SENATOR COLLINS COSPONSORS BILL TO ENCOURAGE MILITARY NURSES TO BECOME NURSE EDUCATORS

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Armed Services committee, is co-sponsoring a bipartisan effort to adopt a six-year pilot program aimed at encouraging nurses leaving the military to become nurse educators.  The “Troops to Nurse Teachers” program is intended to address the faculty shortage at America’s nursing colleges that results in thousands of qualified students being denied admission each year.  Today, the U.S. Senate voted to include the “Troops to Nurse Teachers” program in the Fiscal Year 2007 Defense Authorization bill.               “The United States is currently facing a nursing shortage of critical proportions.  At the same time, qualified students who want to study to become nurses are being turned away from our nursing schools due to a shortage of qualified faculty,” said Senator Collins.  “The Troops to Nurse Teachers” program offers incentives to nurses leaving the military to become nurse teachers to help address this growing problem.”               According to the Maine Department of Labor, there are currently about 1,100 nursing vacancies in Maine.  That number is expected to grow to more than 5,200 by 2020.               The “Troop to Nurse Teachers” program will provide transitional assistance for service members who already hold a master’s or PhD in nursing or a related field, and are qualified to teach.  Eligible service members will receive career placement assistance, transitional stipends, and educational training from accredited schools of nursing to expedite their transition.             The “Troops to Nurse Teachers” proposal will also establish a scholarship program, on a pilot basis, that will provide financial assistance to members of the Armed Forces who have been involved in nursing during their military service in obtaining the education necessary to become nurse educators. Tuition, stipends, and financing for other educational expenses will also be provided. Recipients of scholarships must commit to teaching at an accredited school of nursing for three years in exchange for the educational support they receive. The Department of Defense may also require continuing service in the Selected Reserve, or some other form of public service.             The Senate is expected to vote on the FY 2007 Defense Authorization bill next week.