Vote No on HB 205 Senate Amendment 1 - Changes Nurse Education without input from Nurses!

ANA-Illinois opposes any piece of legislation that attempts to change nursing education or practice when not LED by NURSING!

HB 205 Senate Amendment 1 is not workable. Here are the reasons:

  1. NURSING has not been involved in the development of this legislation.
  2. A bill this important to the profession of nursing should not be rushed through at the end of the session!
  3. This bill will do NOTHING to address the workforce shortage in the state.  This program will only admit licensed nurses so no new nurses will enter the pipeline. 
  4. This program will compete for faculty and clinical sites.  If the need is MORE nurses then those resources are better spent opening more seats in the community colleges associate degree program not creating a program that does not address the shortage. 
  5. We have a faculty shortage in the state of Illinois.  We need to address the real issues surrounding why "pre-licensure" programs are turning away students. 
  6. We urge legislators to focus on increasing capacity for RN education, not a duplication of existing programs

Solutions include:

  • Provide state funding to programs of nursing to increase the number of graduates by expanding health program capacity
  • Provide state funding to programs of nursing to increase their ability to recruit and retain nursing faculty which is vital if we are going to increase capacity
  • Nursing education programs partnering to find innovative solutions to increase capacity, utilize faculty, and provide a seamless transition for those wishing to pursue higher education while keeping practicing nurses in the workforce.

Ask your Senator to VOTE NO on HB 205 Senate Amendment 1.