Nurse Reinvestment Act Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Nurse Reinvestment Act - Essay Example 2008). "Patients who have common surgeries in hospitals with the worst nurse staffing levels have an up to 31% increased chance of dying. More nurses at the bedside could save thousands of patient lives each year, as reported today in The Journal of the American Medical Association. The Penn researchers found that every additional patient in an average hospital nurse's workload increased the risk of death in surgical patients by 7%. Patients with life-threatening complications were also less likely to be rescued in hospitals where nurses' patient loads were heavier. The findings impact the national legislative agenda. More than 20 states have enacted or are considering nurse-staffing legislation." (Mcintyre, J. 2002, Oct 23/30) The House of Representatives and Senate Of United States has passed on Dec 20 passed separate versions of legislation which is done in favor of nurses by increasing their number, student community and nursing school faculty over the coming five years. The Senate's bill, named as The Nurse Reinvestment Act (NRA) (S.1864), had programs for lending scholarships and loan repayment programs for nursing students and nurses pursuing additional clinical training or graduate degree. The Bill also provides funding for national, state, and local advertising campaigns that encourage careers in nursing. The Senate's bill, The Nurse Reinvestment Act (NRA), would create scholarships, stipends, and loan repayment programs for nursing students and nurses pursuing additional clinical training or graduate degrees. Upon graduation, some of these programs would require an individual to work (for a specified length of time) in an area or facility with a nursing shortage. The Senate bill would also author ize funding for national, state, and local advertising campaigns that encourage careers in nursing. "The goal for this issue is to strengthen AORN's relationship with other specialty nursing organizations as well as highlight perioperative RN objectives through increased visibility in the nursing community and by supporting the Nurse Reinvestment Act. Support of the Nurse Reinvestment Act was added to AORN's legislative priorities in August 2002, just as the bill was passed by wide margins in both the US House of Representatives and the Senate and before it was signed by President Bush." (Beu, B. 2004, April) There are provisions for granting of nursing schools, health care facilities, community based joint venture to support continuing education programs, internships and specialty training for new as well as experienced nurses in S. 1864. A 2 year grant is intended to be given to nursing schools to identify "best practices" and develop innovative retention strategies and the awards would be based on a facility's size, with large hospitals with over 400 beds with an amount up to $600,00 in support. A "National Commission on the Recruitment and Retention of Nurses" is to be created as a two year program. "Sens. Mikulski and Tim Hutchinson, R-Ark. had introduced an earlier nursing bill in April 2001: The Nursing Employment and