Colorado’s Elected Officials Address Key Nursing/Faculty Shortage Issues

Colorado’s legislators took far-sighted action this year to address our state’s nursing crisis. Using data and analysis from the Center for Nursing Excellence, Colorado State Board of Nursing, Colorado Nurses Assn. and other organizations, and working with leaders from education and practice, legislators crafted solutions to critical issues and secured the Governor’s support.

Important bills passed this session and signed by the Governor include:

• SB 136 (Sen. Abel Tapia, Rep. Dorothy Butcher) – Nursing Faculty Loan Forgiveness, providing loan payments of up to $20,000 to nurses who pursue masters or doctorate degrees if they agree to teach full-time in Colorado for at least five years.

• SB 20 (Sen. Deanna Hanna, Rep. Gwyn Green) - Nurse Licensure Compact, allowing nurses who have been licensed in other states to practice in Colorado without having to be re-licensed.

• HB1269 (Rep. Mark Cloer, Sen. Lois Tochtrop) - Nursing Faculty Fellowship Program, to help nursing schools fill faculty vacancies by providing fellowship payments of up to $10,000 annually for up to three years.

The Colorado Center for Nursing Excellence salutes our elected officials for this important work.