A Call to Action: AAHFN Advocacy is Supporting: National Nursing Centers Workforce Act

States need data to determine what types of nursing resources they need in their state, including where there are shortages, what nursing services are needed, and to study issues within the profession that can profoundly impact care. Federally-supported
institutions, such as the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis, and Health Workforce Research Centers, research and advise on policies related to the national healthcare workforce. While these
entities inform health workforce planning and policy at a national level, policies developed based on national data may not always make sense for individual regions, states, or local jurisdictions.

State nursing workforce centers fill this gap. Nursing workforce centers are hubs that advance nursing education, practice, leadership, and workforce development at the state and local levels using data-driven approaches. Services of a nursing workforce center typically include conducting localized research; publishing reports related to supply, demand, and educational capacity of the nursing workforce; and implementing other activities to improve the nursing workforce in their states.

AAHFN is joining with several other nursing organizations in urging members of Congress to cosponsor the National Nursing Workforce Centers Act (S. 1150/H.R. 2411). This legislation would create a 2-year pilot program to enable existing state nursing workforce centers to boost local nursing workforces and better evaluate the recruitment of nurses and factors contributing to nurse retention. States without nursing workforce centers will be able to establish one to respond to both nursing workforce and community needs.

Since every state needs an individual approach to influence the nursing shortage, workforce centers implement evidence informed strategies to make the biggest impact. This legislation will foster collaboration and coordination, enabling state and local experts to
identify and address unique challenges to improve the strength of the nursing workforce.

This bill is being led by Representatives Young Kim, Lisa Blunt Rochester, and Senators Jeff Merkley and Thom Tillis.

We know that personalized letters have an even greater impact – if workplace violence has affected you or your colleagues, or you know a nurse who has been impacted please consider sharing your story in the note to Congress.

Urge Congress to support the National Nursing Workforce Centers Act! (p2a.co)