♪ SUE: I AM SUE O'CONNELL.

TONIGHT, ONE YEAR ON FROM A SHOOTING IN UVALDE, TEXAS, THE SEARCH FOR ANSWERS.

FROM FRONTLINE, MARIA HINOJOSA HEARS FROM THE FAMILIES MOST IMPACTED BY THE ATTACK.

SHE JOINS ME.

THEN I'’M AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS INVESTING NEARLY $6 MILLION IN A LOCAL INSTITUTE TO ADDRESS THE NATIONWIDE NURSING SHORTAGE.

♪ IT HAS BEEN ONE YEAR SINCE I GUNMAN SHOT AND KILLED 19 STUDENTS AND TWO TEACHERS AT ROBB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN UVALDE, TEXAS.

17 OTHERS WERE HURT.

THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WAS SHAKEN.

THE 18-YEAR-OLD SHOOTER WAS ARMED WITH A LEGALLY-PURCHASED ASSAULT RIFLE AND OVER 200 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION AND ONCE HE GOT INTO THE SCHOOL HE BARRICADED HIMSELF INTO ONE OF THE CLASSROOMS KILLING MANY OF THE PEOPLE TRAPPED INSIDE.

DESPITE SEVERAL CALLS FOR HELP AND NEARLY 400 OFFICERS ON THE SCENE, POLICE WAITED OVER ONE HOUR BEFORE BREAKING IN AND KILLING THE SHOOTER.

>> DO YOU TALK ABOUT THAT DATE WITH DESTINY >> I TRIED NOT TO BRING IT UP, BUT THERE IS A PART OF HER THAT HAS BECOME OBSESSED IN WANTING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED.

WHY THEY DID NOT GO IN WHEN THEY HAD THE CHANCE.

>> THAT IS A VERY PROFOUND OBSESSION FOR A 10-YEAR-OLD TO HAVE.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW THE ONE PLACE WHERE SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SAFE AND SHE WASN'’T.

IN >> THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH QUESTION SWIRLED ABOUT HOW THIS HAPPENED AND WHY WAS THE SHOOTER ALLOWED TO BUY THAT GUN AND WHY DID POLICE WAIT SO LONG TO ACT AND WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE.

A NEW FILM FROM FRONTLINE DIGS INTO THOSE LINGERING QUESTIONS.

IT IS CALLED "AFTER UVALDE: GUNS, GRIEF AND TEXAS POLITICS."

THE JOURNALIST BEHIND IT MARIA HINOJOSA JOINS ME NOW AHEAD OF THE FILM'’S PREMIERE.

WELCOME TO YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MARIA, SO MANY OF THESE TRAGIC CRIMINAL SHOOTINGS ARE ALIKE IN SO MANY WAYS YET UNIQUE IN THEIR OWN WAY.

WHAT WAS UNIQUE ABOUT THIS TRAGEDY?

MARIA: YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT.

UM, I HAVE COVERED MASS SHOOTING SATELLITE SINCE COLUMBINE.

I WAS AT THE -- MASSACRE BUT SOMETHING ABOUT UVALDE IMMEDIATELY CALLED OUT TO ME AND I REACHED OUT TO FRONTLINE BECAUSE I SAID THERE IS A STORY WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND, WHY?

BECAUSE THIS WAS A YOUNG LATINO KID FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO HAD ALL THE WARNING SIGNS AND YET THERE WAS NO WAY OR NO PLACE FOR HIM TO GET HELP UM, NO ONE TARGETED HIM AND SAID LOOK, HIS NICKNAME WAS "SCHOOL SHOOTER."

COULD NOT BE CLEARER FOR EVERYONE THIS WAS A PROBLEM, SO FOR ME THE THOUGHT THAT A KID FROM THIS COMMUNITY WOULD TURN ON HIS OWN IN HIS OWN FORMER FOURTH-GRADE CLASSROOM KILLING KIDS WHO LOOKED JUST LIKE HIM, ONE HOUR AWAY FROM THE BORDER AND WHEN WE FIRST REPORTED ABOUT THIS AND WHEN IT HAPPENED ONE YEAR AGO, WHAT WE REALIZED IS UVALDE ACTUALLY HAS A HISTORY OF ACTIVISM.

