FROM THE FOUNDATION

All Over the Map

Newly updated to include breast cancer, prostate cancer, and spine procedures, this CHCF-sponsored research shows that practice patterns vary dramatically from place to place.

Medi-Cal Transforms

Medi-Cal is the main source of health insurance for one in five Californians. An updated report gives an overview of the program's key features, describes how the program is evolving, and examines the challenges ahead.

Obama Care in the Second Term

CHCF is a long-time sponsor of the UC Irvine Forecast Conference. A webcast of this year's conference on health policy in President Obama's second term is now available.

Special Reports

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

California Lags in Nurse-to-Resident Ratio Despite Increase in Nursing School Graduates

California recently received a 'D' grade for its ratio of working registered nurses to state residents.

According to the California Institute for Nursing & Health Care report card, the state averages 644 working registered nurses per 100,000 residents, about half the number recommended for an 'A' grade from the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics.

In a California Healthline Special Report by Mina Kim, experts discuss the state's nurse-to-resident ratio and the effect it could have on patient care.

The Special Report includes comments from:

  • Deloras Jones, executive director of CINHC;
  • Pamela Lassetter, assistant director of the Fresno Regional Workforce Investment Board; and
  • DeAnn McEwen, a member of the California Nurses Association's Council of Presidents (Kim, California Healthline, 2/15).

The complete transcript of this report is available as a PDF.

Running Time: 4:35

Reader Comments:
  • 3
  • 02/16/2012
  • J Jones

There's going to come a time when the economy gets better (I hope) and all those nurses without hospital experience will be needed for the hospital, and it won't be a pretty picture for the patients.

  • 2
  • 02/16/2012
  • J Jones

The hospitals are reluctant to hire any nurse who does not have "in-patient hospital" experience, even if they have out-patient experience in a specialized field with advanced certification!

  • 1
  • 02/16/2012
  • Robert Thomas

It doesn't matter one whit how many new nurses are trained in the state if they have no job opportunities upon graduation.

Many/most hospitals are still reluctant to hire new grads as a result of the economic situation.



Readers are invited to send feedback to: chl@chcf.org

Click to register for California Healthline