The Texas Nursing Workforce Shortage Coalition believes the 2009 Texas Legislature should provide an additional $60 million in special-item funding to increase the annual production of RN graduates from 7,000 in 2007 to 13,000 in 2013, almost doubling output. This level of additional funding must be sustained in subsequent years to help close the supply/demand gap. This solution will:
- Increase capacity. Nursing schools cite the lack of faculty as the biggest barrier to enrolling more students.
- Improve efficiency. State dollars should be used to create incentives for nursing schools to admit and graduate more registered nursing students within a reasonable time.
- Assist nursing students. Financial aid and other incentives should be available to nursing students to encourage enrollment and graduation.
- Hold schools accountable. The Texas Legislature should build accountability into higher education funding allocations so that dollars actually produce more nursing graduates. Schools with records of producing year-over-year increases in the number of graduates or achieving high graduation rates should be given upfront funding to build on their proven successes.
The Legislature should affirm its commitment to institutions of higher education by restoring adequate support for the nursing funding formulas.
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