SENATE PASSES COLLINS AMENDMENT TO PROVIDE $20 MILLION FOR ADDRESS NATION’S NURSE SHORTAGE

WASHINGTON, DC- The United States Senate passed an amendment to the Omnibus Appropriations Bill that was introduced by Senator Susan Collins to fund a program the Senator was successful in getting passed in the last Congress. The amendment calls for $20 million dollars to fund the Nurse Reinvestment Act, which was signed into law in August 2002. The bill addresses the current nationwide shortage of nurses.

"The current nursing shortage in our nation paints a troubling picture of what would be in store if nothing were done to reverse the trend. The Nurse Reinvestment Act is designed to raise incentives to encourage young people to chose health care as a profession," said Senator Collins. "Maine's nursing work force is aging. Forty-five percent of the hospital-registered nurses in Maine are age 45 and older. At the same time, America's baby-boom population is also growing older and demanding more health care."

The United States Census Bureau predicts that the number of Mainers 65 and older will jump by 26 percent between 2005 and 2015. The study also found that by the end of 2002, Maine hospitals and nursing homes will need at least 1,000 more registered nurses and licensed practical nurses than the number who will graduate.

The $20 million will help expand the number of nurses, by funding educational assistance grants to help individuals from disadvantage backgrounds pursue a nursing career. Schools of nursing would be eligible for additional grants to work with communities, especially local high schools, to expand nurse mentoring programs. Career ladder grants also would be made available for schools of nursing to encourage individuals to pursue further, more specialized, nursing education. Additional grants would be authorized to encourage individuals to enter the nursing profession with a focus on long-term care.

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