APRN training funding amendment needs support

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

from ana nstat team:

september 21, 2009

tomorrow, the senate finance committee begins considering its newly released health care reform bill. during consideration, sen. stabenow (d-mi) plans to introduce an amendment to provide funds for the training of advanced practice registered nurses (aprns).

the amendment, stabenow amendment d-4, would help ensure there are enough aprns in the workforce by providing payment to hospitals for the costs of expanded training programs. if enacted, this amendment will yield a more robust aprn workforce to meet the growing demand for health care among the medicare population and those in rural and underserved areas.

you are in a very influential position - your senator sits on the finance committee, and will have the opportunity to vote for this important amendment tomorrow! you can help shape the health care reform bill that comes out of the committee by taking action today!

an ample aprn workforce is essential to providing access to health care to those brought into the system by health care reform. ask your senator to support sen. stabenow’s amendment d-4!

given the short turn around, we encourage you to use these talking points and call your senator through the capitol switchboard at [phone]. if the phone lines are jammed, send an email and keep trying the phones! by taking action today, you could ensure a health care reform bill that emphasizes the importance of the nursing profession!

kind regards,

the health care reform team

ana government affairs

---

amendment adds $200 million for aprn education:

see http://finance.senate.gov/press/gpress/2009/prg092409c.pdf

karen

[CASTLEGATES]

government has no part in continuing education for ap nurses. Do they do this for all professions? Where's the budget common sense...stupid politicians!

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Yes they do this for many healthcare related professions ....heavy investment in physician Medical Education for interns and residents included as part of Medicare bills, also in current healthcare bills proposed.

[CASTLEGATES]

Then let's move towards socialism...continuing ed for plumbers, engineers, accountants....

One's career is one's career. No one paid for my nursing license and no one pays to renew it yearly so no one should expect a freebie in a free market economy to keep me up to date in my chosen specialty that I chose knowing continuing ed is required to keep current.

The government needs to renew my drivers license...that's coming due pretty soon. If I need glasses they need to pay for those, too.

[UVA Grad Nursing]

In my role as an Assistant Dean, I have written successful grants for APRN scholarships. These traineeships are primarily for those who live/work in underserved communites to become primary care providers in those communities.

In my own state of Virginia, I provide partial scholarships to FNP and PNP students from Appalachian or tobacco-growing counties. Nurse salaries in those areas are low (under $20/hour for a RN with 10 years experience), and the hospitals provide $500/year in tuition benefits. So I provide partial scholarships to encourage these RNs to pursue FNP study so they can work as primary care providers in their home communities. These same counties are also health provider shortage areas. For example, one recipient of a scholarship this year lives in a county with only 1 MD for a population of 30,000 (and no NPs). There are no hospitals in the county either. This same county has median family income is $26,000/year according to Wikipedia.

So yes, I write a grant each year to assist RNs from poor counties to become NPs in their home regions. With low salaries and no support from their employers, there are few opportunities for advancement for these individuals other than leaving their home areas. I have been successful in receiving about $100K/year (which provides an 80% scholarship to 10 students each year).

Our FNP classes meet 1 day a week, and some of these students are driving 300 miles each way. They are contining to live and work in their communities, and will stay there after they complete their degrees. Had there not been this federal support for training APRNs, the citizens and clients of these underserved counties would be even worse off.