Nurses Question Cut To Tuition
by Christine Stuart | Dec 8, 2009 2:50pm
(1) Comment | Commenting has expired
Posted to: Health Care, State Capitol
A group of licensed practical nurses and aspiring licensed practical nurses packed a hearing room Tuesday at the Legislative Office Building to let Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell know they aren’t happy with her decision to cut their tuition subsidy.
When Rell unveiled her deficit mitigation plan a few weeks ago she announced she was eliminating the $1.7 million tuition subsidy for aspiring licensed practical nurses enrolled in the state’s 10 technical high schools.
“We need Governor Rell to fix this,” Rep. Peter Tercyak, D-New Britain, said. “We don’t have time for a legislative solution.”
The Democrats hold the majority in the legislature and could restore the funding if they decide to convene on Dec. 15 to fix the state’s budget deficit. However, Tercyak, said he’d rather see Rell restore the money instead because “we can’t play ping pong forever.”
He said he didn’t think the legislature would be able to restore the funding in time for the class that starts in January. The funding covers about 20 percent of the tuition for the students enrolled in the program.
Sen. Edith Prague, D-Columbia, said she’d be okay with using $30 million from the state’s public campaign finance system in order to pay for the nursing subsidy.
“Allow the people standing here to make a life for themselves” Prague said. “Whatever we spent on this program is worth it.”
Chantal Kouoh of West Hartford, who is currently a certified nursing assistant and aspiring licensed practical nurse, said she was supposed to start her LPN classes in January.
Unable to afford the courses at a private school, Kouoh said she thinks there are a lot of aspiring licensed practical nurses out there in similar situations. As single mother, Kouoh said she feels like “one part of my life is gone.”
“I really hope Gov. Jodi Rell changes her mind and brings back this program,” Kouoh said.
Steve Bender, director of the 1199 Training and Upgrade Fund, said private school tuition costs between $28,000 and $32,000.
Alex Johnson of Capitol Workforce Partners said that while there may be a lull in hiring LPN’s currently, workforce data shows there will be a greater demand in a few years as the population in the state continues to age. Johnson called the governor’s decision shortsighted and hopes she will reconsider.
Marcia Proto, co-executive director of the Connecticut League for Nursing, said the current job shortage is because of the down economy, which is forcing some of the older nurses to put off their retirement. She said that once the class of 2011 graduates, these jobs will be in demand again.
Reggie Thomson, president of the Connecticut LPN Association, said that based on the state’s agreement with the labor unions earlier this year, none of the teaching staff at the technical schools can be laid off. She said it doesn’t make much sense to have teachers without students.
But Rell seems to be standing firmly behind her decision.
“The Governor doesn’t want to cut funding for any program, but the state faces a $600 million budget deficit” Rell’s office said Tuesday. “The bottom line is that this program isn’t paying for itself ... Connecticut’s taxpayers have been subsidizing it in a big way ($17,150 per student).”
While Rell seemed to be open to alternatives, it’s unclear if the legislature’s Democratic majority will seek to re-establish the funding since it’s still unclear if they will convene on Dec. 15 to adopt or modify her deficit mitigation plan.
“We look forward to hearing what alternatives the press conference participants are proposing in the way of spending cuts. We will be happy to review them,” Rell’s office said.
Comment
posted by: Distressed Citizen | January 6, 2010 1:58am
The LPN Nursing Program Is Vital to Health Care & Quality of Life in CT
I find it appalling that Gov. Rell proposes to cut the $1.7M tuition assistance funding for the Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) Program in CT. This would be a real tragedy and it is an outrage. This highlights the fact that those in power most often target the most vulnerable and least powerful among us when it comes to cutbacks in services and socio-economic opportunities.
We have an acute shortage of nurses across the country. In CT—LPN programs have played key roles in alleviating the nursing shortage, in the delivery of care and in the professional development of many who—for a variety of reasons—would not otherwise gain entry into the health care profession.
The LPN program is essential for poor and minorities, and for parents who want to acquire skills and a profession. This is a gateway program; it is through the LPN program that many (who would not otherwise be able to) gain entry into the medical profession. Cutting this program is simply BAD for those who need it the most; it is also bad for the state and for the ability of health facilities to provide adequate affordable care to everyone, but particularly to the growing number of elderly people.
1) It frees up the RNs to focus exclusively on those clinical functions that require a high level of registered nursing (and medically defined) clinical skills.
2) LPNs take care of the basic levels of patient care that do not require the same levels of nursing skill as those in intensive care or other high-skilled, demanding clinical areas, thus making for more appropriate levels of medical care to patients overall.
3) The LPN programs in CT allow many poor and minority women and men to gain entry into the medical profession, allow for reliable living- wage employment for many, and change the economic course of life for many people who otherwise could not get into the medical profession. This program allows many to optimize their capabilities and maximize economic opportunities.
4) To close or cut off funding to this program is simply unconscionable and lack foresight; some might even say it is malicious. There will be a ripple effect that will have very adverse consequences along a continuum. This is either VERY shortsighted and shows a lack of understanding of the role of health care in raising the standard of living for many, and in providing quality cost effective care, or it is just plain insensitive and callous. The Gov. vetoed the tax bill on the wealthy but is perfectly content to take away the few thousands of dollars that will make a positive difference to the lives of thousands of CT residents for generations to come. Unbelievable!
Finally, I can think of many ways to save money that will have less adverse effects on the most vulnerable populations. The Governor should look at taking away some of the perks afforded to millionaires and billionaires in CT. Politicians always seem to pick on and penalize those with the least power; this is why the poor remains poor. This is also why the poor should VOTE!
