Nursing Community Testimony: Funding Requests For HRSA And NINR.pdf

Submitted by Suzanne Miyamoto, PhD, RN, FAAN, on behalf of 63 national nursing associations.

Background:
The Nursing Community represents over four million licensed nurses (RNs, APRNs) and nursing students in the U.S. They advocate for a healthcare system that promotes wellness, advances research, and ensures timely access to care. The community requests funding for two key initiatives: HRSA Nursing Workforce Development programs and NIH's National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR).

HRSA Nursing Workforce Development Programs (Title VIII):
- Addressing Healthcare Needs: Nurses play a vital role in improving healthcare quality, with their care extending to diverse settings. Title VIII programs have been instrumental in building and distributing qualified nurses to meet national healthcare demands for over 50 years.
- Shortage Areas Support: With 65.9 million individuals in designated primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), Title VIII programs provide students and practicing nurses with opportunities to serve underserved communities, bolstering recruitment and retention.
- Success Stories: In 2014-2015, Advanced Education Nursing Traineeships supported 3,008 students in primary care, and Nurse Anesthetist Traineeships trained 3,229 students in Medically Underserved Areas. The NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program successfully retained over half of its 2015 recipients beyond the required three years.
- Request: $244 million for FY 2018 to continue and expand these critical programs.

NIH's National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR):
- Evidence-Based Care: NINR funds research that underpins evidence-based nursing practice, focusing on improving care models for safe, high-quality, and cost-effective healthcare services. Recent studies include predicting recovery times for concussions and reducing hospital readmissions for older adults.
- Prevention and Global Health: NINR supports research in disease prevention, care management during illness/recovery, healthy lifestyles promotion, and end-of-life care. It also addresses global health issues like maternal-newborn care and communicable diseases.
- Training New Nursing Scientists: A significant portion of NINR's budget is dedicated to training new nursing researchers, ensuring the longevity and success of nursing research.
- Request: $160 million for FY 2018, reflecting a percentage increase in line with NIH's requested funding boost.

Contact: Suzanne Miyamoto, Convener of the Nursing Community ([email protected] or 202-463-6930 ext. 247)