IN 1970, IT WAS ONE OF THE LONGEST STUDENT SCHOOL WALKOUTS AND THE KIDS WALKED OUT BACK THEN BECAUSE THEY WERE BEING PADDLED FOR SPEAKING SPANISH.

YOU KNOW, A TOWN THAT IS NOW MAJORITY LATINO ONE HOUR AWAY FROM THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER AND YET THEY WERE BEING HIT FOR SPEAKING SPANISH.

THIS IS A PLACE THAT WHEN I UNDERSTOOD THIS I SAID, I NEED TO GO AND UNDERSTAND FURTHER, ALONG WITH THE QUESTION OF, WHAT HAPPENED?

77 MINUTES, CLOSE TO 400 POLICE OFFICERS AND HE DID NOT ADVANCE FOR 77 MINUTES.

SUE: ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THIS THIS THIS TRAGEDY TO ME IS THAT IT SEEMS TO EPITOMIZE ALL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT ALL OF THE SHOOTINGS HAVE UM YOU KNOW AND ALSO COUNTERS THAT IF ONLY WE HAD POLICE ON THE SCENE.

IF WE ONLY HAD THIS OR ABOUT.

CAN -- AND THIS OR THAT.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE DYSFUNCTION HERE THAT OUR PILLARS AND SOME OF THE SHOOTINGS?

MARIA: YES.

WE ALONGSIDE THE TEXAS TRIBUNE'’S SOME OF THAT FOOTAGE.

THAT IN FACT IS THE PIECE THAT YOU USE THERE WAS -- FROM THE TEXAS TRIBUNE IS SHOWING ME THE FOOTAGE THAT HE GOT ACCESS TO.

YOU KNOW, WE SEE THE POLICE ARRIVE.

RECEIPT THEM IN FACT ONE POINT VERY SOON TRY TO ADVANCE AND THAT IS WHEN THE SHOOTER SHOOTS THROUGH THE DOOR OF THE CLASSROOM AND THEY REALIZE HE IS ARMED WITH AN AR, AND AT THAT MOMENT WE CAPTURE THAT ALSO IN THE FRONTLINE, IT IS WHEN THEY REALIZE LIKE WAIT A SECOND, AN AR CAN SHOOT THROUGH OUR POLICE ARMOR.

THEREFORE WE ARE NOT PROTECTED AND WHAT I THINK EVERYBODY HAS A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING IS THAT POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE TRAINED OVER AND OVER AGAIN ESPECIALLY IN A MASS SHOOTING YOU GO IN.

YOU DO NOT WAIT.

YOU HAVE TO GO IN AND ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY, BECAUSE THE MORE TIME YOU WAIT THE MORE PEOPLE COULD BE SHOT.

THEY DID NOT DO THAT.

THEY BROKE OFF PROTOCOL.

AND I THINK UM YOU KNOW IT IS HARD TO PUT A LABEL ON THIS ESPECIALLY IN AN INVESTIGATIVE DOCUMENTARY, BUT MY SENSE IS THAT IT WAS A VERY HUMAN REACTION.

THEY WERE TERRIFIED.

WE WANT SUE: TO PLAY A CLIP FROM IT TALKING ABOUT THE TEXAS TRIBUNE REPORTER DESCRIBING THE POLICE RESPONSE HERE >> >>.

AFTER >> THEY WERE INITIALLY >> DRIVEN BACK, THEY DON'’T ENGAGE THE SHOOTER, THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY ARE TRAINED TO DO.

AND SINCE THE COLUMBINE SHOOTING IN 1999, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO ENGAGE ACTIVE SHOOTER'’S UNTIL THEY ARE SUBDUED.

THEY DO NOT WAIT FOR BACKUP.

DO NOT WAIT FOR MORE EQUIPMENT.

THE MORE TIME YOU WAIT THE MORE PEOPLE CAN GET KILLED AND THE PEOPLE WOUNDED CAN DIE.

OVER THE NEXT 40 MINUTES, MORE OFFICERS ARRIVED, MORE OFFICERS ARRIVE.MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE KILLING TOOK PLACE WHILE FOUR POLICE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVENE.

