SB 2059 provides funding for clinical site training programs.

Senate Bill 2059, by Sen. Juan Hinojosa, passed the Senate after being voted out of the Senate Education Committee on April 19. The bill provides for enhanced clinical training opportunities for nurses to help alleviate the state’s nursing workforce shortage.

“This legislation is critical to support an indispensable part of nurse education – clinical training,” said Maureen Milligan, PhD, president and CEO, Teaching Hospitals of Texas. “Without sufficient clinical training opportunities, nurses cannot complete their education, graduate, and go on to practice. The state has a strong history of supporting physician education and training that can serve as a model for supporting nursing education as well.”

Texas faces a projected shortage of 12,572 licensed vocational nurses and 57,012 registered nurses by 2032. Insufficient clinical training capacity and insufficient number of nurse faculty have been identified as the primary obstacles to growing the Texas nurse workforce.

In addition to supporting nursing schools, investments in clinical training, retention, transition to practice, and workplace safety are needed to holistically address the nurse shortage.

SB 2059 includes several of THOT’s recommended investments, including:

  • Funding for preceptor pay differentials at clinical sites to increase the number of preceptors needed to expand clinical site capacity.

  • Nursing innovation and coordination grants for clinical sites.

  • Increased funding for workplace violence prevention.

  • Clinical nurse faculty grant programs.

SB 2059 has a companion bill in the Texas House of Representatives, House Bill 3930, by Reps. John Bryant and Donna Howard, which was heard April 24 in the House Committee on Higher Education.

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