Indiana's push to bolster its nursing workforce recently took a ceremonial leap forward as Gov. Mike Braun signed into law a bill aimed at preempting a looming nursing shortage. The bill, which State Rep. Bob Behning (R-Indianapolis) co-sponsored, seeks to strengthen Indiana’s healthcare system by enabling high school students to pursue nursing education earlier through state-accredited nursing programs.
According to a recent statement obtained by Indiana House Republicans, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing has highlighted a concerning decline in enrollment for baccalaureate nursing programs in 2022, which breaks a two-decade streak of growth. Facing a predicted shortfall of over 73,000 licensed practical nurses by 2037, the newly signed Senate Enrolled Act 176 appears to carry the weight of a solution on its legislative shoulders.
Rep. Behning, who serves on the House Public Health Committee, emphasized the vital role nurses play in healthcare. "Nurses are an integral part of quality health care and we need to ensure we have enough of them to meet demand across the state," Behning told Indiana House Republicans. He believes that granting earlier access to nursing programs for students is a step towards addressing this potential crisis.
Many Ivy Tech campuses across Indiana have already offered programs that align with the objectives laid out by the new law, such as earning an associate of science in nursing degree or enrolling in a practical nursing technical certificate program.
