The governmental objectives for this topic are to decrease the nursing shortage, increase quality of health care, encourage experienced nurses to instruct new nurses, and reward nurses for their services. While the bill has been debated for over one year, both political parties have a political interest in providing better health care. However, Democrats are the main supporters for this bill. There is a realization that there is an issue with decrease nurse staffing. So, both political parties can make decisions to actively change regulations to help with this shortage.
This bill would decrease newly graduated nurses' financial burden, and encourage pursuit of higher education. It will decrease the turn over rate and encourage nurses to remain with their current practice. The safety and satisfaction of the clients seeking care will be improved; which equals happy nurses, happy patients. Overall, patient care will be improved and more efficient. This bill encourages an increased interest in the field of nursing which would contribute to a higher number of individuals pursuing this career. Therefore, this would increase overall health care.
Summary of Nurse Loan Forgiveness Act of 2007
"Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to include, under HEA student loan forgiveness and cancellation programs, nurses who: (1) serve at least one calender year in an approved health care facility or setting; or (2) have a Masters of Science in Nursing and are nursing instructors in the school of nursing.
Limits the maximum amount of such loan repayment by the Secretary of Education to $2,000 after the first year of a nurse's employment, with incremental increases after the second through fourth years, up to $5,000 after the fifth year" (GovTrack, 2007).
To see complete Bill:
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/gpoxmlc110/h2572_ih.xml
The Need for the Nurse Loan Forgiveness Act
According to 2005 statistics from the American Hospital Association, “118,000 nurses are needed to fill vacancies at our nation's hospitals, and more than 75 percent of all hospital personnel vacancies are for nurses” (AHA.org, 2006).
According to a study by the Department of Health and Human Services in 2002, the United States will experience a 29 percent shortage in the number of nurses needed in the United States health care system by the year 2020, which translates into a shortage of more than 400,000 registered nurses nationwide (Schwarz 2003).
Research indicates that there is a great need for health care services, especially hospitals and prescription drugs, but there continues to be a 28 percent decrease in national licensure examination for all entry-level registered nurses (GovTrack, 2007).
The Department of Labor projects a 29 percent increase in the need for nurses nationwide from 2004 to 2014, compared with a 13 percent increase for all other occupations (GovTrack, 2007).
The General Accounting Office estimates that 40 percent of all registered nurses will be older than age 50 by the year 2010 (GovTrack, 2007).
The enactment of the Nurse Loan Forgiveness Act:
1. Will encourage individuals to enter and continue in
the nursing profession, and
2. Will encourage experienced nurses to instruct
nurses entering the profession, and
3. Will reward such individuals for their service in
the nursing profession by reducing the burden of
student debt.
According to a study by the Department of Health and Human Services in 2002, the United States will experience a 29 percent shortage in the number of nurses needed in the United States health care system by the year 2020, which translates into a shortage of more than 400,000 registered nurses nationwide (Schwarz 2003).
Research indicates that there is a great need for health care services, especially hospitals and prescription drugs, but there continues to be a 28 percent decrease in national licensure examination for all entry-level registered nurses (GovTrack, 2007).
The Department of Labor projects a 29 percent increase in the need for nurses nationwide from 2004 to 2014, compared with a 13 percent increase for all other occupations (GovTrack, 2007).
The General Accounting Office estimates that 40 percent of all registered nurses will be older than age 50 by the year 2010 (GovTrack, 2007).
The enactment of the Nurse Loan Forgiveness Act:
1. Will encourage individuals to enter and continue in
the nursing profession, and
2. Will encourage experienced nurses to instruct
nurses entering the profession, and
3. Will reward such individuals for their service in
the nursing profession by reducing the burden of
student debt.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
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2 comments:
I believe the objectives of this act are strong and address the roots of the nursing shortage. Encouraging current RN's to continue further into higher education to become professors would facilitate an increased production of much needed new nurses. The idea of reducing the financial burdens of loans among the potential nursing professors would hopefully enhance the benefits of becoming nurse educators.
We strongly support this bill as well because we are experiencing a shortage of nurses nationwide. This bill is similar to our bill that is trying to increase funding to expand nursing schools to help address the shortage issue. Along with acquiring more nurses we need to provide good care for our patients. This bill would also help to alleviate financial burdens which would help nurses in the long run further education as well.
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