Illinois nurse shortage fix is blocked by unions

Joining the multi-state Nurse Licensure Compact offers a solution to Illinois’ growing nurse shortage, but certain special interest groups stand in the way, limiting patients’ access to timely medical care.

Special interests again succeeded in keeping Illinois one of the few states that has not joined the Nurse Licensure Compact – a proven solution to health care staffing challenges and greater freedom for nurses wanting to practice in Illinois.

Nurses need just one license to practice in any state that is a member of the compact. Illinois requires nurses to take a test in the state and obtain a license that only allows them to practice in Illinois – leaving patients with fewer options and longer waits, plus leaving nurses with fewer career options and heavier workloads.

House Bill 1706, sponsored by state Rep. Yolonda Morris, D-Chicago, a certified nurse assistant, would have added Illinois to the Nurse Licensure Compact. It failed to make it out of committee for a full House vote this past legislative session, facing opposition from Illinois nursing unions that see the compact as a threat to their power.

Joining the compact would help solve Illinois’ ongoing nurse shortage. The state has faced this problem for over a decade, in part because of high attrition rates in pre-nursing academic programs. The Health & Medicine Policy Research Group stated the COVID-19 pandemic intensified the situation, as nurses’ increased workload led to burnout, mental health strains and higher resignation rates.

The shortage is projected to swell to 15,000 by the end of this year and will likely continue to worsen. More than half of Illinois’ nurses are over age 55, so widespread retirements within the next decade and an aging population will increase staffing demands.

Nurse scarcity has degraded the accessibility and quality of the state’s medical care. A 2021 study by the Department for Professional Employees revealed staffing levels impact patients’ likelihood of survival. An Illinois patient’s risk of dying within 30 days of hospital admission increased by 16% for every additional patient added to a nurse’s average workload.

Joining the compact would help by:

• Attracting out-of-state nurses to Illinois.
• Expanding career opportunities for nurses.
• Increasing telehealth service availability.
• More efficiently allocating nurses during emergencies.
• Providing more access for Illinoisans to receive timely care.

Despite the legislation’s bipartisan support and clear benefits for constituents, special interest groups including the National Nurses Organizing Committee of Illinois and National Nurses United prevented Illinois from joining the compact. They argued it is “unnecessary” and surrenders the state’s authority over regulating nurse licensure. They also claim joining the compact would distract from “reinforcing strong union rights,” revealing their core motive: expanding union power. This puts the priorities of union leaders ahead of patients’ needs.

Other medical interest groups support the compact. The American Nurses Association of Illinois advocates for joining the compact because it would benefit military spouse nurses, nurse educators, and elderly or disabled nurses. The Illinois Health and Hospital Association and the Case Management Society of America – Chicago, which have been hurt by the nursing shortage, also support joining.

The failure to join the compact is a symptom of Illinois’ burdensome regulatory system. Illinois requires government permission slips to do jobs that many other states see as unnecessary restrictions. If Illinoisans want more nurses to be available, their voices need to drown out the special interests.

Contact your state representative and state senator to tell them to put patients first by joining the Nurse Licensure Compact.