Governor Kathy Hochul has enacted legislation increasing the portion of clinical training for nursing students that can be completed via simulation from 25% to 33%.
This move aims to modernize the training process and expedite the entry of nurses into the workforce as the state grapples with an estimated shortage of 40,000 nurses by 2030. Assemblywoman Pat Fahy, sponsor of the bill, emphasizes the importance of adopting such modern training methods to tackle the ongoing staff shortage, noting that simulation training allows for low-risk, practical experience akin to pilot training.
However, Hochul’s plans remain uncertain regarding an expiring executive order, which currently allows out-of-state health workers to practice in New York without a state license.
The governor, while expressing hope for legislative intervention, has not indicated whether she will extend the order or wait for separate legislation. The order, set to expire on May 22, has enabled 2,015 health staff to work in 65 facilities across the state. A bill proposed by Fahy seeks to extend a part of the current executive order, enabling out-of-state workers who’ve applied for a New York license to continue working in the state for six months. The fate of this proposal remains undecided as the legislative session nears its end.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected]