PRESIDENT OBAMA’S 2012 BUDGET PROPOSAL SUPPORTS NURSING WORKFORCE PROGRAMS

SILVER SPRING, MD – The American Nurses Association (ANA) commends President Obama
for including vital investments in nursing education and retention programs in his fiscal year (FY)
2012 budget. The Obama administration has demonstrated its commitment to strengthening the
health care system with a 28 percent increase for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development
Programs. These vital programs serve to recruit new nurses into the profession, promote career
advancement within nursing, and allocate nurses to critical shortage areas.
“It’s heartening to see the Obama administration continues to recognize the invaluable contribution
that nurses make in the delivery of care,” said ANA President Karen A. Daley, PhD, MPH, RN,
FAAN. “This proposed budget represents a substantial commitment to addressing the nursing
shortage and ensuring access to care for all. Increased funding for Title VIII programs is vital to
reducing avoidable complications associated with the nursing shortage—saving lives and reducing
health care costs.”
ANA recognizes the difficult task lawmakers face in these economic times. However, ANA has
consistently asserted that health care should never be a political or partisan issue. That is why ANA
will continue to advocate for programs that address the current nursing workforce shortage and serve
to meet the health care demands of our nation. To learn more about ANA’s advocacy on nursing
workforce, please visit, www.nursingworld.org.