Joyce, Kiggans, Tenney, Costa Introduce Bill to Address America’s Nursing Shortage
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, Representatives Dave Joyce (OH-14), Jen Kiggans (VA-02), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), and Jim Costa (D-CA) introduced the Providing Real-World Education and Clinical Experience by Precepting Tomorrow’s (PRECEPT) Nurses Act, a bipartisan bill that would address our country’s nursing shortage by establishing a $2,000 tax credit for nurses who serve as a clinical preceptor to nursing students. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
“As the husband of a nurse, I know just how critical our nurses are to our nation’s healthcare system. Unfortunately, the U.S. is projected to continue facing a massive shortage of nurses, and many nursing programs have specifically reported a lack of faculty and clinical preceptors as factors contributing to the nursing shortage crisis,” said Congressman Joyce. “By providing a tax credit for nurses to serve as clinical preceptors, the PRECEPT Act would encourage more nurses to become preceptors and ensure nursing students and new hires have the mentorship they need to provide life-saving care to Americans.”
“As a geriatric nurse practitioner, I have seen how staffing shortages negatively impact patients firsthand and know how important it is for our nurses to have access to the proper training they deserve,” said Congresswoman Kiggans. “By creating more opportunities for both existing nurses and nursing students, we can provide better, more reliable care to America’s patients while preventing burnout in our healthcare workforce. I am proud to work with my colleagues across the aisle in both the House and Senate to introduce this important legislation and support nurses across our country.”
“Every family feels the impact of the nursing shortage, whether it’s longer waits in the emergency room or finding care for our loved ones,” said Congressman Costa. “This legislation ensures that nurses training the next generation of healthcare professionals are better compensated. It’s a simple, common-sense way to make sure families get the care they need.”
“Supporting nursing schools, faculty, and students benefits the economy, promotes academic-practice partnerships, and strengthens the healthcare system as a whole,” said Dr. Deborah Trautman, President and CEO of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. “We applaud this vital effort and strongly encourage consideration and passage of the PRECEPT Nurses Act this Congress.”
“As Congress considers ways to support nursing education, addressing the need for more preceptors, one of the primary barriers to accepting all qualified students at nursing schools, remains a top priority,” said Dr. Jean Giddens, Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. “The PRECEPT Nurses Act offers an innovative approach to ensuring that today’s nursing students have the resources needed to serve as trusted healthcare providers in communities across the country.”
You can read the full text of the bill here.
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