A bipartisan bill sponsored by 6th District Sen. Jeff Holy that would help address Washington’s nursing shortage was approved today by the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee.
Senate Bill 5582 aims to increase the number of nurses in the state by reducing barriers and expanding educational opportunities in that field.
“As is the case in many other states, Washington has a serious nursing shortage,” said Holy, the ranking Republican on the Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee. “The state Employment Security Department recently reported nursing is the occupation most in demand by employers in our state. The nurse shortage is a problem not only for hospitals but also nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. This bill is a good way to encourage more people to go into nursing.”
SB 5582 would give the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges until December 2024 to develop a plan to train more nurses. The plan must prioritize expanding or creating programs that increase capacity to train nurses at the Bachelor of Nursing level, expand training opportunities for rural and underserved students, and are in partnership with public four-year universities. The bill also would direct the SBCTC to develop an online curriculum to earn a licensed practical nurse (LPN) credential.
Holy’s proposal also would create a pilot project that brings high-school students in training to become certified nursing assistants together with understaffed rural hospitals, to help address workforce shortages while promoting nursing careers in rural hospitals.
“The nursing shortage is especially being felt in rural communities in our state,” said Holy, R-Cheney. “The lack of nurses in rural hospitals is forcing patients to drive long distances to see a nurse and receive treatment. If this bill becomes law, it can help ensure there will be enough nurses in rural hospitals.”
SB 5582 now goes to the Senate Ways and Means Committee for further consideration.