The current public debate on health care has focused on issues like prescription drugs, a Patients' Bill of Rights, Medicare reform, and the uninsured.  But there is a silent epidemic which until recently has gone unnoticed - the growing shortage of nurses. 

According to the American Hospital Association, more than 126,000 nursing positions remain unfilled nationwide.  These are the nurses that are needed to care for you, your family and your friends.  The situation is only bound to worsen unless we develop innovative solutions.

We've seen nursing shortages in the past, but this shortage is different.  Currently, the average age of employed registered nurses is 43 years old.  That means by 2010, 40% of the RN workforce will be over 50.  This is the same time when more nurses will be needed to take care of the aging baby boomer generation. 

In contrast, the number of RNs under 30 declined 41% between 1983 and 1998.  The number of graduates from nursing programs declined 13.6% between 1995 and 1999.

As one of only three nurses serving in Congress, I have introduced bipartisan legislation to address the growing shortage with Senators John Kerry (D-MA), and Jim Jeffords (I-VT), and Representative Sue Kelly (R-NY).  The Nurse Reinvestment Act seeks to attract a more diverse population into the nursing workforce by strengthening national, state and local efforts to attract more men and women into the profession.

My bill proposes a variety of solutions to help the immediate and long-term problems we face.  This legislation establishes a National Nurse Service Corps to help pay for a nurse's education in exchange for a commitment to work for a period of time in a facility with a shortage of nurses. 

It helps current nurses afford more training and education so they can advance to the next level of nursing.  And the bill provides for public service announcements to help change the public's perception of nursing.  Also, funding to facilitate relationships between schools and health care facilities would be available to help educate young people about the rewards of a nursing career. 

The nursing shortage may be most strongly felt at our long-term care facilities.  Seniors deserve the best quality care available and that means we must also attract Certified Nursing Assistants who predominantly serve in our nursing homes and assisted living facilities.  And my bill seeks to do just that.

Our country boasts the best health care in the world.  But that health care system is jeopardized by the shortage plaguing our nursing workforce.  Now it's time for Congress to do its part to help attract more nurses into the workforce.  The integrity of our health care system depends on it.

If you would like to read an article about the nursing shortage, entitled "Nation's Nursing Homes Badly Understaffed", click here:
http://www.tscl.org/newcontent/100404.asp

October 2001