South Iowa News

Representatives Zach Nunn (IA-03), Dina Titus (NV-01), and Susie Lee (NV-03) have introduced the Train More Nurses Act, a bipartisan bill designed to address the nationwide shortage of nurses. The legislation instructs the Departments of Health and Human Services and Labor to review federal grant programs and provide Congress with recommendations on improving support for nurse training, faculty recruitment, and career advancement.

“There simply aren’t enough healthcare workers to adequately staff hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes across Iowa. We have students ready to answer the call to serve, but not enough educators to train them,” said Rep. Nunn. “As the son of a nurse, I’ve seen firsthand how critical these frontline professionals are to our healthcare system. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort to ensure we have the tools to train the next generation of nurses and meet the growing demand for care.”  

In Iowa, nearly 70% of healthcare facilities report challenges in filling nursing positions. Nursing homes in the state have experienced a 10% reduction in workforce since 2020. Nationally, almost 100,000 qualified applicants were denied entry into nursing programs in one year due to shortages in faculty. This issue is made worse by an aging workforce; more than half of registered nurses are over 50 years old while enrollment rates lag behind demand.

“As the demand for quality healthcare across the state continues to grow, Nevada faces a shortage of nearly 5,000 nurses,” said Rep. Titus. “The Train More Nurses Act is a critical step toward ensuring we can meet this demand and provide the necessary support at the federal level for our healthcare workers. By enhancing career pathways, addressing shortages in underserved areas, and facilitating the transition from LPNs to RNs, we are taking strides towards bolstering our healthcare workforce and meeting the needs of patients.“

“Nurses are the backbone of quality health care. The severe nursing shortage in our state puts the quality of health care for too many Nevadans at risk. And faculty vacancies at nursing schools make it harder for prospective nurses to get the training they need to enter the workforce,” said Rep. Lee. “I’m proud to lead bipartisan legislation to make sure federal dollars are invested in educational and workforce programs to train more nurses and ensure southern Nevadans can access the health care they need.”

Kevin Pettit, CEO of Clive Behavioral Health, stated: “We are appreciative of the opportunity to host Congressman Nunn and discuss how we can support his effort to advocate for a solution to the healthcare nursing shortage,“ adding that working with elected officials helps address patient needs.

Brent Willett, President and CEO of the Iowa Health Care Association, described current staffing levels as an inflection point: “We are facing an inflection point in American health care: there simply are not enough nurses and direct care workers to care for an exploding aging population,” he said. He cited projections that show a declining ratio of working-age Americans compared with those aged 65 or older through 2054: “If that alarms you, it should. Nursing homes nationwide, including those in Iowa, are grappling with severe staffing shortages. We applaud Rep. Nunn’s Train More Nurses Act and urge members of congress to move it expeditiously. We are literally racing against time.”

The bill directs agencies to recommend legislative changes so existing resources can be better used toward building a sustainable nursing workforce.

The full text of the bill is available online.