HR 4001 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title VIII of the Public Health Service Act to expand the nurse student loan program, to establish grant programs to address the nursing shortage, to amend title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for a nurse faculty pilot project, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

October 30, 2007

Mr. BOUSTANY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title VIII of the Public Health Service Act to expand the nurse student loan program, to establish grant programs to address the nursing shortage, to amend title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for a nurse faculty pilot project, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Nursing Education Opportunities Act'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The American Hospital Association reported in July 2007 that United States hospitals need approximately 116,000 registered nurses to fill vacant positions nationwide.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) To address the shortage of qualified nurses, schools of nursing have developed accelerated, second-baccalaureate degree programs in nursing. In 2005, these programs graduated 3,769 students. The number of accelerated degree graduates in 2006 was 5,236. This is an additional 1,467 nursing graduates in 1 year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Despite the nurse shortage and efforts to increase the pool of qualified nurses, schools of nursing struggle to increase student capacity. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (referred to in this Act as the `AACN'), United States nursing schools turned away nearly 43,000 qualified applicants in 2006 primarily due to an insufficient number of faculty.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) The AACN reported in July 2006, a total of 637 faculty vacancies at 329 nursing schools with baccalaureate or graduate programs, or both, across the Nation. Besides the vacancies, schools cited the need to create an additional 55 faculty positions to accommodate student demand. Most of the vacancies (53.7 percent) were faculty positions requiring a doctoral degree.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) In 2007, the Association of Academic Health Centers surveyed chief executive officers (CEOs) from academic health centers regarding faculty shortages across various health professions. The CEOs rated the nursing faculty shortage as the most severe of all health professions with 81 percent noting the nursing faculty shortage as a problem.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) The average ages of doctorally-prepared nurse faculty holding the ranks of professor, associate professor, and assistant professor are 58.6, 55.8, and 51.6 years, respectively. Considering the average age of nurse faculty at retirement is 62.5 years, a wave of nurse faculty retirements is expected in the next decade.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) Master's and doctoral programs in nursing are not producing a large enough pool of potential nurse educators to meet the demand. In 2006, the AACN found that graduations from doctoral nursing programs were up by only 1.4 percent from the previous academic year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) Nurses are vital to the Nation's health care delivery system. Due to the nurse shortage, patient safety and quality of care are at risk. Given the findings described in paragraphs (1) through (7), measures must be taken to address the nurse shortage and nursing faculty shortage.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. NURSING STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM.

Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. et seq.) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in section 835(b)(4), by inserting `(including a student in an accelerated nursing degree program who is pursuing a second baccalaureate degree or a master's degree as an entry level nursing degree)' after `graduate degree in nursing'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in section 836--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in subsection (a)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) by striking `$2,500' and inserting `$4,400';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) by striking `$4,000' and inserting `$7,000'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) by striking `$13,000' and inserting `$22,900'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in subsection (b)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) in paragraph (1), by inserting `(including a student in an accelerated nursing degree program who is pursuing a second baccalaureate degree or a master's degree as an entry level nursing degree)' after `graduate degree in nursing'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) in paragraph (2), by inserting `(including a student in an accelerated nursing degree program who is pursuing a second baccalaureate degree' after `equivalent degree'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. ACCELERATED NURSING DEGREE PROGRAMS.

Section 801(3) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296(3)) is amended by inserting `(including an accelerated nursing degree program' before `and including'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. ADVANCED EDUCATION NURSING GRANTS.

Section 811(f)(2) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296j(f)(2)) is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting `, except in the case of a nurse faculty shortage, the Secretary may, in the Secretary's discretion, obligate more than 10 percent of such traineeships for individuals in doctoral degree programs.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. GRANT PROGRAM FOR DOCTORAL NURSING PROGRAMS.

Part D of title VIII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296p et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 832. GRANT PROGRAM FOR DOCTORAL NURSING PROGRAMS.

