STATEHOUSE (May 11, 2022) – National Nurses Week is May 6-12, and Fulton 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 authored by State Rep. Ethan Manning (R-Logansport) will boost the health care workforce pipeline by providing flexibility to Indiana's nurses seeking licensure. He 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.
"Hoosier nurses provide invaluable services and care to patients, and we know they are stretched thin," Manning said. "This law is focused on the future, seeking to alleviate the nursing shortage in Indiana by providing additional flexibility to our nursing education programs. By providing more pathways to foreign-educated nurses seeking licensure and by helping nursing students working to obtain the required hours to be licensed, we can help fill the thousands of open positions now and in the future."
With the new law already in effect, State Rep. Jack Jordan (R-Bremen) said 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.
"Nurses face new and difficult challenges every shift, and continue to work hard and provide care to patients," Jordan said. "This new law benefits Indiana and our communities as we address the nursing staff shortage and provide flexibility to nursing programs."
State Rep. Doug Gutwein (R-Francesville) 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.
"This shortage has left Indiana with thousands of positions that need filled," Gutwein said. "Nurses provide vital tasks and services on behalf of patients. This new law creates more pathways for Hoosiers to obtain nursing licenses, and helps them enter the workforce faster."
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.
To learn more about HEA 1003, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Jack Jordan (R-Bremen) represents House District 17,
which includes all of Marshall County and a portion of Fulton County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Douglas Gutwein (R-Francesville) represents House District 16, which
includes all of Pulaski County and portions of Fulton, Jasper, Newton and Starke counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Ethan Manning (R-Logansport) represents House District 23,
which includes portions of Cass, Fulton and Miami counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
