Fighting For a Change

As nursing students, we support H.R. 2043 because of the positive impact it could have on our future careers in the nursing field. RNs in all fields and facilities will be impacted by the nursing shortage. Fewer nurses indicate a tense atmosphere due to higher demands and increasing burnout rates. The Nurse Education, Expansion, and Development Act of 2009, if passed, will increase the numbers of new nurses entering the field and will therefore lower the nursing shortage.

H.R. 2043 currently resides in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The Chair of this committee is Representative Henry A. Waxman. As a representative, Waxman has advocated for universal health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid coverage, and nursing home quality standards. Representative Waxman has also helped sponsor multiple health bills that were passed, including Nutritional Labeling and Education Act and Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. We feel that it is important for Representative Waxman to hear about this bill and understand why we as nursing students support this bill. We are in a unique position in that we are currently experiencing staffing shortages and consequences of limited nursing school faculty first hand.

We intend to pursue Representative Waxman’s support through e-mail communication. This will include our stance on the bill, how it will affect us if passed, and the detrimental effects on the nursing shortage if not passed. We encourage nursing students across the country to consider contacting Representative Waxman as well as becoming familiar with the law making process. The more people that are involved in the support of this bill, the greater the chances of an improved outcome.

"Chair Henry A. Waxman." Energy and Commerce Committee. N.p., 19 Oct. 2010. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. .

Political Influence and the National League for Nurses

     According to the National League for Nurses, the leading voice in political activism focused on promoting nursing education to build a stronger workforce, health care reform depends on the nation's investment in nursing education. Their policy agenda for 2009-2010 includes: support for new programs that increase faculty in order to grow the number of future nurses, increase in government efforts to improve the education of advanced practice nursing, advocate for an expansion of education to increase the number nursing faculty, and promote scholarship to reduce financial strain of attaining higher level education.

     The NLN promotes H.R. 2043 and voices that it is an imperative piece of legislation needed to increase nursing education which will lead to reform of the current health care system. Their research has shown that the main reason for the impending shortage is that today's nursing faculty are aging and overworked and there is greater financial incentive to work in the clinical setting than teach in a nursing program. The political influence of the NLN is crucial to the passing of this and many other health related bills as they are comprised of nurses and health care professional who have an inside perspective on the heath care system and the changes that need to made.
This information was taken from the National League for Nurses' Public Policy Agenda which can be viewed at:  http://www.nln.org/aboutnln/shortage_info.htm

With the H.R. 2043: Nurse Education, Expansion,and Development Act of 2009, the government plans to give out grants to fund schools to allow them to hire more faculty and equipment. The money will be given on a per student basis, and the type of program the student is enrolled in will also be taken into consideration. Many requirements must be followed such as: accredidation, NCLEX passing rates and amount of time each student spends through a program. In response, the nursing schools must show the government that they are spending the money wisely and they need to show improvement based on at least two criteria listed in the bill.

The need for the change in this policy is very clear. In the school year of 2008-2009 there were 62.8 percent of schools of nursing that had 1 to 16 vacant faculty positions, and there were also 17.8 percent of the schools needing additional faculty, but did not have the resources needed in order to add more positions. Because of this, there were almost 50,000 undergraduate students who qualified to be in a nursing program who were not granted a position because there were not enough faculty to teach them. The impact of gaining more trained faculty would allow these programs to admit more students and therefore produce more working nurses. This is important because there is a projected shortage of nurses and faculty in the next 10 years based on retirement rates, which are currently increasing as the baby boomer generation gets older. With these changes, our nation can be confident that the nursing profession will continue to increase in both graduating undergrad nurses as well as masters or doctorate prepared nurses that are able to teach.
Information on this bill can be found at:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-2043

Nurse Education, Expansion, and Development Act of 2009

H.R. 2043, Nurse Education, Expansion, and Development Act of 2009, currently referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This will increase the number of nursing faculty and students to each eligible school of nursing. H.R. 2043’s plan includes expanding an accelerated baccalaureate degree nursing program to new nurses, increasing enrollment, and developing graduate residency programs. Additionally, H.R. 2043 will require congress to be informed of the financial concerns of higher education nursing faculty instructors.

Based on our current knowledge of the nursing faculty shortage, we support H.R. 2043. Nursing schools are turning away thousands of eligible nursing students due to limited staffing, financial resources, and clinical experiences. Not only are there faculty shortages therefore educating less future nurses, but the nursing shortage continues to grow. As the baby boomers are getting older, more nurses are retiring while more individuals are requiring nursing care. Ultimately, the number of graduating nurses will not be sufficient to fill the positions needed. This could be detrimental to national health care because there could be increased emergency waiting time, etc.

If this bill were to pass, major improvements could be made in the availability and quality of education and care. The increase in admissions, enrollment, and retention of nursing students will increase the number of graduating nurses. Additionally, the increase of nursing residency programs will ensure that new grad nurses are well-rounded and better prepared.

"Bill summary and status." The library of congress. Thomas, 22 Apr. 2009. Web. 10 Oct. 2010. .