FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Silver Spring, MD - The American Nurses Association (ANA) President, Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR will testify this week before the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies in support of increased funding of $200 million for the nursing workforce development programs administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) under Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act. President Bush's proposed budget for FY 2008 calls for a funding decrease of more than $44 million. HRSA administers the vital nursing workforce development programs responsible for funding the nation's nursing education programs and could serve to recruit new nurses into the profession, promote career advancement within nursing and recruit nurses into critical shortage areas. Appropriations for Title VIII nursing workforce development programs have been stagnant for the past three years at $150 million, and current funding levels have failed to meet the nation's growing need for nurses. "The nursing shortage has reached a crucial point where the quality of patient care is impacted," said ANA President Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR. "Recent studies have shown that adequate nurse staffing levels make a significant difference in the quality of care, reducing the number of patient deaths and medical errors. HRSA currently projects a shortage of more than a million nurses by the year 2020, that's why ANA is adamant about the need for increasing Title VIII funding now to save thousands of lives, and millions of dollars in health care costs linked to avoidable complications associated with the shortage." Registered nurses also play an essential role in preparedness and response to possible pandemics, natural disasters and bioterrorism. In the event of a widespread outbreak, or attack, an adequate supply of nurses will be needed to evaluate patients, administer vaccines and medications, perform disease surveillance,and train non-licensed staff. The General Accounting Office (GAO) has reported that the nursing shortage is complicating bioterrorism and pandemic preparedness efforts at the state and local levels. ANA acknowledges the challenges facing nurses today, to address this issue, ANA is hosting its first ever policy conference, Nursing Care in Life, Death and Disaster, scheduled for June 20-22, 2007. The conference focuses on the significant health and disaster preparedness policy questions related to the standard of care during a major disaster. With input from nurses, ANA will develop guidance dedicated to improving patient outcomes and quality of care during a crisis. For details of the conference, go to www.nursingworld.org/meetings/2007/quadpolicy/. For more information on Nursing Workforce Development Programs, and ANA's efforts, please go to www.nursingworld.org/gova/advocacy/issues/nursingworkforce.html. # # # # # #
March 29, 2007
CONTACT:
Mary McNamara, 301-628-5198
Mary Stewart, 301-628-5038
American Nurses Association President Testifies on Capitol Hill in Support of Nursing Workforce Development Programs
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