SUE: MARIA, I HAVE NEVER MET A LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO THINKS THAT IT IS A GOOD IDEA FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE THESE WEAPONS, AND TO YOUR POINT, REACTING IN A HUMAN WAY WAS THEIR OWN LIVES ARE IN DANGER KNOWING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.

WHAT IS THE WHAT IS THE TEMPERATURE OF TEXAS WHEN IT COMES TO UNDERSTANDING THAT IF LAW-ENFORCEMENT IS AFRAID TO ENGAGE TO PROTECT INNOCENT UNARMED CHILDREN, WHY ARE THESE WEAPONS IN CIRCULATION?

MARIA: THAT IS A VERY DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ASK, ANSWER IN A MATTER OF MINUTES, RIGHT?

THAT IS A BIG PART OF OUR DOCUMENTARY.

AND HERE IS THE THING IN TEXAS THERE IS A GUN CULTURE, BUT NO ONE IN UVALDE, THE FAMILIES FIGHTING FOR SOME KIND OF GUN REFORM ARE GUN OWNERS MOST OF THEM.

THEY ARE NOT SAYING GET RID OF ALL GUNS OR SAYING BAN ALL ASSAULT WEAPONS, WHAT THEIR ADVOCATING FULL IS TO RAISE THE AGE FROM 18 TO 21.

THE POLITICS IN TEXAS HIS A RADICAL CONSERVATIVE MORE KIND OF REPUBLICAN THAT IF YOU DID ANYTHING THAT TOUCHES OUR GUNS, IT IS A THREAT ON THE SECOND AMENDMENT, BUT IN FACT THE SITUATION IN TEXAS IS IT IS THE SECOND STATE WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF MASS SHOOTINGS, AND IT USED TO BE THAT YOU COULD SAY, WELL, A MASS SHOOTING HAPPENED THERE BUT WILL NEVER HAPPEN HERE IN AN ANALYST SAID IN TEXAS IT IS GETTING TO THE POINT WELL, NO, I KNOW SOMEONE OR SOMEONE THAT I KNOW -- IT IS GETTING TOO CLOSE AND THEY SAID THAT THERE IS A TEMPERATURE THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO RAISE THE AGE?

IT DID NOT HAPPEN IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IT GOT PUSHED BECAUSE OF THE ACTIVISM FROM THE FAMILIES OF UVALDE WHICH AGAIN, STANDS OUT IN THIS MASS SHOOTING AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TRY AGAIN IN TWO AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE WILL BE OTHER MASS SHOOTINGS UNTIL THEN, BUT THE GOVERNOR REFUSES TO ENGAGE WITH THE FAMILIES ON THIS.

SUE: YOU SPENT TIME AT THE FAMILIES AND SOME OF THE CHILDREN WHO WERE SURVIVORS OF THE SHOOTING.

I AM ALWAYS HESITANT, I GET UPSET WHEN I SEE COVERAGE IT WHERE PEOPLE SAY THEY WERE UNHARMED, WHERE OBVIOUSLY THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WAS HARMED IN THE CHILDREN AT THE SCHOOL WERE HARMED BY THE INCIDENT.

I COME BY, I WOULD LOVED YOUR COLORING ARTWORK WITH ONE OF THE KIDS, WHAT DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THE CHILDREN WHO LIVED THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE?

MARIA: WELL, THERE ARE A LOT OF CHILDREN AND WE ACTUALLY FOCUSED ON ONE AND RIGHT NOW SHE IS PROBABLY THE MOST FAMOUS PERSON FROM UVALDE BECAUSE THIS MORNING WHEN I WAS ON MORNING JOE AND I WAS SITTING WITH THE UNSHED NEWSPAPERS, SHE IS ABOVE THE FOLD ON THE NEW YORK TIMES IN A PICTURE THAT TAKES UP HALF OF THE PAGE, AND -- SHE IS A SURVIVOR, AND WHAT SHE HAS DONE IS SHE HAS FOUND A WAY TO TRANSFORM HER SORROW AND HER RAGE UH INTO ACTIVISM, AND SHE HAS ALSO -- IS ALSO DEEP IN THERAPY BECAUSE HER FAMILY UNDERSTANDS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS SO THEY TRAVEL TO SAN ANTONIO TO GET HER IN THERAPY -- GET HER IN THERAPY, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY CHILDREN IN UVALDE WHO ARE TOUCHED AND THEY ALL NEED THERAPY, BUT YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT THERAPY, PEOPLE DON'’T TALK ABOUT THERAPY.

