> Download as a PDF May 1, 2008 The Honorable Lois Capps, RN U.S. House of Representatives 1110 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Representative Capps: We, the undersigned organizations, would like to thank you for proposing the Troops to Nurse Teachers (TNT) Act of 2008. By leading the charge to increase the number of nurse faculty, you have demonstrated a clear commitment to the nursing profession, as well as our nation's military and civilian healthcare delivery system. The Bureau of Labor Statistics most recent projections estimate that more than one million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2016. Complicating the crisis further is the fact that nursing schools are struggling to expand student capacity, which has inhibited the growth of the nursing workforce. Over the last ten years, the nursing shortage has become more apparent due to the intensified constraints on nursing education programs. In 2007, U.S. nursing schools turned away tens of thousands of qualified applicants primarily due to an insufficient number of faculty. The TNT Act would address the nurse faculty shortage by developing partnerships between the military and civilian schools of nursing in which Nurse Corps Officers from specific stages of their career would serve as nurse educators. Therefore, this program would provide a much needed increase to the nurse faculty population and in turn, help develop the pool of future civilian and military nurses. We appreciate your recognition that the nurse faculty shortage places a significant strain on the ability to adequately develop the nursing workforce and commend your efforts to address this crisis. Sincerely, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners American Academy of Nursing American Association of Colleges of Nursing American Association of Critical-Care Nurses American Association of Nurse Anesthetists American Association of Occupational Health Nurses American College of Nurse Practitioners American Nephrology Nurses' Association American Nurses Association American Organization of Nurse Executives American Radiological Nurses Association American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses Association of Rehabilitation Nurses Association of State and Territorial Directors of Nursing Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses Emergency Nurses Association Dermatology Nurses' Association Infusion Nurses Society National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners National Black Nurses Association National Conference of Gerontological Nurse Practitioners National Council of State Boards of Nursing National Gerontological Nursing Association National League for Nursing National Nursing Centers Consortium National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Oncology Nursing Society Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates The Public Health Nursing Section of the American Public Health Association Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society