`(a) In General- The Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to enable the eligible entities to establish doctoral nursing degree programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Eligible Entity- In this section, the term `eligible entity' means an entity that is 1 of the `eligible entities' as such term is defined in section 801.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Application- An eligible entity that desires a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Selection of Grant Recipients- Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of the Nursing Education Opportunities Act, the Secretary shall establish requirements and procedures for the administration of grants under this section and procedures for selecting grant recipients. In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall consider the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) DOCTORAL NURSING PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION- Providing priority to eligible entities located in States in which there are no doctoral nursing degree programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION- Providing an equitable geographic distribution of such grants.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) RURAL AND URBAN AREAS- Distributing such grants to rural and urban areas.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) PRIOR EXPERIENCE OR EXCEPTIONAL PROGRAMS- Whether the eligible entity has demonstrated--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) prior experience in, or exceptional programs for, the preparation of baccalaureate prepared nurses or master's prepared nurses; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) an interest in establishing a doctoral nursing degree program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(e) Grant Amount- Each grant awarded under this section shall be equal to not more than $2,000,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(f) Grant Duration- A grant awarded under this section shall be for a period of not more than 5 years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(g) Use of Funds- An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to establish a doctoral nursing degree program, including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) hiring administrators, faculty, and staff;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) retaining current faculty;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) developing doctoral curriculum;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) repairing and expanding infrastructures;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) purchasing educational equipment;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(6) developing and enhancing clinical laboratories;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(7) recruiting students;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(8) establishing technology infrastructures; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(9) other investments determined necessary by the eligible entity for the development of a doctoral nursing degree program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(h) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section not more than $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. DOCTORAL NURSING CONSORTIA PILOT PROJECT.

Part D of title VIII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296p et seq.), as amended by section 6, is further amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 833. DOCTORAL NURSING CONSORTIA PILOT PROJECT.

`(a) Purpose- The purpose of the pilot project under this section is to provide grants to partnerships of eligible entities to establish consortia to enhance and expand the availability of doctoral nurse faculty and education by enabling the partners involved to share doctoral faculty and programmatic resources so that the nursing faculty shortage does not further inhibit the preparation of future nurses or nurse faculty.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) In General- The Secretary shall award grants to partnerships of eligible entities to enable the partnerships to establish doctoral nursing consortia.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Definitions- In this section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) DOCTORAL NURSING CONSORTIUM- The term `doctoral nursing consortium' means a partnership that includes 2 or more of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) eligible entities within the same State;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) eligible entities within different States; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) eligible entities establishing a doctoral nursing program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY- The term `eligible entity' has the meaning given the term in section 832(b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Application- A partnership of eligible entities that desires a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require. Such partnership may apply for a grant under this section each year of the pilot project.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(e) Selection- Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of the Nursing Education Opportunities Act, the Secretary shall establish requirements and procedures for the administration of grants under this section and procedures for selecting grant recipients.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(f) Consideration in Making Awards- In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall consider the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) PRIOR EXPERIENCE OR EXCEPTIONAL PROGRAMS- Eligible entities that have demonstrated prior experience in, or exceptional programs for, the preparation of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) doctorally prepared nursing faculty and nursing researchers; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) baccalaureate prepared nurses or master's prepared nurses.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION- Providing an equitable geographic distribution of such grants.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) RURAL AND URBAN AREAS- Distributing such grants to rural and urban areas.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) NEW GRANTEES- Awarding grants to eligible entities that have not previously received a grant under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(g) Grant Amount- The Secretary shall determine the amount of each grant awarded under this section based on the purpose of this section, which amount shall not be more than $500,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(h) Use of Funds- A partnership of eligible entities that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to establish a doctoral nursing consortium that shall share doctoral faculty and programmatic resources, such as--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) establishing technology infrastructures;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) developing shared doctoral curriculum;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) hiring faculty and staff;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) retaining current faculty;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) providing travel stipends for nursing faculty who agree to teach nursing courses at another eligible entity within the doctoral nursing consortium;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(6) providing scholarships for post-doctoral fellows who agree to teach a nursing course within the nursing doctoral consortium;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(7) providing collaborative networks for nursing research; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(8) other investments determined necessary by the eligible entities for use within the doctoral nursing consortium.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) Grant Duration- The pilot project under this section shall be for a period of not more than 5 years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(j) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section not more than $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. NURSE FACULTY PILOT PROJECT.

