Union opposition sinks U.S. nurse compact as staffing crisis grows
ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES — Illinois is among the few states that have not yet joined the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which would help alleviate the growing nursing shortage in the state.
Illinois nursing unions blocked the bill, despite its bipartisan support, because they prioritized their own needs over those of their patients and flexibility.
Nursing shortage deepens as compact rejection, limits workforce
Yolonda Morris sponsored House Bill 1706, which attempted to make Illinois part of the NLC, but it was smothered in committee following calls by nursing unions.
The absence of the compact leaves Illinois nurses with tight licensing conditions, reduced opportunities for career mobility, and a lack of attractiveness to out-of-state professionals to cover those critical shortages.
The calculations show that the bed shortage will reach 15,000 nurses by the end of this year, and over half of the current number of nurses will be in their sixties, approaching retirement age at the same time.
In a 2021 article, a study was published, and the results showed that having one more patient per nurse per shift leads to a 16% increase in patients experiencing 30-day mortality, indicating that understaffing is catastrophic.
By encouraging other states to provide qualified nurses, the NLC would have alleviated this crisis, improved patient outcomes, and reduced burnout among healthcare workers.
Power over patient needs
The National Nurses Organizing Committee in Illinois and National Nurses United were the foremost opponents of the NLC, claiming that it interferes with state control and leads to the neglect of union advocacy.
Their opposition indicates their predisposition to prioritize labor power over producing more nurses. In the meantime, hospitals and patient advocacy groups, such as the Illinois Health and Hospital Association, are sponsoring the compact as a feasible approach to the problem of staffing shortages.
The advocates believe that the NLC would help telehealth providers, military spouses, and nurses in rural settings where the shortage is most critical. Just the opposite, however, these critics reject the perks and paint the compact as a danger to union control.
The increasing healthcare needs of the elderly population in Illinois may discourage joining the NLC, as it would result in fewer choices, longer queues, and more vulnerable outcomes, which unions have prioritized over acquiring political power.
