News Summary
Los Angeles County’s 19 community colleges are collaborating with the CSU system to address the nursing shortage in the region through the new initiative Nursing 2035. The program aims to significantly increase nursing graduates over the next decade to meet the healthcare demands. With projections of over 6,400 job openings for registered nurses each year, this initiative outlines the need for action in expanding nursing education and workforce readiness amidst significant challenges.
Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles County’s 19 community colleges are joining forces with the California State University (CSU) system to tackle the critical shortage of registered nurses in the region. This new initiative, dubbed Nursing 2035, is designed to significantly increase the number of nursing graduates over the next decade, with the goal of meeting the healthcare demands of local communities.
Led by Compton College, this collaborative effort also involves partnerships with key organizations such as the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, the Department of Economic Opportunity, and California Competes. Current projections indicate that there will be approximately 6,454 job openings for registered nurses in Los Angeles County each year through 2035, while local colleges only produced 5,363 nursing graduates in 2023, highlighting the urgent need for action.
The challenges facing this initiative are substantial. One major hurdle is the retention of nursing faculty, as well as fierce competition for clinical placements for students, which can impede their practical training. In addition, this collaboration emerges in the wake of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent veto of two bills that would have allowed community colleges to confer bachelor’s degrees in nursing, a decision that disappointed community college leaders who believe that expanded nursing offerings would have better facilitated access to affordable education and helped mitigate state shortages.
Nathan Evans, deputy vice chancellor at the CSU Office of the Chancellor, expressed support for this cooperative initiative, highlighting it as a model for future institutional collaboration. The initiative plans to conduct comprehensive research, releasing a report in the fall that will address nursing education and workforce needs, providing recommendations for program expansion through 2035.
Several existing programs already exist that allow nursing students from community colleges to complete their bachelor’s degrees in an accelerated timeframe, thus providing a pathway for students to enter the workforce more rapidly. The goal of Nursing 2035 is to establish a clear road map for student experiences as they navigate the complexities of nursing education.
In a broader context, the state budget signed by Governor Newsom reflects a significant commitment to enhancing community colleges’ abilities to serve students effectively. Key allocations in this budget include $260 million in Proposition 98 funding to community colleges beginning in 2025-26, $20 million for emergency financial aid that is flexible, and $100 million aimed at supporting enrollment growth. These investments underscore a commitment to expanding equity and access to higher education for the approximately 1.8 million students attending community colleges in California.
Moreover, community college presidents advocate for strengthened partnerships with local industries, which are seen as vital to enriching student growth and improving employment prospects post-graduation. This initiative, along with the state budget provisions, aims to bolster the role of community colleges within California’s educational and workforce frameworks.
As the Nursing 2035 initiative unfolds, stakeholders remain hopeful that this collaborative approach will mark a meaningful step towards addressing the nursing shortage crisis in Los Angeles County, providing both training and job opportunities for future healthcare professionals in the region.
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Additional Resources
- Los Angeles Times: Recommendation for Community Colleges
- Wikipedia: Community College
- Community College Daily: Headlines
- Google Search: California Nursing Programs
- Inside Higher Ed: LA Community Colleges Partner for Nursing
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Community College
- Los Angeles Times: Community College Rankings
- Google News: Nursing Shortage California
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