Press Releases

NCC Nursing Director Joins Task Force to Address Workforce Issues

Tywana Lawson

Nash Community College Nursing Department Chair, Tywana Lawson, has been selected to join a newly established task force to address projected shortages and challenges within the nursing profession.

The North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) launched the Task Force on the Future of the Nursing Workforce to develop a vision for enhancing and supporting North Carolina’s nursing workforce, with a focus on licensed practical nurses and registered nurses. As a member of this group, Lawson will join other industry experts as they identify specific and actionable recommendations to address the strain in the nursing workforce and projected shortages, best contribute to improved health equity as a profession;  and support the current nursing workforce to adapt and thrive in the changing health care landscape.

“This is an exciting and crucial time to begin addressing the nursing workforce issues in North Carolina. It is vital that we propose solutions for today’s needs, but also for the future as the demand for nursing and health care will grow,” said Ernest Grant, task force co-chair and immediate past president of the American Nurses Association.  Grant is joined by co-chairs Catherine Sevier, retired nurse and president emeritus of AARP NC, and Hugh Tilson, Jr., director of North Carolina Area Health Education Centers (AHEC).

“These issues have been around for a long time and have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m excited to work with amazing thinkers and leaders to learn from the past while recommending new, innovative, and effective actions to address them,” said Tilson.

The task force is supported by The Duke Endowment, the North Carolina Pandemic Recovery Office and AARP North Carolina. NCIOM task forces produce recommendations on policies, systems, and programs that will support improvement or advancement of the issues being discussed. Responsible parties are identified in all recommendations and might include the General Assembly, state agencies, health care systems, trade associations, university and community college systems, local governments, and the business community.

“This task force comes at an opportune time for North Carolina residents who look to nurses to provide quality health care. The recommendations that will come forth on education, recruitment, retention, and health equity will shape the future of nursing and health care in our state,” said Sevier.

Lawson earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the East Carolina University College of Nursing and is a Certified Nurse Educator. She is a member of the American and North Carolina Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau International, 2018 ECU Young Alumni Achievement Award recipient and is an ECU Centennial Pirate. Lawson has been employed at NCC since 2012.

To learn more about the Task Force on the Future of the Nursing Workforce, visit nciom.org/taskforceonfutureofnursingworkforce/.