Us Congress House Bill HB392

Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/14/25
• Refer: 1/14/25

Caption

PRECEPT Nurses Act Providing Real-world Education and Clinical Experience by Precepting Tomorrow’s Nurses Act

Impact

The introduction of HB392 is anticipated to enhance nursing education by incentivizing experienced nurses to become preceptors. This could lead to increased numbers of trained professionals entering the workforce, particularly in areas where healthcare services are critically needed. The act aims not only to elevate the quality of nursing training through hands-on experience but also to improve healthcare delivery in health professional shortage areas, thus potentially addressing disparities in health services across different regions.

Summary

House Bill 392, also known as the 'Providing Real-world Education and Clinical Experience by Precepting Tomorrow's Nurses Act' or the 'PRECEPT Nurses Act', aims to address the critical shortage of nurses in underserved areas by offering a tax credit to eligible nurse preceptors. The bill proposes a credit of $2,000 against the federal income tax for those who serve as preceptors for nursing students or newly hired nurses. To qualify, nurse preceptors must complete at least 200 hours of educational or clinical mentorship in designated health professional shortage areas. This initiative highlights the importance of providing practical experience to nursing students while simultaneously supporting the healthcare workforce in underserved regions.

Contention

While the bill has broad support among nursing organizations, there may be concerns regarding its implementation and the effectiveness of the tax credit in genuinely increasing the number of preceptors. Critics could argue that financial incentives alone might not be sufficient to motivate experienced nurses to take on mentorship roles, especially if they are already burdened with high workloads. Additionally, the effectiveness of the program will be evaluated through reports to Congress over several years, which could lead to further scrutiny if the anticipated outcomes are not met.

Congress_id

119-HR-392

Policy_area

Taxation

Introduced_date

2025-01-14