Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists Signs on Coalition Addressing Nursing Shortage

​AUSTIN, TX—The Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists (TxANA) has joined the Nursing Shortage Reduction Coalition to address the acute shortage of nurses in Texas. 

​The Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies reported a shortage of over 27,000 Registered Nurses (RNs) in 2018 and projected a shortage of approximately 57,000 RNs by 2032. As Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), this ultimately impacts the future of anesthesia in Texas.

“Serving the patient population continues to be one of the main priorities of TxANA,” said James Stockman, MSNA, CRNA, NSPM-C, President of TxANA. “Joining a coalition that brings the roadblocks causing a shortage of registered nurses in our state to the forefront is not only in the best interest of CRNAs, but also prioritizes patient safety.”
According to the Nursing Shortage Reduction Coalition, Texas is well-positioned to increase the supply of nurses within the state. The Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies released data showing that over 15,000 qualified nursing school applications were not admitted in 2021. This follows a historical trend: on average, Texas turns away more than 10,000 qualified applications each year from its nursing programs.
Three noteworthy programs already in existence offer paths forward to addressing Texas’ nursing workforce crisis:

• The Nursing Shortage Reduction Program (NSRP): Increases the number of students admitted and nursing schools’ capacity to train and graduate students by making capital investments in nursing schools, faculty, and preceptors.
• The Nursing Faculty Loan Repayment Assistance Program (NFLRP): Increases the number of faculty available to teach students by repaying faculty members’ student loans, creating financial incentives for nurses to serve as faculty.
• The Nursing Innovation Grant Program (NIGP): Promotes innovation in the education, recruitment, and retention of nursing students and qualified faculty through grants, clearing out a potential bottleneck in the nursing education pipeline.

The Nursing Shortage Reduction Coalition is encouraged that the Senate and House base budgets include funding for the NSRP and the NFLRP. However, the Legislature could appropriate significantly more funding for the NSRP and continue to see meaningful returns on investment. Given the significant workforce shortages across Texas, the Coalition encourages lawmakers to consider additional funding for this vital program.
“We hope TxANA’s presence in this issue will allow state legislators to see the importance of all nursing professions in the landscape of Texas healthcare,” Stockman said.
To learn more about the coalition and its efforts or to speak with a specific coalition member, please contact Jack Frazee, Director of Government Affairs and General Counsel at the Texas Nurses Association, at [email protected].