STATEHOUSE (Jan. 27, 2022) – The Indiana House of Representatives recently advanced legislation to help alleviate the state's severe nursing shortage, according to State Rep. Karen Engleman (R-Georgetown).
Engleman, who voted in support of House Bill 1003, said Indiana will need 5,000 additional nurses and nursing programs will need to increase their graduating classes by 1,350 each year to meet this need. This is in addition to the current 4,300 nursing job openings statewide.
She said the legislation would boost the health care workforce pipeline by providing flexibility to Indiana's nurses seeking licensure. This legislation would also give 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.
"Indiana has faced a nursing shortage for some time, but it's been amplified by the pandemic," Engleman said. "The effects of this shortage are felt not only in hospitals, but also in local doctor's offices, schools and long-term care facilities. We need to take action and ensure there are nurses ready and able to help keep Hoosiers healthy."
Engleman said the bill would allow nursing programs to increase enrollment at faster rates, accept clinical simulation hours, and reduce the required amount of experience needed for a registered nurse to become a nursing instructor, all while maintaining high-quality training for all nursing students.
She said pandemic-related protocols prolonged the process for many nursing students seeking licensure and his bill would give nursing students and registered nurses more freedom to grow and join the workforce.
The bill shares broad support from hospital systems, nursing schools, long-term care facilities, the Indiana Nurses Association, Indiana Hospital Association and Indiana Health Care Association.
House Bill 1003 now moves to the full House of Representatives for consideration. To learn more, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Karen Engleman (R-Georgetown) represents House District 70,
which includes most of Harrison County, along with portions of Clark and Floyd counties.
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