See also: NYSUT Health and Safety Resource Center

New York stands to benefit from a new federal initiative designed to help stem the national shortage of nurses.

The Nurse Reinvestment Act, which Congress approved Dec. 21 and sent to President Bush for his signature, would create nursing scholarship programs for students who commit to work in areas of critical shortages.

New York State United Teachers has been seeking similar legislation in New York, according to NYSUT Executive Vice President Alan Lubin. The union has won similar benefits for those who agree to teach in under-served areas.

NYSUT's national affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers, lobbied for the federal bill, which AFT President Sandra Feldman called "a step in the right direction to restoring quality patient care in America's hospitals."

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