As a health science education organization, the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) knows that it takes a highly skilled team of professionals to deliver quality health care for patients. HOSA, a new Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow coalition member, plays a unique role in the recruitment of future health professionals. The student-led organization builds bridges to connect young people to the health professions through enrollment in secondary, postsecondary and adult health science education programs.

One of the eight national Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO), HOSA is endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education. HOSA's mission is to improve the quality of health care by fostering academi, technical, leadership and personal skills in health occupations students.

HOSA delivers its services to its 70,000 members - approximately 35 percent of those members have identified nursing as a career choice - through 37 state associations and 2,200 local chapters. Each state association affiliates secondary, postsecondary, collegiate, associate, alumni and professional members with the national organization.

HOSA provides students with learning opportunities that exceed entry-level technical skills and is most effective when fully integrated into a health science education program. Health science educators provide students with leadership and teaming skills essential for achieving personal and professional goals.

The majority of health science instructors and HOSA chapter advisors are registered nurses. HOSA provides the largest network of health professionals in America's high schools to promote and prepare young people for future careers in health care.

Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow member organizations will have the opportunity to begin working with HOSA through several activities, including:

JUDGING COMPETITIVE EVENTS: Coalition member organizations will be able to provide judges for HOSA's state and national competitive events. Competition categories include nursing assisting, practical nursing, CPR/first aid, medical terminology and researched persuasive speaking. State competitions will be held from February through May 2003, and the national competition will be held in Atlanta in June 2003 during HOSA's national conference.

PROVIDE SPEAKERS: Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow member organizations will be able to provide speakers for HOSA's state and national conferences.

PSA DISTRIBUTION: HOSA will distribute Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow's 30-second television public service announcement to its chapters. Participating HOSA chapters will distribute it to local stations.

PRINT AD DISTRIBUTION: HOSA will place Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow's print ads promoting the nurse profession in its national and state publications.

For those who would like to get involved with local HOSA and health science education programs, HOSA offers the following suggestions:

MAKE A LOCAL CONTACT: Call your local high school and determine if a health science education program is available to students in your community. If not, encourage school leaders to establish a health science education program with an active HOSA chapter.

SPONSOR A HOSA CHAPTER: Offer to sponsor the local HOSA chapter working closely with the health science education instructor. Encourage graduates to seek employment in health care or pursue a postsecondary education to be a future health care provider.

GET INVOLVED: Health care industry representatives can support existing HOSA chapters by serving as guest speakers, mentors, competitive event judges and more.

Your investment in young people will produce tomorrow's health care professionals. HOSA is willing to assist in attracting qualified young people to the health professions - including nursing - and implementing a pipeline of young people committed to a health care profession. For more information about HOSA, visit www.hosa.org.

THE MAJORITY OF HEALTH SCIENCE INSTRUCTORS AND HOSA CHAPTER ADVISORS ARE REGISTERED NURSES.