Indianapolis, In. – In what is being described as a move to help address a critical statewide shortage of nurses, a bill which would loosen Indiana’s regulations on nursing education programs is advancing in the Legislature. It comes after hospitals and health care organizations have told legislators that thousands of nursing jobs are open across the state after some nurses have quit or taken part-time jobs. A committee voted unanimously last week to endorse the proposal after learning that hospitals and nursing homes across the state have some 4,000 nursing jobs open right now, and Indiana will need an additional 5,000 nurses by 2031. That means there is an immediate need to increase the number of nursing students graduating each year by 1,350.
