Illinois, like the rest of the country, is dealing with a nursing shortage.

Governor Blagojevich has signed new legislation that will help the state deal with the problem.

The new plan would increase the number of faculty to train nurses, make nursing school more affordable and create a state nursing center to improve working conditions for Illinois nurses.

An aging nursing population is also having an affect on the problem.

Many of the nursing educators are getting older and retiring leaving training vacancy.

The Illinois Department of Public Health projects that by the year 2020 the state could be facing a shortage of more 21,000 nurses.