NLN Lauds President's 2010 Budget Proposal $125 Million for Title VIII Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program 40 Percent More Requested for Nurse Faculty Loan Program

Increases Will Help Address Nurse and Nurse Faculty Shortages

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY — May 8, 2009 — Reacting to President Obamas proposed budget for nurse workforce development, the NLN expressed its appreciation about the effect this funding will have on our nations health. "The Nursing Workforce Development programs authorized by Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act are essential for the overall well-being of the nation," said Dr. Beverly Malone, CEO of the National League for Nursing.

Demand for spots in nursing programs continues to dramatically outstrip supply. The National League for Nursing found that an estimated 99,000 qualified applications — or almost 40 percent of qualified applications submitted to prelicensure RN programs — were rejected in 2006-07. A particular focus on securing and retaining adequate numbers of faculty is essential to ensure that all individuals interested in — and qualified for — nursing school can matriculate in the year that they are accepted.

The presidents budget also requests $265 million for Title VII, a 19.4 percent increase over the FY 2009 omnibus bill. This funding level represents increases for most of Title VIIs health professions training programs which, stated NLN president Dr. Elaine Tagliareni, "are an essential component of our health care safety net, representing, along with Title VIII, the only federal programs designed to train providers in interdisciplinary settings to meet the needs of special and underserved populations, and increase minority representation in the health care workforce."

Concluded Dr. Malone, "It is gratifying to see that attention is being paid to the critical need to reverse the acute shortage of nurses and concomitant shortage of nurse educators so that the nations health care needs may be appropriately addressed. As the voice for nursing education and nurse educators, the National League for Nursing will continue to advocate for the increased investment in nurse workforce development that is essential for the prosperity and health of all Americans."

Editors and reporters: For interview opportunities, please contact Karen R. Klestzick at 212-812-0376 or kklestzick@nln.org.

Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. The NLN offers faculty development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its 30,000 individual and 1,200 institutional members who represent all types of nursing education programs.