Contact:
Elizabeth Eguí
a Robinson
grants@questsa.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 26, 2020
Project QUEST Project Quick-Start™ Launched to
Combat Nursing Shortage During COVID-19 Crisis
SAN ANTONIO—Project QUEST launched Project Quick-Start™ Initiative for Healthcare Professionals in response to
the COVID-19 Executive Order signed by Gov. Greg Abbott
to expedite those who are graduates in the nursing field in order to meet the expected shortage of medical staff.
“The Governor’s actions will expand Texas’ active nursing workforce by doing the following:
-Allowing temporary permit extensions to practice for graduate nurses and graduate
vocational nurses who have yet to take the licensing exam.
-Allowing students in their final year of nursing school to meet their clinical objectives by
exceeding the 50% limit on simulated experiences.
-Allowing nurses with inactive licenses or retired nurses to reactivate their licenses.”
This initiative is evolving and not fully funded. Project QUEST is assessing its existing resources in order to sustain the expeditious need for nursing staff in collaboration with the existing hospital partners.
Project QUEST’s Project Quick-Start™ Initiative for Healthcare Professionals is a collaborative effort with QUEST as the Workforce Collaborator, Hospital Systems as the Employer, and QUEST participants as the Candidates to supply San Antonio with a ready supply of qualified nursing candidates.
Project QUEST is uniquely poised through its existing QUEST First Steps Program to activate and expand, for example, its Certified Nursing Aides (CNA’s) in order to meet the immediate and future needs of our community under this health crisis. QUEST has the existing partnerships with all the major local hospitals in Bexar County and San Antonio; therefore, it is ready to respond with or without additional resources. QUEST is actively seeking immediate assistance from its funding sources.
Project QUEST activated its Business Continuation Plan on March 12. All staff members are operating virtually and programs & services continue to be offered through a modified business approach. QUEST continues, therefore, to support our nursing, information technology, and advanced manufacturing/trades participants currently on the path to a family sustaining career. QUEST’s Career Coaches are assessing the individual and family needs of our participants at this time to make sure they graduate and are placed into a job. QUEST is fully committed to not letting anyone off track regardless of the hurdles they might be facing.
QUEST is accepting donations via the Big Give Emergency Relief Fund
here.
Those interested in a fast-track career start in healthcare, information technology, and advanced manufacturing/trades may visit our website for more information and application details.
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Project QUEST is a nationally recognized nonprofit modeled across the United States. QUEST strengthens the economy and transforms lives by preparing individuals for in demand, living wage careers. More than 381,000 people in San Antonio and Bexar County live in poverty—first in the nation according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Project QUEST aims to break that cycle as a workforce intermediary that creates career pathways for the underserved, unemployed, and underemployed. For every $1 invested, QUEST returns $19.32 to the local community. Donate on our Big GIVE page. Project QUEST and training programs offered on
questsa.org
.
