Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) introduced the National Nursing Workforce Center Act. This bipartisan and bicameral legislation would help address nursing workforce shortages across our nation by supporting nursing workforce centers in almost every state.
As the nation’s largest healthcare profession, nurses play a vital role in improving health outcomes in virtually every community. However, the demand for nurses is greatly outpacing supply, and by 2027, the country will face a 10% shortage of registered nurses. Fewer practicing nurses can lead to delays in treatments or procedures, longer hospital stays and increased adverse patient events. It is now abundantly clear that improved federal and state coordination is needed to monitor nursing shortages, coordinate strategies to alleviate the pressures on the nursing workforce, and advise policymakers, health care leaders, and educators. This legislation aims to address the nursing workforce shortage by supporting the data, research, and training capabilities of nursing workforce centers both nationally and locally so that patients get the care they need.
“The COVID-19 pandemic was the worst public health crisis we have ever encountered, and our nurses and health care workers were on the frontlines ensuring that we were safe. Now, it’s time for us to show up for them.” said Senator Blunt Rochester, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.“States like Delaware feel the impact of our nursing workforce shortage every day, and we can’t afford to lose talented health care professionals. As one of my first pieces of legislation in the Senate, I’m proud to fight for more our nurses, more jobs, and healthier communities. I am grateful to Senators Tillis, Merkley, and Cramer for their partnership and look forward to working with our colleagues to pass this bill.”
“Nurses play a crucial role in providing accessible, high-quality care to Americans. 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,” said Senator Tillis. “I’m proud to co-introduce the bipartisan National Nursing Workforce Center Act that will enhance collaboration and coordination, enabling state and local experts to identify and address unique challenges to increase the resiliency of the nursing workforce.”
“As the husband of a nurse, I know just how important nurses are to their patients, and how the care they provide can make a world of difference at some of the most difficult and joyous moments of people’s lives,” said Senator Merkley, Co-Chair of the Senate Nursing Caucus. “Our bipartisan effort establishes a national nursing workforce center to gather critical data. It will also support local nursing initiatives and workforce centers across the country—like the one we have here in Oregon—ensuring we take a local approach to the nursing workforce crisis America is facing.”
“The Delaware Nurses Association and Delaware Nurses Workforce Institute applaud the introduction of the National Nursing Workforce Center Act,” said Christopher E. Otto, MSN, RN, CCRN, Executive Director of the Delaware Nurses Association. “This critical piece of federal legislation is critical to the continued success and growth of state nursing workforce centers. These centers are central to the continued growth and success of the nation’s nursing workforce. When this legislation is signed, state nursing workforce centers will further their success and impact.”
“Access to care in American communities depends on having well-prepared, caring, and safety-centered nurses in every U.S. county, ensuring workforce stability and addressing the economic impact of healthcare,” said the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers Board of Directors. “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.”
The National Nursing Workforce Center Act would do three things:
- Make a small technical correction to enable HRSA to establish a federal nursing-focused health workforce research and technical assistance center;
- Establish a pilot program through HRSA to support state-based nursing workforce centers, which often report underfunding and lack of technical capabilities; and
- Deliver reports assessing the impact of this partnership and if and how it should be expanded nationwide.
Full text of the bill can be found here.
A one-pager can be found here.
###
Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.