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A few key facts explain why educating more RNs is the state’s
most urgent healthcare crisis:
- California ranks 50th nationwide in the
number of RNs per capita, with more than 20% fewer nurses
than
the national average, according to The Registered Nurse
Population, published by the US Health Resources &
Services Administration in March 2006.
- The drop-out rate is 17%
- Only 70% of Community College RN students finish school
as scheduled. Many have to drop out or delay
their education due to minor financial or personal emergencies.
- 61% of qualified applicants - 17,000 potential
RNs - were turned away in 2006 due to lack of capacity
- and
the 117 schools are at 104% of capacity - filled beyond
full.
- The shortage will get worse before it gets better:
The average nursing school instructor is in her or his mid-50s,
according the federal study. And aging Baby Boomers will
drive up hospital space demand by 40% by 2020.
- Most of the state’s 117 nursing schools report inadequate
resources, the most common of which being lack
of faculty, due to salaries at about half the level of a
working RN.*
* Board of Registered Nursing, 2006
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