WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow introduced her new bill to create a national graduate nursing education program to help increase the number of advanced practice registered nurses, who are an important part of our health system. The Educating Future Nurses Act would establish a permanent funding stream in Medicare for hospitals to partner with schools of nursing, community-based care settings, and other hospitals to increase clinical education for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse students. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) are cosponsors. Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) is the author of the House companion bill.   

“Nurses play a critical role in providing people the health care they need. This bill makes an important investment in future nurse leaders by creating permanent funding for graduate nursing education,” said Senator Stabenow. “The Graduate Nursing Education demonstration I authored in the Affordable Care Act is a proven success story, and taking this program nationwide will help more people get the care they need.” 

The bill builds off of the successful Graduate Nursing Education demonstration that Senator Stabenow authored in the Affordable Care Act. The demonstration led to a 54% increase in Advanced Practice Registered Nurse enrollment and a 67% increase in graduation. Participants in the demonstration also noted improved systems and an increase in clinical placement staff. 

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated long-standing problems within the nursing profession including burnout and stress. More than 100,000 registered nurses left the workforce during the pandemic with that number expected to increase. According to a recent poll from the University of Michigan, nearly four in 10 nurses in Michigan intend to leave their jobs in the next year. The Educating Future Nurses Act will help ensure reliable funding for the clinical education of advanced practice registered nurses to support the profession as a whole and increase patients’ access to primary care. 

The Educating Future Nurses Act is supported by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, National Nurse-Led Care Consortium, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and the American Nurses Association. 

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