Oregon Nursing Shortage Addressed in Senate

Senate Bill 4 creates the Oregon Nursing Shortage Committee.

Doenbercher Children`s Hospital in Portland, Oregon treats many kids from the Mid-Willamette Valley Courtesy: aianwpr.org

(SALEM) - The Senate Health Policy Committee, chaired by Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson (D-Gresham), unanimously passed out legislation yesterday that will address Oregon’s nursing shortage by integrating higher education with the workforce needs of local communities.

Senate Bill 4, which Monnes Anderson co-sponsored with Senator Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin), will help Oregon confront the estimated need for 59,000 new healthcare workers by 2014.

“Senate Bill 4 will provide Oregon schools with the resources they need to educate more nurses and deliver the quality medical care Oregonians deserve,” said Senator Monnes Anderson, who has been a working public health nurse for over 25 years and has seen patient wait time increase for non-emergent care.

“Senate Bill 4 is an investment in Oregon education, Oregon communities, and Oregon’s long term future,” said Senator Devlin.

“This bill is a win-win situation. We can support living wage jobs that are vital to an economically sustainable future and, while doing so, we can provide better healthcare for Oregonians,” said Senator Alan Bates, a family physician and supporter of the bill.

Senate Bill 4 creates the Oregon Nursing Shortage Committee, which is charged with adopting criteria and awarding grants to increase the capacity of Oregon’s nursing workforce and the capacity of nursing education programs statewide.