State Representatives Kevin Joyce (D-35th) and Jim Brosnahan (D-36th), along with state Sen. Ed Maloney (D-18th), have co-sponsored legislation in the Illinois House that would provide incentives to Illinois nursing educators.

The bill would allocate $2 million for scholarships to nurses through the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The legislation highlights a “critical shortage of nursing faculty” in nursing education, said Kay Thurn, interim dean at Saint Xavier University's School of Nursing.

In September 2007, SXU was named one of just 11 schools nationwide by the National League for Nursing as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education.

“We are facing nurse shortages across Illinois, and we must take steps to train and retain quality nurse educators to increase the pool of highly skilled nurses employed in Illinois," Brosnahan said.

“Patients of all health care facilities in the Chicago area and around the state benefit from the care and leadership of Saint Xavier University’s nursing graduates,” Thurn said. “This legislation will enhance our ability to bring highly skilled practitioners into the classroom as educators.”

The bill currently is under review by the House Rules Committee.