YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Ten nursing schools in Ohio including St. Elizabeth Youngstown could lose funding.

A group of Ohio congress members including Tim Ryan and other members from around the country penned a letter urging House and Senate Leadership to include a provision in the upcoming government funding bill to protect hospital-based nursing schools.

The members wrote that more than 5,000 nurses graduate from hospital-based nursing schools across the country.

Locally, St. Elizabeth Youngstown's nursing school would lose nearly $500,000 in funding.

"We are in the middle of a pandemic that has strained our health care system to the breaking point and now is not the time to cut funding that may cause hospital-based nursing schools to close their doors," said Congressman Ryan. "Our well-trained nurses have been the backbone of our healthcare system and we need to ensure that the schools that train them have the necessary funding to continue to operate."

"We thank Congressman Ryan for recognizing the need to address this important issue for nursing students," said Andrea Mazzoccoli, RN, PhD, FAAN, Chief Nurse and Quality Officer, Bon Secours Mercy Health. "These students are the future of healthcare and become the frontline workforce impacting thousands of patients each day. Now, more than ever is the time for our leaders to support hospital-based nursing education."