Montco Lawmaker Pushes To End National Nurse Shortage

EASTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — State Sen. Maria Collett has announced legislation to support and expand Pennsylvania’s nursing workforce.

Collett, a former nurse, addressed the national nurse staffing crisis on National Nurses Day recently.

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Collett (D-12 Montgomery, Caucus Chair) said as the state's population continues to age, the staffing shortage is more urgent than ever.

A 2024 survey by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing found that almost 40 percent of nurses intended to leave the workforce or retire within the next five years, with stress and burnout named as primary reasons.

Research shows that adequate staffing is the top factor that would increase nurses’ likelihood of returning to the profession.

“Since day one in office, I have been working to ensure nurses and healthcare workers have the tools they need to do their jobs safely and effectively — because when nursing care suffers, patients are at risk," Collett said. "That’s why I fought so hard to secure $55 million for my Student Loan Relief for Nurses Program and establish the Nursing Workforce Initiative during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. And it’s why I won’t stop pushing for the evidence-backed reforms our hardworking nurses have been asking for for decades.”

Sen. Collett’s proposed nursing workforce legislation includes:

• The Patient Safety Act: Sets appropriate nurse-to-patient ratios depending on the nature of the unit; for instance, a neo-natal intensive care unit has a much lower ratio of 2 patients to 1 nurse, than a pre-surgical unit set at 4 patients to 1 nurse.
• Nursing Education Capacity Legislation (SB 998 – passed the PA Senate on April 20, 2026): Provides targeted funding for accredited nursing programs, enabling them to expand nursing faculty and increase the number of nurse preceptors. Investments could be used to recruit and retain faculty, support faculty development, and enhance clinical training opportunities through strategic partnerships.
• Healthcare Workforce Violence Prevention Act (SB 709): Requires health facilities to establish a workplace violence prevention committee and protects employees and healthcare providers from retaliation for reporting workplace violence.

“I’m proud that my bipartisan nursing education bill has advanced to the PA House, and I hope my colleagues in the Senate majority will join me in continuing to prioritize these essential workers by passing my safe staffing and violence prevention bills next," Collett said.

State Sen. Maria Collett has represented the 12th Senatorial District since 2018.

Collett serves the areas of Ambler, Bryn Athyn, Franconia, Hatboro, Hatfield Borough, Hatfield Township, Horsham, Lansdale, Lower Gwynedd, Lower Moreland, Montgomery, Plymouth, Salford, Souderton, Telford (Montgomery side), Upper Dublin, Upper Moreland, Whitpain, and Worcester.