What is the history of the NRA?
The NRA evolved out of concerns about the shortage of nurses around the country. In the late 1990s, enrollments in nursing schools were declining and reports indicated nurses were leaving nursing because of a stressful work environment and concerns about the quality of care. By 2000, the data showed that the average age of the registered nurse was over 43 years and workforce projections indicated a worsening of the shortage because of the aging of the workforce, the increases in demand for registered nurses, decreases in the supply, and concerns about the adequacy of the pipeline. As these concerns grew in the states and became more visible in the media, Congress began to seriously address the nursing workforce issues. Several bills were introduced in Congress, including those by Representative Lois Capps, Senator Kerry, and Senator Hutchinson. In the end, conference negotiations between the House and Senate resulted in the passage of Nurse Reinvestment Act, Public Law 107-205 signed b