IT IS A VERY PRIVATE THING, SO IT'’S ALMOST LIKE I'’VE BEEN SAYING WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST OF THE GREAT WAY TO START IS IF THERE WAS COMMUNAL YOU KNOW COMMUNAL THERAPY.

COME, LET US ALL LISTEN TO MUSIC AND BE TOGETHER AND HOLD HANDS, BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERAPY CAN BE EFFECTIVE BECAUSE REMEMBER AT LEAST IN MANY LATINO COMMUNITIES , THERAPY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS KIND OF DISCUSSED AND CERTAINLY IN THE TOWN OF UVALDE WHERE THERE WAS ONLY ONE PSYCHIATRIST, IT WAS JUST NOT EVEN AVAILABLE TO DISCUSS.

SUE: I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT A CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT EVEN WITH FOLKS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR STRICTER GUN LAWS AND SAFETY LAWS, AND THAT IS ABOUT THE BODIES OF THE VICTIMS OF THE SHOOTING IN THESE PARTICULAR WEAPONS.

I HAD A FRIEND WHO WAS ONCE SHOT IN A ROBBERY.

HE IS FINE NOW.

OBVIOUSLY A LITTLE TRAUMA FROM IT, BUT HE SAID HE WAS SURPRISED HOW MUCH IT HURT, AN OLD FASHION HANDGUN, BECAUSE WE ARE SO OFTEN IN THIS CULTURE WATCHING MOVIES AND TV SHOWS WHERE PEOPLE GET SHOT AND THEY JUST CONTINUE ON AND IT IS NOT A BIG DEAL, AND IN ONE OF THE RECENT SHOOTINGS, THE PHOTOS OF THE CHILDREN WHO WERE KILLED CIRCULATED ONLINE, AND WE HAVE ACTIVISTS HERE IN BOSTON WHO SAY WE SHOULD SEE THOSE PHOTOS, WE SHOULD SEE WHAT THESE WEAPONS DUE TO THE CHILDREN IN THE DOCUMENTARY COME IN FRONTLINE, YOU TALK TO ONE -- THE ONE AND ONLY PEDIATRICIAN WHO HAD TO GO THROUGH THAT TERRIBLE ORDEAL OF LOOKING AT THESE CHILDREN.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM PEOPLE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE PUBLIC THE PUBLIC SHOULD SEE THESE PHOTOS?

MARIA: THIS IS A VERY YOU ARE RIGHT IT IS VERY CONTROVERSIAL IN THE FIRST I WANT TO SAY TO ANYONE WHO HAS LOST A CHILD LIKE THIS DEEP RESPECT AND YOU HAVE THE ULTIMATE DECISION ON WHAT SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT HAPPEN BUT ON ONE OF MY TRIPS DOWN TO TEXAS I WAS IN AN AIRPLANE AND I WATCHED A MOVIE, AND IT WAS THERE WHERE WE HEARD THE STORY OF A PERSON WHO MADE THE DECISION TO SHOW AN OPEN CASKET.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT AFTER WHAT I WAS PRIVY TO SEE, I AM NOT THE SAME PERSON AFTER WHAT I HAVE SEEN COME AND I HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THIS IS NOT THE FRONTLINE, THIS IS ME, MEGAN FLANIGAN AN INDIVIDUAL, NOT FRONTLINE, JUST ME AS A HUMAN BEING, I THOUGHT IF EVERYBODY SAW WHAT I JUST SAW THAT THERE WOULD BE A MASSIVE UPRISING AGAINST THIS.

THERE WOULD BE A MASSIVE URGE TO SAY BAN THEM NOW BECAUSE IT IS HORRIFIC.

THIS WILL HAVE HAPPEN WHEN SOMEONE IS PREPARED, NOW IN THE CASE OF UVALDE BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW, THE FAMILIES HAVE NOT BEEN PRIVY TO ANY OF THIS MATERIAL.

