The Healthcare Workforce Coalition on June 4 endorsed the Train More Nurses Act (S. 547). The coalition is a diverse group of stakeholders, including LeadingAge, advocating for policies that strengthen the healthcare workforce.
Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), with bipartisan support from Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), reintroduced the bill in February. The legislation aims to directly address the critical nursing shortage affecting the American healthcare system by enhancing the pipeline for nursing faculty and promoting career advancement for experienced nurses.
Specifically, the bill mandates a joint review by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Labor of all federal grant programs currently supporting the nursing workforce. Within one year following its enactment, the secretaries are required to deliver a comprehensive report to Congress that would include recommendations and strategies to (1) increase the number of nursing faculty, with particular emphasis on underserved and rural communities, (2) provide pathways to help nurses with over a decade of clinical experience transition into educational roles, and (3) strengthen the career ladder from Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to Registered Nurses (RNs), thus creating broader opportunities for professional advancement.
