The current nationwide nursing shortage has left many in the field baffled. Factors such as declining working conditions and inadequate training consistently plague the nursing profession.
But Nursing Professors Norma Lang and Linda Aiken, through their research and implementation of national programs, have made significant strides in alleviating this problem.
Lang and Aiken were recently recognized by the American Nursing Association for their work in the nursing field. Lang was honored with the Jessie Scott Award for her contributions to the nursing profession through researching, practicing and educating others.
Her colleague, Aiken, was awarded the Barbara Thomas Curtis Award for her research and work to help eliminate the nursing shortage by influencing lawmakers to change government healthcare policies.
Aiken said she was ecstatic to receive such high recognition from the national body.
"It's particularly gratifying because the Nursing Association meeting is in Philadelphia," Aiken said. "Norma Lang is another award winner that brings attention to the University."
As director of the Penn Macy Initiative, Lang brought together people associated with nursing schools all around the United States. She facilitated the process of educating and sharing experiences in the field of nursing. Through her community-based practices and research, Lang helped develop an international classification system for standards of care.
"Nursing is a highly valued profession, but so much of what nurses do is unquantifiable and ambiguous," Lang said. "Classifying this work allows them to better describe what they do."
Lang is currently working to increase the "computerization of nursing." She hopes to be able to study the responsibilities of the nursing profession through a more efficient medium.
Aiken received her honor for her work in designing new strategies for and improving hospice care. She paved the way for the extension of Medicare to include coverage for hospice care, as well. Much of her work includes direct interaction with policymakers in Washington. She has even testified before Congress on one occasion.
Aiken's work resulted in nurse practicioners being eligible for reimbursement by Medicare for the first time.
"Timing is very important for research implementation to be successful," said Aiken.
She then added, "The political landscape of the moment has to agree and people have to be interested in the topic."
Aiken continues making efforts to fundamentally change the work environment in order to stabilize the nursing work force by attracting new nurses and retaining veteran workers.
"Both Lang and Aiken's work have helped bring more attention and respect to the nursing profession," said Nursing School spokeswoman Joy McIntyre.
