SIUE Nursing Students Host Roundtable with Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski
EDWARDSVILLE - SIUE nursing students sat in on a roundtable discussion with Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski. On Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, five students from SIUE’s Department of Nursing spoke with Budzinski about their experiences in the healthcare industry and the policies that would help them. Student loans, safety in hospital settings, and the importance of preventative care were a few of the main topics that students addressed. “I enjoyed the opportunity to visit with the nursing students at SIUE,” Budzinski said. “They're amazing young women, all going into a profession where we know, in particular, we have a nursing shortage in all of our communities. So I applaud them for the work that they're doing and the work that they're going to continue to do.” Budzinski opened the roundtable by noting that she believes there is a “crisis in our healthcare system that is only going to get exponentially worse.” She acknowledged the nursing shortage