Senators from both parties, Thom Tillis, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Jeff Merkley, and Kevin Cramer, have introduced the National Nursing Workforce Center Act. This legislation aims to support nursing workforce centers nationwide and address the growing nursing workforce shortages.
Senator Thom Tillis emphasized the importance of nurses in delivering high-quality care, saying, “Resolving existing nursing workforce challenges, the increased demand for health care services and the aging workforce requires innovative approaches that support and strengthen every aspect of the nursing workforce pipeline.”
The National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers Board of Directors highlighted the legislation’s potential impact, stating, “Strengthening and investing in the nursing workforce is essential to safeguarding the health and safety of all Americans, regardless of where they live, and securing equitable access to care across both rural and urban areas.”
Nursing demand exceeds supply, and by 2027, a 10% shortage of registered nurses is anticipated. This shortage is likely to lead to treatment delays, extended hospital stays, and increased adverse patient events. The proposed legislation seeks to improve federal and state coordination to better monitor, advise, and alleviate nursing workforce pressures.
The National Nursing Workforce Center Act includes provisions to make a technical correction for HRSA to establish a nursing-focused research center, create a pilot program to support state-based nursing workforce centers, and require reports on the partnership’s impact and potential nationwide expansion.
A detailed summary and the full text of the bill are available from the concerned offices.
