Underwood Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Train More Nurses

WASHINGTON—Representatives Lauren Underwood, Jen Kiggans (VA-02), and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), introduced the Educating Future Nurses Act to expand clinical education and training opportunities for future Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs). As costs explode and our health care system confronts the historic crisis caused by Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill, fixing gaps in nursing education is critical to keeping health care affordable and accessible.

Underwood’s legislation would create permanent federal funding for hospitals to partner with schools of nursing and community-based care settings to address clinical training costs for graduate nursing students.

“In every corner of our country, nurses are doing critical work to support the health and well-being of our communities. We’re providing excellent clinical care, conducting important research, and carrying out the public health initiatives that keep our families safe and healthy,” said Rep. Underwood. “But our profession is under unprecedented attack, particularly for nurses who are looking to further their education. America needs more nurses, not fewer. Our legislation will strengthen graduate-level nursing education and make sure these dedicated professionals get more support for this vitally important training.”

“As a geriatric nurse practitioner and Congressional Nursing Caucus co-chair, I know that a strong nursing workforce starts with ensuring our future nurses have the training and resources they need to effectively care for their patients. Unfortunately, there are too many aspiring advanced practice nurses who face barriers from accessing the education required to complete their training. I’m proud to join my caucus co-chair, Congresswoman Underwood, to introduce the Educating Future Nurses Act to strengthen partnerships between our hospitals, nursing schools, and communities and expand clinical training opportunities for the next generation of nurses.” Said Rep. Kiggans.

"Health care costs are rising and more people are reliant on hospitals and emergency care,” said Rep. Bonamici."Our country is in desperate need of more nurses, including advanced practice nurses, but there are too many barriers to graduate education. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Nursing Caucus, I stand firmly behind the Educating Future Nurses Act and the opportunities it would create for nurses to advance in their careers and bolster the health care workforce."

“The Educating Future Nurses Act is an important step toward addressing our nation’s ongoing nursing shortage and ensuring that all Americans have access to high-quality healthcare,” said Dr. Julie Sanford, Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Association and Colleges of Nursing. “Enabling partnerships between hospitals and nursing schools is an innovative approach to expanding the nursing workforce."

“We applaud Congresswoman Underwood and our congressional champions for their continued support of nursing education,” said Dr. Deborah Trautman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. “By building on the success of the Graduate Nurse Education demonstration program, the Educating Future Nurses Act will have a profound impact on sustaining the nation’s Advanced Practice Registered Nursing workforce and access to care for all patients in need.”

The cost of clinical training has limited the number of APRN students that hospitals can accept. Funding from the Educating Future Nurses Act would help these hospitals accept APRN students, enabling them to train and work in geographically diverse areas, especially rural and underserved communities.

The legislation builds on a similar program created under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA’s Graduate Nurse Education Demonstration Program provided federal funding to hospitals to pay for the clinical training costs of APRNs.

The Educating Future Nurses Act has been endorsed by 30+ leading nursing organizations in Illinois and across the country, including the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology.

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