Letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committees Supporting Nursing Community Coalition Funding Priorities
September 15th, 2022
The Honorable Patrick Leahy
Chairman
United States Senate
Committee on Appropriations
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Rosa DeLauro
Chairwoman
United States House of Representatives
Committee on Appropriations
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Richard Shelby
Vice Chairman
United States Senate
Committee on Appropriations
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Kay Granger
Ranking Member
United States House of Representatives
Committee on Appropriations
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Leahy, Chairwoman DeLauro, Vice Chairman Shelby, and Ranking Member Granger:
On behalf of the 62 undersigned organizations representing the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), and as we near the end of the fiscal year, we respectfully request that you support the funding levels that advanced out of the House Appropriations Committee of at least $324.472 million for Nursing Workforce Development Programs (Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 296 et seq.]) and at least $208.571 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR, National Institutes of Health) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. As the nation evaluates lessons learned from COVID-19, it is imperative that funding for these programs reflects the heightened needs of our communities, especially as nurses across the country remain on the frontlines of this, and other, public health challenges. We appreciate Congress’ strong commitment to nursing education, workforce, and research and urge you to make necessary increases to Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and NINR funding in FY 2023.
The Nursing Community Coalition is a cross section of education, practice, research, and regulation within the nursing profession. Together, the NCC represents Registered Nurses (RNs), Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs),1 nurse leaders, students, faculty, and researchers. As the largest segment of the health care profession,2 nursing is involved at every point of care, which is further exemplified during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We all have witnessed the immense impact this public health emergency has had on our nursing students and workforce. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projected that by 2031 demand for RNs would increase 6%, illustrating an employment change of 195,400 nurses.3
Further, the demand for most APRNs is expected to grow by 40%.4 The need for nurses and APRNS is not only outlined by BLS, but can be seen in communities across the nation, including rural and underserved areas. In fact, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses outlined, “92% of nurses surveyed said they believe the pandemic has depleted nurses at their hospitals and, as a result, their careers will be shorter than they intended.”5 Further, the American Nurses Foundation’s second COVID-19 impact study noted that 52% of nurses during the pandemic considered leaving their position, up from 40% a year earlier!6 If that was not enough, “more than one-fifth of all nurses reported they plan to retire from nursing over the next five years.”7
Bold investments in our Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs are critical, not only as we address the current needs of the profession, but as we prepare for the health care needs of tomorrow. As the largest dedicated funding for our current and future nurses, the Title VIII programs have helped bolster and sustain the nation’s diverse nursing pipeline by addressing all aspects of nursing workforce demand. With an aging workforce, aging population, and need to support our frontline providers, funding for Title VIII must meet levels reflecting the nursing population it serves. Therefore, with more than four million nurses throughout the country,8 we strongly urge historic support for these programs in FY 2023.
Throughout the pandemic, we have also seen the importance of science in the discussion of cures and preparedness. As one of the 27 Institutes and Centers at the National Institutes of Health, NINR’s
research is aimed at reducing the impact of social determinants of health and creating a more equitable health care system by promoting patient-centered care across the life continuum. The translational research by our nation’s nurses and scientists is essential to developing new evidence-based practices to care for all patients. Through increased investments in NINR, they will be able to continue their vital work at the forefront of disease prevention, patient care, and recovery.
During this unprecedented public health emergency, and as we support America’s health, we urge you to invest in our nation’s nurses by providing at least $324.472 million for Nursing Workforce
Development Programs and at least $208.571 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research in FY 2023. We appreciate your work to finalize FY 2023 and safeguard the public’s well-being by putting forward bold investments for these critical programs. If our organizations can be of any assistance, or if you have any questions, please contact the Nursing Community Coalition’s Executive Director, Rachel Stevenson, at rstevenson@thenursingcommunity.org or at 202-463-6930, ext. 271.
Sincerely,
Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses
Academy of Neonatal Nursing
American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing
American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners
American Academy of Nursing
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
American Association of Heart Failure Nurses
American Association of Neuroscience Nurses
American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing
American College of Nurse-Midwives
American Nephrology Nurses Association
American Nurses Association
American Nursing Informatics Association
American Organization for Nursing Leadership
American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association, Inc.
American Public Health Association, Public Health Nursing Section
American Psychiatric Nurses Association
American Society for Pain Management Nursing
American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses
Association for Radiologic and Imaging Nursing
Association of Community Health Nursing Educators
Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses
Association of periOperative Registered Nurses
Association of Public Health Nurses
Association of Rehabilitation Nurses
Association of Veterans Affairs Nurse Anesthetists
Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service
Dermatology Nurses’ Association
Emergency Nurses Association
Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research
Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association
Infusion Nurses Society
International Association of Forensic Nurses
International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses
National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
National Association of Hispanic Nurses
National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners
National Association of Neonatal Nurses
National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
National Association of School Nurses
National Black Nurses Association
National Council of State Boards of Nursing
National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers
National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence
National League for Nursing
National Nurse-Led Care Consortium
National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties
Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs
Oncology Nursing Society
Organization for Associate Degree Nursing
Pediatric Endocrinology Nursing Society
Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association
Society of Pediatric Nurses
Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates
Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society
cc:
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
Chair, Patty Murray, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
Education, and Related Agencies
Ranking Member Roy Blunt, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
Education, and Related Agencies
Ranking Member, Tom Cole, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, Education, and Related Agencies
1 APRNs include certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) and nurse practitioners (NPs).
2 American Nurses Foundation. (2022). COVID-19 Survey Series: 2022 Workplace Survey. Retrieved from:
https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-environment/health-safety/disasterpreparedness/coronavirus/what-you-need-to-know/covid-19-survey-series-anf-2022-workplace-survey/.
3 American Nurses Foundation. (2022). Pulse on the Nation’s Nurses Survey Series: 2022 Workplace Survey Nurses Not
Feeling Heard, Ongoing Staffing and Workplace Issues Contributing to Unhealthy Work Environment. Page 2. August
2, 2022. Retrieved from: https://www.nursingworld.org/~4a209f/globalassets/covid19/anf-2022-workforce-writtenreport-final.pdf
4 National Association of County & City Health Officials. National Profile of Local Health Departments. Page 60. 2019.
Retrieved from: https://www.naccho.org/uploads/downloadable-resources/Programs/Public-HealthInfrastructure/NACCHO_2019_Profile_final.pdf
5 National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2022). Active RN Licenses: A profile of nursing licensure in the U.S. as of
September 12, 2022. Retrieved from: https://www.ncsbn.org/6161.htm.
Promoting America’s Health Through Nursing Care www.thenursingcommunity.org · 202-463-6930 ext. 272