UM, OBVIOUSLY THEY BURIED THEIR CHILDREN BUT PART OF WHAT HAPPENED AFTER -- IS THAT IT IS MORE DIFFICULT FOR PARENTS TO GET ACCESS TO PHOTOGRAPHS DOCUMENTING THIS, AND I THINK THE FAMILIES HAVE THE RIGHT.

THE FAMILIES HAVE THE RIGHT.

THIS IS THEIR CHILD.

THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT WORKS FOR THEM.

WHAT HAPPENS IN TERMS OF AMERICAN HISTORY BUT THAT IS QUITE AMERICAN HISTORY IS SO FASCINATING BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE ACTUALLY RESPOND TO THESE THINGS.

AND AGAIN, THE FAMILIES OF UVALDE ARE RESPONDING NOT BY SHOWING OPEN CASKETS BUT TAKING THEIR ACTIVISM TO THE STATE CAPITAL ENTER WASHINGTON, D.C. AS WELL.

SO SUE: THIS IS WHERE WE LIVE NOW YOU KNOW RIGHT.

YOU SAY COLUMBINE AND I REMEMBER IT WELL AND NOW HERE WE ARE AND IT'’S HARD TO BE KEEP TRACK UNFORTUNATELY THAT WHAT MASS SHOOTING HAS HAPPENED WHEN.

UM, WHAT IS THE LESSON WE CAN TAKE HERE?

WHAT ARE WE LEARNING THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY REPORT AND MAKE POSITIVE CHANGE?

MARIA: YOU KNOW I THINK THAT, I FEEL LIKE THAT THERE IS A TURNING POINT IN OUR COUNTRY AND I KNOW THAT THAT IS HARD TO SAY, BUT I DO FEEL LIKE THE REALITY THAT GUNS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES, THIS SENSE THAT WE ALL FEEL LIKE IT IS ALL AROUND US, THAT, THAT THERE IS YOU KNOW IT USED TO BE JUST MOMS PROTESTING AGAINST VIOLENCE LIKE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND I FEEL LIKE IT'’S BECOMING A NATIONAL POLITICAL ISSUE AND I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED I'’M NOT AN ACTIVIST OR ORGANIZER BUT I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN YES, MARCHES IN THE PAST LED BY MOMS.

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN SOONER THAN WE IMAGINE.

AGAIN THIS IS A DEMOCRACY, AND THE ROLE OF JOURNALISTS IS TO SHOW WHAT IS HAPPENING AND LET PEOPLE DECIDE WHAT THEIR ACTIONS ARE GOING TO BE.

SUE: MARIA HINOJOSA, THANK YOU SO MUCH, A PLEASURE TO SPEAK WITH YOU, DEFINITELY MUCH WATCH ON THIS PROJECT.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME WITH US TODAY.

MARIA: THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

SUE: "AFTER UVALDE: GUNS, GRIEF AND TEXAS POLITICS" PREMIERES ON TUESDAY, MAY 30 AT 10:00 P.M., ONLINE, OR THE PBS VIDEO APP.

FOR THE ONSET OF COVID-19, THE MEDICAL FIELD WAS SLAMMED WITH ANOTHER EPIDEMIC NURSES LEADING THE FIELD IN DROVES AS BURNOUT AND EXISTING STAFFING SHORTAGES TOOK THEIR TOTE WITH THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS LEAVING NURSING AND AN OLDER GENERATION INCHING TOWARDS RETIREMENT, AND HOSPITALS LOOKING TOWARDS THE NEXT GENERATION TO BRIDGE THE GAP.

BUT MANY YOUNG WOULD BE NURSES DO NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BREAK INTO THE FIELD, THANKS TO ANOTHER SHORTAGE WITHIN THE INDUSTRY, NURSING INSTRUCTORS, WHICH FORCES NURSING SCHOOLS AND HOSPITAL CLINICAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAMS TO CUT DOWN ON HOW MANY STUDENTS THEY CAN ACCEPT.

IT IS A PROBLEM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IS HOPING TO FIX THROUGH $78 MILLION IN GRANTS TO HELP FUND AND FACILITATE NURSE TRAINING PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE MGH INSTITUTE IS AMONG THE RECIPIENTS WITH NEARLY $6 MILLION IN FUNDING TO PARTNER WITH THE MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM HEALTH SYSTEM TO STRENGTHEN THE PIPELINE FOR NURSE EDUCATORS.

