Essential Estrogen

A newly formed state task force is poised to issue recommendations next month on how to address Iowa's nursing shortage, but one of Iowa's congressmen believes that isn't soon enough.

Rep. Tom Latham has announced plans to hold a series of roundtable discussions throughout the state with nursing professionals, visiting nurses and hospitals, and the Veterans Administration Medical Center. He also plans to work on an information talk show about the crisis. The information gathered, he said, will be taken back to Washington in order to "make sure that Iowa's nurses and Iowa patients are represented in Congress."

The 4th District Republican says that the lack of nurses in Iowa is only a symptom and not the core problem.

"America's nursing schools are working as hard as they can to certify registered nurses, nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses," he said. "[They are working] so hard, in fact, they don't have any more room. They can't cram any more nursing students into their programs even though they want to. There is no more space. There are no more qualified teachers. In our nation's nursing crisis, this is the root of the problem. This is what needs to be addressed."

Last year more than 118,000 nursing jobs nationwide remained open. According to Latham, nursing schools throughout the nation turned away more than 40,000 applicants last year due to lack of classroom space. The Iowa Department of Public Health reports that Iowa's nursing shortage stands at just over 8 percent. That statistic, Latham said, is expected to rise to 27 percent in just over a decade.

"In light of all the health care talk coming out of Washington these days -- socialized medicine, malpractice lawsuits, health insurance -- it is easy to lose sight of the fact that the greatest support structure of America's health care system is damaged and about to head into a tailspin if we don't act now," he said.

Exact details on Latham's upcoming meetings with Iowa health care workers and providers have not yet been announced. The state task force is chaired by Lt. Gov. Patty Judge, a former nurse, and is scheduled to provide both short-term steps and extended goals to state lawmakers in early March.