House and Senate Pass Nurse
Recruitment Bills
July 26, 2002 - The House and Senate passed the Nurse
Reinvestment Act (H.R.
3487/S.
1864) July 22, clearing the bill for the president's signature.
Passage came after an informal conference committee resolved
the differences between the bills, which were passed in December
2001 [see Washington
Highlights,
Jan. 11].
The final bill authorizes a number of programs designed to
increase the number of nurses and nurse faculty to alleviate
the nationwide nurse shortage. It creates a National Nurse
Service Corps, based on the National Health Service Corps,
to provide scholarships to nursing students who agree to serve
2 years in facilities with a shortage of nurses.
Also included are grants to enhance nurse education and improve
retention through collaboration among nurses and other health
care professionals. Another provision is designed to increase
geriatric training for nurses. The Nurse Faculty Loan Repayment
Program would forgive student loans for nurses who work as
faculty members at nursing schools.
Information:
Erica Froyd, Director, Public Health and Research Legislative Affairs
AAMC Government Relations
efroyd@aamc.org
(202) 828-0525
Christiane Mitchell, Senior Legislative Analyst
AAMC Government Relations
cmitchell@aamc.org
(202) 828-0526
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