The number of registered nurses in California grew by more than 9,500 last year and many thousands more are enrolled in nursing programs that state officials hope will continue to ease the chronic shortage.
California lags behind much of the country in the number of nurses per capita, according to the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, which Tuesday released its third annual report for the California Nurse Education Initiative.
The initiative, modeled after a partnership between the Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region and the Los Rios Community College District, was established by the state in 2005 as a five-year, $90 million program to boost the number of nurses in California.
When the initiative was created, the state faced a shortage of nearly 10,000 nurses annually, according to officials.
"It was becoming a community health crisis," said Anette Smith-Dohring, the work force development manager for Sutter's Sacramento Sierra region.
While urban hospitals have been able to attract nurses in recent years, the shortage remains especially critical in rural areas, she said.
The health care industry has been one of the few sectors in the economy to see some job growth during the economic downturn. When the recession lifts and as nurses retire in accelerating numbers, Smith-Dohring expects "the shortage to return with renewed force."
The state now has 647 RNs for every 100,000 people – up from 589 RNs – but that's far behind the national average of 825 registered nurses per 100,000, according to the work force development agency.
Highlights from the report:
• 9,580 RNs graduated in 2008, an increase of about 55 percent since 2005.
• More than 23,500 students are enrolled in California nursing programs, a 69 percent growth in enrollments over the past four years.
• California now has 131 RN programs, 23 of those opening in the past four years.
"We need more. If we can get real health care reform passed, we'll need even more," said Chuck Idelson, a spokesman for the California Nurses Association.
Last month, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., introduced legislation to establish a work force initiative aimed at addressing the nursing shortage. The bill would also create mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios, much like California did in 1999.
The legislation would also provide stipends for nursing students who agree to work at clinics and other such facilities.
State officials say there's a need to educate more than 206,000 additional health care professionals by 2014. In less than a decade, the state's population is expected to grow by 13 percent, to 43 million, and increase the demand for nurses and other health care workers.
Call The Bee's Bobby Caina Calvan, (916) 321-1067.
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