I'’M JOINED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL INSTITUTE AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF TALENT AT MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM, WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

THANKS FOR COMING IN.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US SUE:.

I AM TOLD THIS WAS AN INVISIBLE PROBLEM BARRIER AND I AM ASHAMED TO SAY THAT IT DID NOT EVER OCCUR TO ME THAT NOT HAVING ENOUGH INSTRUCTORS IS A PROBLEM.

WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?

>> WELL, IT IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE SOME TIME, THE SHORTAGE OF NURSING FACULTY, BECAUSE THE CREDENTIALS ONE NEEDS IN ORDER TO BECOME A FACULTY MEMBER ARE SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN A BEDSIDE NURSE.

AND MOST PROGRAMS REQUIRE DOCTORAL PREPARATION IN ORDER TO UM UH UH TEACH DIDACTIC LEAD IN THE CLASSROOM, SO WHEN WE COME WHEN NURSES BECOME NURSES, THEY TEND TO WORK IN HOSPITAL FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND SOME DO NOT GO BACK FOR FURTHER EDUCATION SAID THEY CANNOT MOVE INTO THE EDUCATION UH DOMAIN.

THE OTHER PROBLEM IS NURSES IN THE HOSPITAL MAKE MORE MONEY THAN FACULTY, AND SO THE, THE PROGRESS TO A FACULTY POSITION IS REALLY PART OF A PASSION YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCES IN EDUCATION AND WANT TO DO THAT.

UH, AND SO, THE NURSING FACULTY SHORTAGE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS ACTUALLY.

SUE: HAS ANYONE TAKEN STEPS TO TRY TO ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM BEFORE?

WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT COVID AND ALL THAT CHALLENGES AND BOOMERS AND THE AGING POPULATION AND ALL THAT BUT CENSUS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM HAS ANYONE LOOKED AT IT BEFORE IT AND SAID WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?

WE'’VE MEGAN: BEEN LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'’S BEEN STARING US IN THE FACE ON THE EMPLOYMENT SIDE OF THE FENCE.

ONE OF THE AREAS I OVERSEE IS TALENT ACQUISITION SO AS NEW NURSES ARE GRADUATING FROM SCHOOL WE ARE INTERESTED IN PLACING THEM IN OUR DIFFERENT HOSPITALS BUT ONE OF THE AREAS WE DID FACE IS -- BARRIERS WE DID FACE IS THAT HOSPITALS FOCUSED ON PATIENT CARE DID NOT ALWAYS HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TAKE ON NEWLY-GRADUATED NURSES AND HELP THEM UP SKILLED AND COMFORTABLE IN THIS COMPLEX WORKING ENVIRONMENT.

WE JUST DON'’T WANT TO THROW OUR FOLKS TO THE WOLVES OUT THERE SO MAKING SURE YOU HAVE CLINICAL INSTRUCTORS THAT CONNECTION BRING IN NEW GRADS AND HELP THEM GET COMFORTABLE IN THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT, OFTEN TIMES WE DID NOT HAVE THE STAFF MEMBERS READY TO TAKE IN THE NEW GRADS, SO UNDERSTANDING THE SKILL MIX AND EXPENSE IN A PARTICULAR UNIT IS SOMETHING THAT NURSE MANAGERS DO ON A DAILY BASIS AND WE WERE UNABLE TO PLACE NEWLY GRADUATED NURSES WHO WANTED TO WORK WITH US AND FOR US, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO BRING THEM INTO THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT.

SUE: SO FROM MY LAYMAN'’S VIEW OF THE NURSING WORLD AND THE EMPLOYMENT WORLD YOU CAN TELL ME WHICH ONE OF YOU SHOULD ANSWER THIS QUESTION, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A LOT OF VETERANS WHO ARE SERVING AS NURSES, WHO WERE UNABLE TO GET LICENSED APPROPRIATELY BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THEY WERE LICENSED IN THE ARMY OR NAVY, THEY DID NOT, AND THIS MIGHT GO STATE-BY-STATE, THEY HAD TO DO ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND THEY WERE NOT QUICK TO GET INTO THE NURSING FORCE.

