SLS 22RS-2841 ORIGINAL
2022 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 129
BY SENATOR HEWITT
NURSES. Requests the Nursing Supply and Demand Council to study and make
recommendations to improve statewide nurse retention in response to the nursing workforce
shortage.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To urge and request the Nursing Supply and Demand Council to study and make
3 recommendations to improve statewide nurse retention in response to the nursing
4 workforce shortage.
5 WHEREAS, the United States is in the midst of a critical nurse shortage expected
6 to continue through the year 2030 and its impact is far-reaching; and
7 WHEREAS, according to the Louisiana State Board of Nursing's 2020 annual report,
8 over nine thousand three hundred registered nurses currently working and residing in
9 Louisiana indicated that they were planning to leave their current nursing position; and
10 WHEREAS, according to a recent Louisiana Center for Nursing survey, in 2018 the
11 median turnover rate for registered nurses employed by Louisiana hospitals was nineteen
12 percent compared to a median turnover rate of almost fourteen percent in 2014 and
13 seventeen percent in 2010; and
14 WHEREAS, according to the Louisiana Health Works Commission's 2021 annual
15 report, in 2020 there were sixty-six thousand seventy-six registered nurses holding an active
16 license in Louisiana compared to sixty-nine thousand six hundred forty-seven in 2019, which
17 represents a five percent decrease in licensed registered nurses; and
18 WHEREAS, data on job postings for healthcare occupations in Louisiana during the
Page 1 of 3 SR NO. 129
SLS 22RS-2841 ORIGINAL
1 past five years shows that registered nurses account for the greatest labor shortage, with an
2 average of one hundred sixty-four unique job postings per month; and
3 WHEREAS, labor supply estimates for the year 2030 indicate that the nurse shortage
4 will continue unabated if interventions are not undertaken and it is estimated that as many
5 as forty-two percent of the total nursing positions will go unfilled; and
6 WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has left lasting impressions on the healthcare
7 workforce, including an impact on nurse wellbeing which may negatively influence nurse
8 retention if not addressed; and
9 WHEREAS, pursuant to R.S. 37:1007, the Nursing Supply and Demand Council is
10 charged with studying all aspects of the supply of and demand for nurses; and
11 WHEREAS, because Louisiana has a pronounced shortage of nurses which has been
12 exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, fostering a greater supply of nurses is a vital
13 public health priority of this state.
14 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
15 does hereby urge and request the Nursing Supply and Demand Council to study and make
16 recommendations to improve statewide nurse retention in response to the nursing workforce
17 shortage.
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the council may do any of the following:
19 (1)Review pertinent statewide studies to identify actionable recommendations
20 regarding the retention of nurses in Louisiana.
21 (2)Research national practices regarding statewide nurse retention initiatives and
22 nurse wellbeing.
23 (3)Consult with other interested stakeholders who have experience in nurse
24 retention initiatives or nurse wellbeing.
25 (4)Conduct surveys of licensed nurses with the assistance of the Louisiana State
26 Board of Nursing and the Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners.
27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the council shall make a written report of its
28 findings and recommendations to the Senate and House committees on health and welfare
29 no later than February 1, 2023.
30 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Page 2 of 3 SR NO. 129
SLS 22RS-2841 ORIGINAL
1 Board of Regents.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Brandi Cannon.
DIGEST
SR 129 Original 2022 Regular Session Hewitt
Requests the Nursing Supply and Demand Council to study and make recommendations to
improve statewide nurse retention in response to the nursing workforce shortage.
Page 3 of 3