The ANA is urging members of Congress to approve at least $175 million for Title VIII, the primary source of funding for nurse recruitment, education, and retention. Title VIII supports nursing education programs from entry-level preparation through graduate study and includes the programs created by the Nurse Reinvestment Act (P.L. 107-205), signed into law last year.

The $175 million request is a 55% increase over the FY 2003 appropriation of $113 million. “We believe this is the absolute minimum investment needed to start meeting the promise of the Nurse Reinvestment Act,” ANA president Barbara Blakeney said. “Without significant and sustained appropriations, this important new law will have very little impact on the nursing shortage.”

The nursing shortage is already impacting patient care. A recent American Hospital Association survey of hospitals nationwide concluded nursing shortages are causing ED overcrowding, ED diversions, increased wait times for surgeries, discontinued patient care programs or reduced service hours, delayed discharges, and canceled surgeries. Recent studies have shown that this lack of nurses contributes to medical errors, poor patient outcomes, and increased mortality rates.

This shortage is growing just as the need for nursing services is mounting. The demand for nursing care in the United States is expected to balloon over the next 20 years as a result of an aging population, advances in technology, and various economic and policy changes. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that attrition and retirement will create more than 1 million openings for RNs until 2010. The Division of Nursing at the Health Resources and Services Administration projects that without aggressive intervention, the supply of U.S. nurses will fall 29% below requirements by 2020.

“In order to meet the growing demand for nursing services, the nurse workforce development programs of Title VIII must be given sufficient funding to attract more students into nursing programs and provide schools of nursing the support that they need to hire faculty and update curricula,” Blakeney said. “Funds are also needed to recruit a more diverse student population, provide direct assistance to students to enable them to complete nursing studies, and ensure the collection and analysis of current nursing workforce data to guide the appropriate implementation of these programs.”

Nursing Research

The primary source of funding for nursing research is the NINR, one institute within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). While the NINR conducts vital health care research that contributes to the effectiveness and advancement of nursing care, it is the second lowest funded institute at the NIH. The ANA is calling for $160 million in FY 2004 funding for the NINR, a 24% increase over FY 2003 levels.

“Advances in nursing care arising from nursing and other biomedical research improve the quality of patient care and reduce health care costs,” Blakeney said. “Research programs supported by the NINR address a number of critical public health and patient care needs. Nursing research is an integral part of nursing care and must be funded as such.”

Taking an Active Role

Your help is crucial in securing increased funding for nursing programs. Members of Congress are more likely to respond to the stated needs of their constituents. Please urge your congressional delegation to support increased funding for the nursing workforce development programs contained in Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act and for the research activities of the NINR. More information is available on the ANA’s new advocacy web site at www.nursingworld.org/gova/.

Erin McKeon is assistant director of the ANA's Department of Government Relations.

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