STATEHOUSE (May 11, 2022) – National Nurses Week is May 6-12, and Elkhart County legislators supported a new law to help Indiana's health care heroes and alleviate the nursing shortage.
With 4,300 nursing job openings statewide, the new law supported by State Rep. Joanna King (R-Middlebury) will boost the health care workforce pipeline by providing flexibility to Indiana's nurses seeking licensure. She said in addition to current job openings, the state will need 5,000 additional nurses by 2031, and nursing programs need to increase their graduating classes by 1,350 each year to meet this need. The new law offers flexibility to nursing programs and nurse educators to help meet workforce needs, and help nursing students working to obtain the required hours to be licensed.
"Nurses are heroes who work diligently every day to provide care to patients who are sick or injured," King said. "This law seeks to lessen the nursing shortage in our state by supporting nursing education programs and students."
With the new law already in effect, nursing programs will be able to increase enrollment at faster rates and accept more clinical simulation hours, all while maintaining high-quality training for all nursing students. State Rep. Doug Miller (R-Elkhart) said the new law offers nursing students and registered nurses more freedom to grow and join the workforce, which is especially important as pandemic-related protocols prolonged the process for many nursing students seeking licensure.
"The nurses on the frontline do not get the credit they deserve for the amount of time and hours they put into their jobs," Miller said. "By supporting nurses seeking licensure and by helping these students working to obtain the required hours to be licensed, we can help address these shortages."
Supporters of the law include hospital systems, nursing schools, long-term care facilities, the Indiana Nurses Association, Indiana Hospital Association and Indiana Health Care Association.
"This new law helps nursing students who want to start working as soon as possible," said State Rep. Tim Wesco (R-Osceola). "We want to make sure Hoosiers don’t have any gaps in care by helping more qualified nurses enter the field."
To learn more about HEA 1003, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Joanna King (R-Middlebury) represents House District 49,
which includes the eastern portion of Elkhart County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Doug Miller (R-Elkhart) represents House District 48,
which includes portions of Elkhart County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Tim Wesco (R-Osceola) represents House District 21,
which includes portions of Elkhart and St. Joseph counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
