FROM THE FOUNDATION

Redefining the Safety Net

Should California establish a Basic Health Program for certain low-income residents? CHCF's Marian Mulkey captures a recent policy conversation in a Health Affairs blog.

Accountable Care in Action

A new post on the Health Affairs blog details how CalPERS kept costs down in Sacramento through a "virtual" ACO with insurers and providers.

Career Opportunity: Senior Program Officer

This position will play a major role in furthering the goals and objectives of the foundation's Better Chronic Disease Care program.

Doctors and Nurses

Friday, February 04, 2011

College Dean Warns Nursing Shortage Likely To Worsen

In California, the combination of "a booming population, coupled with higher education budget cuts, has left the state with a questionable nursing future," Randy Caine -- dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Hawai'i Pacific University -- writes in a San Francisco Chronicle opinion piece. Caine writes that California's "nursing shortage will climb to 80,000 by 2015," adding that "it is impossible to discuss the need for more nurses without looking to how this will change the future of health care."

Reader Comments:
  • 1
  • 02/04/2011
  • Nancy Oliva

Thanks for the data and reminder that all is not well regarding RN supply in California. The 181 nursing faculty openings Dr. Caine notes suggest a market correction in terms of adequate pay for nursing faculty is necessary--this continues to be a problem in California. Policy interventions in the form of significant and equitable salary increases for nursing faculty are indicated, yet so far little has changed in this regard in the last several decades. Incentives for RNs to serve in nursing faculty roles remain relatively weak. Until RN faculty are compensated like their non-nursing university faculty colleagues and/or RNs in direct care/management roles, the nursing education pipeline will continue to be constrained.



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