YOU HAD A NUMBER OF YOUNG NURSES WHO DECIDED THEY WANT TO DO THIS WHO ARE NOW TRAVELING NURSES WHO GO FROM STATE TO STATE TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY FILLING IN IN PLACES WHERE WE HAVE THESE GAPS WITH OLDER FOLKS AND PEOPLE JUST LEAVING.

UM, IS THERE A HOLISTIC SOLUTION TO THE STAFFING PROBLEM WHICH I THINK IF WE LOOK AT AS A CHESSBOARD WE CAN MOVE AROUND?

>> WELL I CAN JUMP AND YOU CAN ADD PAULA, BUT THESE ARE THE KINDS OF TALENT MANAGEMENT QUESTIONS WE ARE ASKING OURSELVES EVERY SINGLE DAY.

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THE PIPELINE IS ROBUST WHEREVER THAT IS COMING FROM?

AND IT IS A WHOLE RANGE OF SOLUTIONS WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH.

HOW DO WE ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE AND GET THEM INTERESTED IN COMING INTO HEALTH CARE AS AN INDUSTRY?

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT, SUPPORTIVE WORKING IN VERMIN TO RETAIN OUR FIRST AND OUR NURSES AS WELL -- WORKING ENVIRONMENT TO RETAIN OUR NURSES AS WELL.

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND NURSES TODAY AND WHETHER CAREER CAN GO?

HOW DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT CULTURE MOBILITY AND THE?

CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT, AND LEARNING HOW ARE WE HEDGING ?

FIVE YEARS OF RETIREMENT AGE.

SUE: THAT IS A BIG NUMBER.

IN ADDITION TO NORMAL ATTRITION WE ARE STARING THOSE THINGS IN THE FACE AND THAT IS WHY THIS PARTICULAR >> GET FOR NURSES THROUGH THE SCHOOLS AND THAT WE HAVE CLINICAL INSTRUCTORS IN OUR OWN WORKING ENVIRONMENT THAT CAN HELP SUPPORT THE NEW STUDENTS AS THEY ARE COMING THROUGH.

SUE: YOU WANT TO ADD ONTO THAT?

PAULA: ABSOLUTELY.

WE WILL LOSE ABOUT ONE MILLION NURSES IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

THE AVERAGE AGE OF EIGHT NURSE IS 52, SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT IT IS SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE REPLENISH AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF NURSES THAT WE PREPARE.

THE OTHER PIECE OF UM THE CLINICAL EDUCATOR ROLE IS UHB WE ALL US ACADEMICS HAVE TO PLACE OUR STUDENTS IN CLINICAL EXPERIENCES.

THAT IS HOW THEY LEARN.

IT IS AN APPRENTICESHIP MODEL WHERE THEY LEARN HOW TO BECOME A NURSE AND PEOPLE ON THE FLOOR ARE NEEDED TO HELP EDUCATE OUR NURSES, STUDENTS, TO BE ABLE TO GO IN A PLACE LIKE MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM AND BE FUNCTIONAL AND WELL-EQUIPPED TO CARE FOR PATIENTS AND UM BE EFFECTIVE, SO THESE INDIVIDUALS WE WILL BE TRAINING TO THIS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR GRANT ARE GOING TO BE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ON THE FLOOR AND CAN TAKE A GROUP OF OUR STUDENTS TWO OR THREE OF OUR STUDENTS AT ONE TIME TO BE THEM ABLE TO EDUCATE SO THEY GET THE CLINICAL HOURS THEY NEED IN ORDER TO PROGRESS IN THEIR PROGRAM.

WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE PANDEMIC WAS WE COULD NOT PLACE STUDENTS IN A CLINICAL SETTING BECAUSE IT WAS, WE DID NOT REALLY KNOW WHAT THE CLINICAL SETTING WAS LIKE AND AT THAT POINT AND IT WAS VERY DISRUPTED, AND SO, WE NEED TO GET BACK TO HAVING ALL THOSE INDIVIDUALS, THOSE EDUCATORS, THOSE CLINICAL EDUCATORS THINK PLACES LIKE MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL INSTITUTE OR MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM SARE STUDENTS CAN GET THE EDUCATION THEY NEED.

