Republican leaders in the state senate have unveiled legislation to help tackle the Commonwealth’s nursing shortage. Henderson Senator Robby Mills said the focus is to try to get as many nurses as possible back to work and out of school to fill nursing positions. He says one facet of the bill seeks to increase nursing school numbers.
“Dropping the nursing board caps that are on nursing schools to where they can have as many in their classes as they feel like they can teach as long as they’re attaining an 80% passage rate over a five-year period,” said Mills.
Mills said senate members talked with representatives of the state’s nursing board and the hospital association. He also noted part of the emphasis is to try to bolster nurse recruitment.
“Addresses reciprocity where folks, nurses coming in from out of state can have an immediate work permit and then a quick path to getting a license,” said Mills.
Mills expects the bill to move through the legislative process over the next few weeks. If adjustments are needed the western Kentucky lawmaker says changes will be considered.
