CONSIDERATIONS BEYOND NURSING

Challenges and Opportunities to Advance Allied Health Professionals

The initial Task Force recommendations focused on nurses and nurse extenders. Future efforts may address the unique needs of allied health professionals as key to advancing the health care workforce.

• High-need positions: Lab, Radiology, and Pharmacy Techs, Patient Care Techs, Medical Assistants, Respiratory Therapists, Clinical Laboratory Scientists, Transporters, and Dietary Specialists

• Opportunities for how current or future allied health professionals can support the nurse workforce:

- Expand roles and leverage technology to enable nurses to work at top of license

(e.g., MAs and other technicians taking on nurse support roles like COVID testing, “tele -sitting” conducted by allied health staff under nurse supervision)

- Attract high school students and early college students to pursue high potential, low-volume professions

• Opportunities to support allied health students and professionals include:

- Funding for wrap -around services (ex. transportation, childcare, academic case management)

- Free tuition and instructional costs for high- demand allied health professions

- Stipends for students who work full-time