SUE: [INDISCERNIBLE] >> NOT REALLY.

NOT ANYMORE.

[CROSSTALK] >> LONG TIME.

PAULA: THAT IS MORE OF A PHYSICIAN EDUCATION MODEL.

SUE: RIGHT.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS I FIND FASCINATING ABOUT THIS INDUSTRY THE NURSING WORLD THAT IT IS I HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER WHO IS A FREQUENT FLYER WITH HEALTH ISSUES AND WANTS TO BE IN THE MEDICAL FIELD AND EVERY DAUGHTER SHE HAS TALKED TO SAID, YOU WANT TO BE A NURSE.

PAULA: YEAH.

SUE: THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT TO BE.

IS THIS A GROWING TIME FOR NURSES NOW?

PAULA: IT IS THE TIME FOR NURSES , I CAN'’T EMPHASIZE THAT ENOUGH.

WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE UM PANDEMIC, IT WAS SO CLEAR THAT THE NURSES WERE HOLDING UP THE INSTITUTIONS AND MAKING THINGS HAPPEN ON THE BOARDS AND TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS.

THEY WERE DEFINING A CLINICAL PRACTICE IN WAYS WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN THE PAST AND NOW IS OUR TIME TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE THE WORK TOWARDS VALUING NURSING, PUTTING THE NURSE AT THE CENTER OF THE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM AND HELPING UM THE NURSING PROFESSION UM CONTINUE TO ATTRACT REALLY GREAT PEOPLE.

SUE: HOW IS THIS GOING TO HELP YOU?

MEGAN: OH, HOW IS IT GOING TO HELP US AS AN EMPLOYER?

SUE: YEAH.

MARIA: REALLY --MEGAN: REALLY IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE SWEET SPOT OF WHAT THIS HITS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE CLINICAL INSTRUCTORS AVAILABLE SO WE ARE ABLE TO BRING THE NEW GRADS INTO OUR ORGANIZATION.

UM, PATIENT CARE IS MORE COMPLEX AND EVER.

IT IS TRAVELING RAPIDLY.

UM, PATIENTS COMING TO OUR FRONT DOORS ARE SICK OF THAN EVER SO CARE IS MORE COMPLEX AND EVER SO GETTING ADVANCED DEGREES AND TRAINING ON THIS IS REALLY HELPING PEOPLE TO UPSKILL THEIR ABILITIES AND BE PEER SUPPORTS.

NURSING CARE IS HARD WORK.

PART OF WHAT WE SAW DURING THE TURNOVER DURING THE PANDEMIC WAS DUE TO BURNOUT RIGHT?

PEOPLE ACTUALLY OPTED OUT THAT HEALTH CARE AS A CAREER, SO WHAT THIS GRANT DOES FOR US IS REALLY ALLOW US TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO NEEDED TO ADVANCE THEIR CAREER AND WANTED TO ADVANCE THEIR CAREER AND MAY HAD SOME ECONOMIC BARRIERS CHOOSING TO ADVANCE THEIR CAREER, IT NOW GIVES THEM A NO-REGRETS WAY TO MOVE FORWARD TO UPSCALED THEMSELVES AND COME INTO OUR BARMAN AND BE A PEER SUPPORTING CLINICAL EDUCATOR AND HELP US GETTING NEW GRAD NURSES MOVING THROUGH THE SYSTEM, SO IT CREATES A MORE SUPPORTIVE WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE NURSES.

SUE: JUST AS WE WRAP UP ANYTHING WE NEED TO ADD?

PAULA: ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS A CRITICAL DIMENSION OF THIS GRANT IS THE INCREASING DIVERSITY OF OUR WORKFORCE, AND WE WILL WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH LOTS OF PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP US INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS, BRING THEM INTO HEALTH CARE.

THAT WILL NOT ONLY HELP HEALTH CARE, IT WILL HELP THE EDUCATION BECAUSE UM IT DRAWS THE STUDENTS IN AS WELL.

SUE: PAULA MILONE-NUZZO AND MEGAN FLANIGAN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I CAN'’T WAIT TO SEE ALL THESE NURSES.

THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW.

I AM SUE O'CONNELL.

INKS ARE WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