Biden-Harris Administration Pledges $100 Million to Support Nursing Workforce
The Health Resources and Services Administration has announced that it will be investing in the training of new nurses and growing the workforce.
Biden-Harris Administration Pledges $100 Million to Support Nursing Workforce
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced that they are giving $100 million in awards to train new nurses and grow the nursing workforce. Nearly $65 million will go to schools and education while the remaining $35 million will help licensed practical nurses become registered nurses.1
This announcement comes off the heels of nation-wide demand for more registered nurses, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and nurse faculty.
“Nurses are the frontline in delivering life-saving care and in keeping all of us healthy and well,” Health Resources and Services Administration Administrator Carole Johnson, said in a press release. “Today’s investments from the Health Resources and Services Administration demonstrate our ongoing commitment to supporting the nursing workforce, training and growing the next generation of nurses, creating career ladders for nurses, and recognizing the critical role nurses play in primary care, mental health care, and maternal health care.”
“Nurses are an essential part of our nation’s health care system,” added Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Now more than ever, we need to double down on our investments in nurses who care for communities across the country.”
Key Promises
The White House has shared they are specifically going to be investing $8.7 million dollars to the Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention-Pathway to Registered Nurse Program.
The purpose of this program is to create a pathway from academic training to clinical practice. Funds can be used for program development; they can also be used to assist in stipends, tuition, and other social supports that might help LPNs and LVNs successfully complete degree programs. Funds may also be used to develop curriculum and foster relationships between clinical and educational institutions.
Approximately $64.8 million dollars will be devoted to training nurses to deliver mental and maternal health care. These funds will be divided between both the Advanced Nursing Education Workforce Program and Advanced Nursing Education-Nurse Practitioner Residency and Fellowship Program.
Lastly, $26.5 million dollars will go to support the Nurse Faculty Loan Program, which provides low-interest loans and loan cancellation to motivate individuals to go on to teach and become faculty members in nursing school programs. The goal of which is to alleviate the bottlenecking that occurs in nurse training.
Reception
In their own announcement, the American Nurses Association (ANA) announced that they applaud the decision, commending the administration for showing support for these trusted professionals.2
“ANA stands ready to partner and collaborate around the key priorities and focus of the award efforts. It’s especially great to see that this action will deploy necessary training and support to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs),” said ANA President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN.
However, the Association is still pressuring congress to support the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (ICAN) Act (H.R. 2713/S. 2418), which will remove administrative, practice and other barriers currently faced by APRNs and their patients.
“There isn’t a price tag that you can put on the clinical expertise, sincere humanity and vast value that nurses bring to the health and education of their patients and our communities,” Kennedy said. “We are pleased with this action, but we will remain firm in urging Congress to address chronic systemic challenges that nurses are facing every day. Workplace violence, burnout, low wages, and the national nurse staffing crisis still demand immediate solutions.”
References
- The Biden-Harris administration announces $100 Million to grow the nursing workforce. U.S. department of health and human services health resources and services administration. News release. August 10, 2023. Accessed October 17, 2023. https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/08/10/biden-harris-administration-announces-100-million-grow-nursing-workforce.html
- ANA applauds Biden-Harris administration $100 million investment to grow the nursing workforce. News release. ANA. August 11, 2023. Accessed October 17, 2023. https://www.nursingworld.org/news/news-releases/2023/ana-applauds-biden-$100mil-nursing-investment/
