Ashburn Nursing Shortage Bill Signed by Governor
California Political Desk
July 23, 2008
SACRAMENTO - Senator Roy Ashburn today announced that Senate Bill 1621 to provide relief to California´s nursing shortage has been signed into law.
Senate Bill 1621 provides an incentive for practicing nurses to become instructors by extending student loan forgiveness through the State Nursing Assumption Program of Loans for Education (SNAPLE) program. SB 1621 will extend eligibility for loan forgiveness from current students and very recent graduates to also include experienced registered nurses who desire to teach.
The State of California faces a substantial nursing shortage that is projected to worsen in coming years. This nursing shortage could have a serious impact on the state and the health and safety of its citizens. Patient wait times have increased and the cost of medical care continues to skyrocket.
The increased demand for nurses has resulted in nursing program waiting lists with hundreds of willing students standing in line for the chance to become nurses. Unfortunately, colleges and universities lack the faculty to increase their programs´ capacities – new nursing instructors are desperately needed if California is going to meet the ever-increasing healthcare demands and close the nursing shortage gap. California´s educational institutions however, are having trouble recruiting and retaining nursing faculty since experienced nurses can make substantially more money in the nursing field than they can in academics. By extending eligibility for loan forgiveness, SB 1621 provides one important incentive to help entice more qualified professionals into teaching.
"The present shortage of nurses is just one of the many problems that plague our health care system. But it is a major part of the challenges we face in making health care more responsive and effective," said Senator Ashburn. "By taking steps to increase the number of instructors in our colleges we are doing all we can to provide more nurses to relieve our overburdened health care system."
The new law will take effect January 1, 2009.
Senate Bill 1621 provides an incentive for practicing nurses to become instructors by extending student loan forgiveness through the State Nursing Assumption Program of Loans for Education (SNAPLE) program. SB 1621 will extend eligibility for loan forgiveness from current students and very recent graduates to also include experienced registered nurses who desire to teach.
The State of California faces a substantial nursing shortage that is projected to worsen in coming years. This nursing shortage could have a serious impact on the state and the health and safety of its citizens. Patient wait times have increased and the cost of medical care continues to skyrocket.
The increased demand for nurses has resulted in nursing program waiting lists with hundreds of willing students standing in line for the chance to become nurses. Unfortunately, colleges and universities lack the faculty to increase their programs´ capacities – new nursing instructors are desperately needed if California is going to meet the ever-increasing healthcare demands and close the nursing shortage gap. California´s educational institutions however, are having trouble recruiting and retaining nursing faculty since experienced nurses can make substantially more money in the nursing field than they can in academics. By extending eligibility for loan forgiveness, SB 1621 provides one important incentive to help entice more qualified professionals into teaching.
"The present shortage of nurses is just one of the many problems that plague our health care system. But it is a major part of the challenges we face in making health care more responsive and effective," said Senator Ashburn. "By taking steps to increase the number of instructors in our colleges we are doing all we can to provide more nurses to relieve our overburdened health care system."
The new law will take effect January 1, 2009.
Print
Email
