilience and strengthened soft skills throughout the height of the pandemic, and sincere hope for the future.
Limitations
Data concerns:
• Small sample size
• Missing data for all Georgia nurses (RN and LPN) under age 27
News coverage of GNWC report #3
Report Recommendations
1. Monitor trends over time related to nurse employment status.
2. Carefully attend to qualitative data as a rich source of useful information to better understand the lived experience of nurses.
3. Telling the story of nurses must include a positive outlook for the profession along with reported concerns.
moving beyond the “nursing shortage” to ask better questions
How you define a problem shapes the possible solutions you come up with. If you are not defining the problem correctly, it is unlikely that you will come up with solutions to address real, rather than simply perceived, problems. Also relevant is how you interpret data.
We need to ask the right people, the right questions, to define the right problems—and ultimately to have a productive conversation about these real problems and practical solutions to solve them.
Refining the question expands our focus from the automatic refrain of a production problem that is, the need to produce more nurses faster, to also consider potential problems with retention (i.e., workforce shortage) and distribution (where there are not enough nurses with the particular education, training, and qualifications needed, e.g., operating room, advanced practice nursing, primary care, mental health, maternity, critical care).
State nursing workforce centers help to clarify the meaning and context of “nursing shortages” at the local and state level.
Scan the QR code or navigate to the web address to read the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers information brief that the GNWC helped to prepare last year on “The Impact of Nursing Workforce Centers on State Nursing Workforce Strategy”
https://bit.ly/NationalForum2025InfoBrief
Community Engagement
Community Engagement
One of the most rewarding aspects of this year has been the incredible community engagement. People are reaching out, asking how to get involved, and our executive director has been meeting with anyone interested to capture their thoughts, concerns, and enthusiasms.
Two clear themes have emerged from this engagement: A sincere excitment for the work of the Center and an overwhelming willingness to help. We are thinking deeply about how to best channel this enthusiasm to strengthen and promote a diverse, inclusive, and equity-minded nursing workforce that is prepared and supported to meet Georgia’s health and care needs.
One specifically related and exciting Center development for 2025 is the launch of the new GNWC Nursing Workforce Reseach Interest Group led by GNWC Advisory Board and Research Team member, Jackie Nikpour (see page 22)
of
meetings or spaces
Chicas (not pictured) and Chelsea Hagopian at the BIG Partnership event,
“Maximizing Global Talent-Expanding Georgia’s Healthcare Workforce,” at the Latin American Association (pictured, Chelsea Hagopian talking with Georgia Sec. of State Brad Raffensperger), 2024 January 18 (right)
GNLC Doctoral Symposium in Valdosta, Georgia, 2024 February 10 (above and right)
2023 October 13-15
2024 January 31-February 02
Photos: Monique Bouvier and Chelsea Hagopian representing the Georgia Nursing Workforce Center at the 2024
Photo: Roxana
Photo: Matt Caseman, Dina Hewett, and Chelsea Hagopian at the 2023 GNA Annual Conference in Athens, Georgia,
(left)
Photo: Chelsea Hagopian with Emory nursing students at the 2024 National Association of Hispanic Nurses Health Policy Summit in Washington, D.C.,
(right)
Bringing together a community
of nurses, nursing students, and other interested and concerned parties across the state . . .
to understand, support, and strengthen the
Georgia Nursing Workforce.
The GNWC had 19 media mentions between the launch of the Center in Fall 2023 through December 2024.
GNWC In the News
Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Georgia Nursing Workforce Center needs nurses’ help | (Chelsea Hagopian quoted)
FOX 5 Atlanta | Georgia grapples with nation's second worst nursing shortage | (Chelsea Hagopian interviewed)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Emory School of Nursing partners with Georgia Nursing Leadership Coalition to address nursing shortage | (Emory School of Nursing featured, Linda McCauley and Chelsea Hagopian quoted)
WANF-TV | Center formed to study, collect Georgia nursing shortage data | (Emory School of Nursing featured, Linda McCauley and Chelsea Hagopian interviewed)
WXIA-TV | Emory University working to address nursing shortage in Georgia | (Emory School of Nursing featured, Linda McCauley interviewed)
WABE-FM *audio only | Emory School of Nursing, Georgia Nursing Leadership Coalition to address Georgia nursing issues through workforce center at Emory | (Emory School of Nursing featured, Chelsea Hagopian interviewed)
Georgia Public Broadcasting | Nursing workforce research center to open at Emory | (Emory School of Nursing featured, Linda McCauley and Chelsea Hagopian quoted) | Becker’s Hospital Review, Albany Herald, Henry Herald
Capitol Beat | Nursing workforce research center to open at Emory | (Emory School of Nursing featured, Linda McCauley and Chelsea Hagopian quoted) | Healthleaders, Rough Draft Atlanta, North West Georgia News, The Moultrie Observer, Gwinnett Daily Post, Douglas County Sentinel
Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Metro Atlanta job growth slows in August, yet still adds 10,100 jobs | (Emory School of Nursing featured, Chelsea Hagopian quoted)
Saporta Report | Emory School of Nursing, Georgia Nursing Leadership Coalition to address Georgia nursing issues through workforce center at Emory | (Emory School of Nursing featured, Linda McCauley quoted) Page 68
Nursing Workforce housed at the Nell Woodruff School of partnership with the Nursing Leadership (GNLC.)
nursing emory edu/initiatives/georgianursing-workforce-center
2024 Annual Impact Report
ganursing@emory.edu
1520 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 USA nursing.emory.edu/initiatives/georgia-nursing-workforce-center