Postsecondary education council honors Stivers for legislation

Stivers receives award from Dr. Aaron Thompson, president of
the postsecondary education council, and Dr. Leslie Sizemore,
its executive director for workforce and economic development.

State Senate President Robert Stivers received the Innovative Healthcare Leader Award from the state Council on Postsecondary Education at its Workforce Collaboratory awards luncheon in Lexington Tuesday.

"The award celebrates Stivers’ tenacity, creativity, and dedication to building a diverse and highly skilled healthcare workforce for Kentucky’s future," a Senate press release said. It cited Senate Bill 10, a Stivers measure that passed the legislature and "made significant strides in removing artificial barriers that prevented eligible students from entering the nursing profession. It made it easier for nurses outside Kentucky to practice here, addressing major workforce shortages. It also removed arbitrary caps on admission to nursing programs.

"Most importantly, SB 10 restructured the Kentucky Board of Nursing to reflect more of Kentucky’s geographical diversity and bolster the voices of nurses by requiring 10 board members to be practicing nurses. It also requires Senate confirmation of the members.

Stivers, a Republican from Manchester, said in the release, “I wholeheartedly believe we have to tackle our health-care challenges with innovative ways and bring in new partners to invigorate the industry that holds so much promise for Kentucky in so many ways. Everyone in Kentucky has a reason to be excited about how we are changing the health-care landscape because it means better opportunities for those seeking health-care professions and better outcomes for those receiving higher quality care.”