STATEHOUSE (May 9, 2022) – National Nurses Week is May 6-12, and State Reps. Ann Vermilion (R-Marion) and Mike Karickhoff (R-Kokomo) 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 Vermilion 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 have shown time and time again the critical role they play," Vermilion said. "With the state projected to have more openings in the coming years, this law will ease requirements for nursing students while ensuring standards are up to par with the quality of care Hoosiers deserve."
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. Karickhoff 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.
"On a daily basis, nurses perform vital tasks and services that support the communities they serve," Karickhoff said. "This is a commonsense approach to help build on our nursing workforce to fill the thousands of available positions now and in the coming years."
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. Ann Vermilion (R-Marion) represents House District 31, which includes
all of Blackford County and portions of Delaware, Grant and Wells counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Mike Karickhoff (R-Kokomo) represents House District 30,
which includes portions of Grant and Howard counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
