April 4, 2001
REP. CAPPS INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN BILL TO ADDRESS NATION’S NURSING SHORTAGE CRISIS
Former Nurse Fights to Ensure More RN’s Enter and Remain in the Workforce
Washington, D.C. - Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA), Sue Kelly (R-NY), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and 25 other members yesterday introduced landmark, bipartisan legislation to address the nursing shortage crisis facing our nation’s hospitals, nursing homes, and other health institutions.
Similar legislation was introduced in the Senate today by Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and James Jeffords (R-VT).
“As a registered nurse, I know that patient care will be compromised if we don’t address this crisis immediately,” said Rep. Capps. “My bill will encourage more people to enter the nursing profession by providing incentives that other service careers already provide.”
The Nurse Reinvestment Act establishes a National Nurse Service Corps to provide educational scholarships to nurses that commit to serve in a health facility determined to have a critical shortage of nurses. Grants would also be available to help individuals at any level of the nursing profession - from a nursing aide to an individual pursuing a doctoral degree -- obtain more education. The bill also provides funding for public service announcements and supports nursing recruitment grants for educational facilities. In addition, it would expand Medicare and Medicaid funding for clinical nursing education and reimburses some home health agencies, hospices and nursing homes for nurse training.
“Nurses are a critical part of our healthcare system,” said Capps. “Fewer people are entering the nursing profession and the current RN workforce is aging. If Congress doesn’t act now to attract more individuals into this profession, this shortage will turn into a major crisis that will be felt by every American needing medical attention.”
According to the National League of Nursing, the number of individuals graduating from nursing programs has declined 13 percent between 1995 and 1999 and this decline is expected to continue.
Today, the average registered nurse (RN) is 45 years old and by 2010, 40 percent of the RN workforce will be over 50. Capps worked closely with the American Nurses Association, American Organization of Nurse Executives, American Association of Colleges of Nursing and other groups to develop legislation to address the documented shortage of individuals entering the nursing profession.
Capps - a RN for 41 years -- earned her nursing degree at the Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. She has worked as a nursing instructor in Oregon, as head nurse at Yale New Haven Hospital and as a school nurse in Santa Barbara County for more than 20 years.
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