WA Lawmakers consider rural nursing education
Nursing students participate in training at Big Bend Community College in 2020. While in-person training like this is important, ensuring access to education for those who want to pursue a career in medicine, especially in rural communities, requires some access to remote education to overcome challenges such as geography, family life and economic issues. A bill working its way through Olympia this legislative session may help ensure that access, if passed into law.
FILE PHOTO
OLYMPIA — Lawmakers determined to address nursing shortages across the state have proposed a new bill to establish a remote nursing education program for rural students. The bill aims to deliver education and training to registered nurses who want to learn, live, and work in their communities.
“This bill is really about keeping health care close to home, strengthening rural communities and ensuring every Washingtonian, no matter their zip code, has access to quality care,” said Sen. Verdana Slatter, D-Bellevue, in a hearing Jan. 30.
According to the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration, as of 2025, Washington is estimated to have a shortfall of more than 13,000 registered nurses with that shortage projected to grow to 22,000 by 2036.
Rural communities are in severe need, said Renee Fullerton, council staff coordinator of the Health Workforce Council. The HWC works to advise policymakers on ensuring Washington has a sufficient health care workforce, among other functions.
“It's a long-standing issue that has gotten somewhat worse over time. The impact of the pandemic was particularly strong as well,” said Fullerton.
She said many rural communities do not have easy access to local nursing programs due to geographic barriers, especially in frontier counties. She states while there are many individuals who want to become nurses, they are unable to leave their communities to do so.
She added many have children, family responsibilities and full-time jobs making high-intensity training programs plus long commutes an insurmountable barrier.
The Rural Nursing Education Program began in 2023 as a pilot project, spearheaded by Dr. Brenda Senger, associate professor at Gonzaga University. The program delivers remote education and flexible clinical training by partnering with health care facilities, educational institutions, and community organizations, specifically, rural hospitals known as critical access hospitals.
If enacted, SB 5335 would establish the program statewide, continuing its funding for the next two years with the goal of aiding rural communities to increase the number of local health care professionals.
“They're going to know each other and trust each other,” said Senger. “They'll be more invested in their communities to provide better care and be someone who's going to stay. And nurses, when they stay- they learn more.”
Raelyn Dennis, a nursing assistant at Coolee Medical Center which serves Coulee City and Grand Coulee, testified in support of the bill.
“As a mom of two kids working full time, commuting 90 minutes each way to attend in-person classes at Big Bend Community College is not workable,” said Dennis.
Dennis said the remote model allows her to take courses online, complete her clinicals at Coolee Medical Center, and maintain her full-time job. She does so while working toward becoming a labor and delivery nurse, a role urgently needed in her community.
Big Bend Community College is currently the only school offering the program locally, but it can be accessed by any student who applies and finishes the necessary prerequisites.
Theresa Sullivan, the CEO of Samaritan Healthcare in Moses Lake, also expressed her support for the bill. She said the program is a vital resource for developing the future generations of nurses for Grant County.
“As one of the larger health care employers in Grant County, our organization provides clinical rotation opportunities to these students and supports the expansion efforts offered by our regional critical access hospitals through the support of SB 5335,” said Sullivan in her statement to the Columbia Basin Herald.
According to Slatter, the program is estimated to cost about $ 1 million to $2 million over the initial two-year period. The state is currently facing a $12 billion deficit in the operating budget, causing significant funding constraints across all agencies.
Despite the financial concerns, Slatter claims the program contributes to building the economy by investing in the workforce. By reducing health care costs, expanding greater job opportunities, and channeling money back into local communities, it offers a holistic solution that not only supports the budget but allows individuals to advance educationally and professionally, ultimately benefiting their communities.
“I see this bill as a possibility of not only giving people paths to sustainable work, dignity, and health care access for their community, but also the idea that we can create health care, health care that is, sustainable and beneficial for everyone,” said Slatter.