STATEHOUSE (May 10, 2022) — National Nurses Week is May 6-12, and State Rep. Bruce Borders (R-Jasonville) 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 Borders 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.
"Nurses have proven, especially in recent years, just how essential they are," Borders said. "This new law reflects our commitment to ensuring that those who want this job don't face unnecessary obstacles in their training and licensing."
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. Borders 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.
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. Bruce Borders (R-Jasonville) represents House District 45, which includes
all of Sullivan County and portions of Vigo, Greene, Knox and Daviess counties.
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