REGIONAL UPDATES
Regional Update — HASC
OPEN printable Microsoft Word® document — .doc file. (99 Kb)
OPEN Microsoft PowerPoint® document — .ppt file. (80 Kb, 4 slides)
By Carol Bradley, M.S.N., R.N.
Consultant, Careforce Consulting Group
Multiple reports have highlighted the inadequacy of the health care workforce within California relative to the expanding health care needs of our rapidly growing and aging population. California ranks 49th in the number of nurses per capita. Within California, Los Angeles and the surrounding areas are particularly impacted the shortage of nurses. Hospitals report limits on access, bed closures and emergency diversion as a result of staffing shortages.
On behalf of member hospitals, an effort was undertaken by the Healthcare Association of Southern California to increase the number of enrollees at schools and colleges of nursing. The initial phase of this project, which began in January 2001, surveyed local hospitals and schools to create a baseline of information describing the current hospital/educational environment.
The focus of the hospital survey centered on the availability of clinical sites for students; the extent and related cost of current shortages; and existing relationships with local schools of nursing. The survey of schools focused on program enrollment trends; capacity to increase; barriers to increase; and current relationships with local hospitals. From these surveys, unique regional relationships have been charted and opportunities for program expansion have been identified. Current enrollment trends and other important characteristics of the nursing education pipeline have been identified. (See linked Powerpoint file.)
Presentations regarding this effort occurred in a multitude of settings throughout the nurse executive community, as well as at educational deans and directors meetings. Individual partnerships between schools and hospitals have increased, resulting in a documented increase of more than 300 enrolled students in fall 2001-2003.
The majority of these initial student-enrollment increases resulted from subsidy of faculty salaries and other forms of support offered to nursing schools from local hospitals and health systems. There is continuing effort to enhance enrollment in all programs through regional coalitions made up of local nurse executives and educators. These coalitions will continue with the hope of further enrollment expansion in existing nursing programs.
Future efforts of this initiative will focus on expansion of nursing programs within colleges and universities that do not currently offer generic nursing education degrees, and the creation of a community foundation for nursing scholarships and emergency funding for students. Additional data is needed in the area of student attrition to enhance the graduation levels of local programs.
Regardless of current efforts, all constituents recognize that the long-term funding needs of our nursing educational systems will require legislative solutions, as well as continued pressure from the industry on the various venues within the state to further develop and sustain the nursing education pipeline for the citizens of California.
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