Title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1133 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`PART F--NURSE FACULTY PILOT PROJECT

`SEC. 781. PURPOSES.

`The purposes of this part are to create a pilot program--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) to provide scholarships to qualified nurses in pursuit of an advanced degree with the goal of becoming faculty members in an accredited nursing program; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) to provide grants to partnerships between accredited schools of nursing and hospitals or health facilities to fund release time for qualified nurse employees, so that those employees can earn a salary while obtaining an advanced degree in nursing with the goal of becoming nurse faculty.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 782. ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED.

`(a) Competitive Grants Authorized- The Secretary may, on a competitive basis, award grants to, and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with, partnerships composed of an accredited school of nursing at an institution of higher education and a hospital or health facility to establish not more than 5 pilot projects to enable such hospital or health facility to retain its staff of experienced nurses while providing a mechanism to have these individuals become, through an accelerated nursing education program, faculty members of an accredited school of nursing.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Duration; Evaluation and Dissemination-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) DURATION- Grants under this part shall be awarded for a period of 3 to 5 years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) MANDATORY EVALUATION AND DISSEMINATION- Grants under this part shall be primarily used for evaluation, and dissemination to other institutions of higher education, of the information obtained through the activities described in section 781(2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Considerations in Making Awards- In awarding grants and entering into contracts and cooperative agreements under this section, the Secretary shall consider the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION- Providing an equitable geographic distribution of such grants.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) RURAL AND URBAN AREAS- Distributing such grants to urban and rural areas.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) RANGE AND TYPE OF INSTITUTION- Ensuring that the activities to be assisted are developed for a range of types and sizes of institutions of higher education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) PRIOR EXPERIENCE OR EXCEPTIONAL PROGRAMS- Institutions of higher education with demonstrated prior experience in providing advanced nursing education programs to prepare nurses interested in pursuing a faculty role.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Uses of Funds- Funds made available by grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this part may be used--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) to develop a new national demonstration initiative to align nursing education with the emerging challenges of healthcare delivery; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) for any 1 or more of the following innovations in educational programs:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) To develop a clinical simulation laboratory in a hospital, health facility, or accredited school of nursing.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) To purchase distance learning technologies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) To fund release time for qualified nurses enrolled in the graduate nursing program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) To provide for faculty salaries.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) To collect and analyze data on educational outcomes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 783. APPLICATIONS.

`Each partnership desiring to receive a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this part shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require. Each application shall include assurances that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) the individuals enrolled in the program will be qualified nurses in pursuit of a master's or doctoral degree in nursing and have a contractual obligation with the hospital or health facility that is in partnership with the institution of higher education;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) the hospital or health facility of employment would be the clinical site for the accredited school of nursing program;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) individuals will also maintain their employment on a part-time basis to the hospital or health facility that allowed them to participate in the program, and will receive an income from the hospital or health facility, as a part-time employee, and release times or flexible schedules to accommodate the individuals' class schedules; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) upon completion of the program, an individual agrees to teach for 2 years in an accredited school of nursing for each year of support the individual received under this program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 784. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

`There are authorized to be appropriated for this part not more than $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 785. DEFINITION.

`For purposes of this part, the term `health facility' means an Indian Health Service health service center, a Native Hawaiian health center, a hospital, a Federally qualified health center, a rural health clinic, a nursing home, a home health agency, a hospice program, a public health clinic, a State or local department of public health, a skilled nursing facility, or ambulatory surgical center.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink