How Indiana is Attracting More Nurses

With the continuing nursing shortage, it is estimated that one in four Hoosier nurses will be retiring by the end of the decade.  This is happening in all states.  Some states have chosen to provide $125 million to lure students into the profession.  Other states provide a living allowance alongside child care benefits.  

House Bill 1259 was introduced in Indiana and it cleared the senate and then will be voted on by the house.  The previous law had a requirement that a nurse must have 18 months experience before they could mentor or teach other nurses. Shockingly, this language was removed.  The thought was that the facility is in a better position to judge whether someone is ready to precept without 18 months experience is really scary.  According to the only Nurse Practitioner in the Indiana legislature, a brand new nurse may not be ready to translate what they learned in the classroom into a real world scenario.  The other legislators felt that it is up to the facility to pick the right person for the right situation.  Obviously, they have never worked in healthcare.  

The proposed legislation also discussed making it easier for foreign trained nurses.  The Indiana Healthcare Association which is the for profit nursing home association has concerns about the proposed federal legislation for mandatory minimum staffing in long term care facilities.  My position is if it is not legislated, the facilities will not do it.  Therefore, mandatory minimum staffing and a length of time to practice before you can teach or precept is important.